Story by Mercy Bofu-Matinha
THE government, in partnership with the Insurance Council of Zimbabwe, has launched a parametric livestock insurance scheme in Mwenezi District aimed at cushioning smallholder farmers against climate-induced risks such as drought and disease, strengthening climate resilience, unlocking access to finance and boosting livestock productivity.
The development is in line with government’s thrust to ensure improved livestock production and push for the transition from subsistence to commercial farming.
For years, livestock farmers, especially in the Lowveld, have been losing their cattle to climate induced risks such as drought and diseases.
However, the government has partnered with the Insurance Company of Zimbabwe in launching livestock insurance, a development targeting smallholder farmers.
Through the scheme, farmers will be cushioned against losses and ensure the availability of stock-feed, enabling them to contribute to food security.
“Today we are happy with the programme that has been launched by the government as it is meant to help us as communal farmers.
“Many times we lose our cattle to drought and diseases such as January diseases. However, when our livestock are insured it means we will be able to recover from all the shocks,” Mr Tanaka Zane said.
“This programme perhaps is going to be the most transformative benefit for us livestock farmers. For many years, banks have been hesitant to lend us money because our primary collateral was our livestock which had a risk of being wiped out by drought. With Parametric Insurance, our herd is now an insured hence we now have secured assets hence we believe this will unlock the door to formal finance,”Mr Raymond Chale stated.
Officially launching the programme at Zvomupungu Primary School in Mwenezi this Wednesday, Director Business Development, Markets and Trade in the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Mr Abraham Mashumba said government is declaring insurance as an agricultural input to support smallholder farmers.
“Within the agricultural sector, the programme we are launching today is a core component of the Agriculture Food Systems and Rural Transformation Strategy, which prioritizes risk-management instruments as essential enablers for sustainable intensification, value-chain integration, and market-oriented production.
“In essence, this insurance product serves as one of the strategic de-risking mechanisms crafted by the Ministry to shield smallholder farmers from systemic shocks, unlock credit, and catalyse investment, thereby accelerating the sector’s transition to a climate-smart, commercially viable and resilient food system,Business Development, Markets and Trade ,Director ,Mr Abraham Mashumba said.
Representing the Insurance Council of Zimbabwe, Mr Cuthbert Masukume said the programme is expanding financial inclusion and a direct response to climate change.
“What we have launched here in Mwenezi is a parametric livestock insurance programme and it is aimed at compensating farmers in the event of drought or diseases.
“This scheme is providing compensation to farmers and when farmers get a pay-out they can buy supplementary feed for their livestock. In the event of drought and other risks this will help farmers to recover given the importance of livestock especially for communal farmers,”representative from Insurance Council of Zimbabwe, Mr Cuthbert Masukume said.
Livestock production is a key pillar in the country’s economy with Masvingo province having the largest herd standing at over one million cattle with the bulk coming from Mwenezi and Chiredzi.
