Farmer Advocates Awareness in Agric. Insurance

In the face of growing world food crisis and the attendant poor yields of crops and other farming hazards, Chief Adekunle Seidu, chairman, Seidu farms limited has challenge farmers to embrace agricultural insurance to protect their business, especially against the backdrop of unpredictability that surrounds farming. He expressed sadness that farmers in both rural and urban areas of Nigeria,are still ignorant of the advantages- inherent in taking agricultural insurance,
 Seidu called on farmers to form co-operative societies and stand the chance of getting regular education and information that would improve their farms produce.  He explained that over the year, farmers have lost so much to the well known agricultural hazards such as pests’ attacks, drought, fire and other farm hazards.  “Unfortunately, insurance which would have restored such farmers to their pre-disaster stage is hardly embraced by Nigerians.”  He praised the efforts of the National Agricultural Insurance Corporation (NAIC) which has been doing much to compensate the few farmers under its cover.
However, he said their efforts may not be good enough as ignorance on the part of farmers has been a big challenge to agricultural insurance.  He also pointed out that many farmers are not aware that NAIC truly compensates when the need arises.
It will be recalled that the National Agricultural Insurance Corporation announced at one of its regular briefing that it pays over N200million claims annually.  This it said had been happening in the past 10 years.  According to Butrous Pembi, head, corporate affairs of NAIC, the prospect of paying higher is there against the backdrop of NAIC’s repositioning efforts towards optimal growth.
Pembi had expressed satisfaction at NAIC awareness drive in recent times.  The result, he said, was that more states have started to co-operate with the corporation with a view to getting higher yields. Pembi said NAIC has record of prompt payment of claims after verification have been made.  This practice, he said, has made NAIC to be farmer- friendly.
Seidu wants NAIC to step up its training programme, adding that its efforts so far though commendable, but was a far cry from the yearnings of Nigerians who cannot afford three square meals. It would be recalled that NAIC has been organizing extension services in some frontline farming states, particularly the northern states. However, Seidu called on the insurance corporation to assist farmers in the area of sowing, weeding, fertilizer application and efforts that would help them to minimize losses.