By: Reginald Andrew
Farmers in Saint Lucia will soon benefit from a comprehensive Insurance Scheme designed to alleviate economic hardships during hazardous times caused by crop loss and damage to produce.
Agriculture Minister Alfred Prospere has confirmed that the government is allocating $1 million to this initiative, developed in collaboration with Grace Kennedy, to support vulnerable farmers, particularly those producing bananas, plantains, and related crops, during natural disasters that threaten their production capacity.
This initiative will empower farmers to become less reliant on government subsidies to cover their damages. The plan is to extend this insurance scheme to encompass all farmers.
Emphasising the vulnerability of farmers, especially with the impending hurricane season and the associated risks, Prospere stated: “The impacts of climate change have made conditions worse, and each year, whether it’s wind, high rainfall, or tropical storms, we are prepared. Within the next few weeks, we will provide our farmers, especially banana and plantain farmers, with an insurance mechanism, which is nearly finalised with Grace Kennedy.”
He stated, “Initially, our banana and plantain farmers will receive coverage under this insurance programme. The $1 million allocated in this year’s budget will kickstart this process. We recognise it won’t cover the entire sector, but we must begin with the most vulnerable group: the banana and plantain farmers.”
Prospere underscored the government’s commitment to instill confidence among farmers that they will receive compensation for crop damage caused by natural hazards.
He emphasised the need to move away from sole dependence on government for compensation, saying, “We have developed an insurance package to assist.”
He added, “We aim to extend this to all farmers, and ultimately the entire sector. We expect our farmers to contribute to the insurance scheme, whether through a percentage of sales or other means.”
“Everyone in the sector must contribute to establishing a comprehensive insurance policy that protects our fishers, livestock farmers, agro-processors, poultry producers, and all agricultural participants,” Prospere asserted at a recent media briefing.
While acknowledging that the WINCROP insurance programme operated in the 1980s specifically for banana production, he remarked that this is the first initiative targeting farmers as a whole.
“This initiative arrives at a critical time, coinciding with the start of the hurricane season, as we anticipate potential natural disasters that could impact our agricultural sector,” he asserted.
Regarding damage assessments, the minister confirmed that field officers from the Ministry of Agriculture will evaluate farm destruction.
“After a natural disaster, we will conduct thorough evaluations of the damage, which will be submitted to the insurance agency. The company will provide the government with funds to be evenly distributed to farmers,” Prospere clarified, emphasising that the distribution of funds will be handled by government authorities rather than directly from the insurance company.
Initially, the government will supply the necessary ‘seed funds’ for this initiative, and more farmers will be involved as the program develops to ensure its sustainability.