The Nigerian Agricultural Insurance Corporation (NAIC) has offered 50 per cent insurance subsidy to farmers to help them insure their produce.
The Managing Director of NAIC, Mrs Folashade Joseph, who disclosed this explained that the NAIC Act Cap. N89, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria empowers NAIC to underwrite agricultural risks and subsidise the premium chargeable on some categories of crop and livestock items by as much as 50 per cent.
She, however, said when agricultural projects are financed through credit facilities from whatever sources, they must be insured with NAIC.
The Managing Director, said the Corporation insures agriculture across the value chains, covering risks associated with primary production, transportation, processing, and storage (silos), among others.
She explained that “the perils covered by crop policy are fire, lightning, windstorm, flood, drought, pests/diseases, and invasion of the farm by wild animals.
“Losses caused by negligence or willful damage are not covered. Similarly, political risks and losses resulting from social risks like riots, mutiny, revolution are not covered under the scheme.”
In addition, Joseph said the corporation’s website also contains salient information that could guide the farmers on how to access NAIC policies.
She said: “However, all a farmer needs to do is call or go to the branch office nearest to him/her and give the detailed description of his/her farm, and NAIC officials will be there in no time. The farmer will need to complete the proposal form, after which NAIC will carry out a pre-inspection visit to the farm to assess it.
