10,000 Livestock Farmers to Benefit from Insurance Programme

(NAIS) The Government has launched a Livestock Insurance scheme targeting around ten thousand livestock farmers across the country. Farmers are being urged to adopt insurance as a key way of protecting their animals and livelihoods against the rising impacts of climate change. Speaking at the official opening of the National-Level E-SLIP Livestock Insurance Sensitisation Workshop in Lusaka, Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock Permanent Secretary, MAX CHOOMBE, noted that climate change continues to present serious challenges. These include droughts, disease outbreaks, and shortages of pasture and water. Dr. CHOOMBE explained that the Government, through the Enhanced Smallholder Livestock Investment Programme (E-SLIP), is collaborating with partners to promote livestock insurance. He said this forms part of wider efforts to boost resilience among vulnerable farming households. Dr. CHOOMBE also stressed the importance of transparency, efficiency and inclusiveness in implementing the programme. He said front-line officers play a vital role in building trust and confidence among farmers. Meanwhile, World Food Programme –WFP- Country Representative, CISSY KABASUUGA, in a speech delivered on her behalf by the organisation’s Programme Policy Officer, EMMANUEL KILIO, said introducing livestock insurance under E-SLIP marks a significant step. Ms. KABASUUGA said it provides risk-financing solutions for smallholder farmers and can help communities recover more quickly from droughts, floods and disease outbreaks. She added that insurance encourages farmers to invest more confidently in livestock production. The workshop, organised by the WFP with support from the Government through E-SLIP, brought together Ministry officials from 25 priority districts across five provinces. Key stakeholders also joined to strengthen understanding and coordination on livestock insurance implementation. Details in the following report…