Flood: Anambra Govt To Introduce Compulsory Insurance Policy For Farmers

Governor Willie Obiano has mandated the Ministry of Agriculture, Mechanization, Processing and Export to ensure a seamless way of supporting those farmers affected by flood in the state.

The Agric Commissioner Mr. Afam Mbanefo disclosed this at Anambra West Council Area while on an assessment tour of the five council areas of the state affected by flood.

Commissioner Mbanefo announced that the State Government has set up a Flood Disaster Team that comprises all the intervention programs as well as formulated strategy for proper disbursement of farm inputs immediately the flood recedes.

While announcing that the state government has consulted with the national offices of all the intervention programs including Bill and Milinder Gate foundation for assistance, Mr. Mbanefo stated that the state government will come up with a compulsory policy to ensure that state farmers insure their farms.

The State Program Coordinator, IFAD VCDP, MR. Nnamdi Agwuncha said they had already notified the national office of IFAD VCDP and Abuja on the disaster and according to him approval has been given for some level of support.

Mr. Agwunch announced that both insured and uninsured IFAD VCDP farmers will be supported with at least free inputs for one haecter of rice or cassava farm noting that they will embark on advocacy visit to the five participating council areas of the state to ensure that they all insure their farms next farming season.

Also speaking, the state Head of Agric Insurance, Nigeria Agricultural Insurance Cooperation, NAIC, Mr. Oseloka Uzoma who assured that they will commence indemnifying insured farmers immediately the flood recedes, for them to bounce back to farming, stated categorically that
each insured farmer will be indemnified according to the gravity of harvoc caused by the flood in his or her farm.

In a vote of thanks, the President, Nneamaka Cooperative Society Umueze-Anam, Chief Mrs. Theresa Anijobi while appealing for quick intervention, lamented that they lost all their efforts to the flood.