The Minister for Local Government Raphael Magyezi has said that agricultural insurance is key to farmers if they need to get yield from what they plant.
While addressing the media during his two-day visit to Adjumani, Magyezi said as government it’s their responsibility to see that there is sustainability supposing the weather is bad, produces stolen or transport means such as tricycles or the truck are stolen or get damaged.
According to the Ministry of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development, the government established the Uganda Agriculture Insurance Scheme (UAIS) in FY2016/17, as a pilot whose objective is to cushion farmers from risks associated with losses arising from natural disasters and also attract financing to agriculture.
Agriculture insurance encourages commercial banks to lend to the agriculture sector given that the risk associated with agriculture is mitigated through appropriate insurance cover, which thus improves access to agriculture loans.
The scheme provides Insurance cover for crops and livestock, for both small and large-scale farmers. Under the scheme, the government provides premium subsidy funds, and in collaboration with industry players also undertakes publicity, sensitization, and training of farmers.
Magyezi said as the government has the responsibility to set up infrastructures such as roads on which the harvested food crops have to be transported, and economic services such as markets where they are going to be sold to.
“As the local government, we have to invest in the construction and maintenance of the local markets because the farmers will need to use these roads all the time,” Magyezi said.
He also used the same opportunity to thank Action Against Hunger that donated milling machines, tricycles, solar-powered irrigation systems among others.
Albert Siminyu the country director for Action Against Hunger said they are looking forward to ending hunger in Uganda.
He revealed that Action Against Hunger donated milling machines, tricycles, solar-powered irrigation systems, and nutritious seed crops among others because they want to make a better Uganda for both the locals and the refugees.
He appealed to the refugees and host communities in the refugee settlements within Adjumani to also insure their agricultural machinery, crops, and animals.
