The Nigerian Agricultural Insurance Corporation (NAIC), Zamfara chapter, on Saturday, sensitised representatives of farmers’ associations in the state on the importance and utilisation of agricultural insurance.
The sensitisation programme, organised in collaboration with a political organisation known as the Yazeed Project, had the theme: “Securing the Future of Agriculture through Partnership and Protection.”
Speaking at the event, the Manager of the NAIC office in Zamfara, Mr Auwal Haruna, said the programme was aimed at encouraging farmers to move away from purely traditional practices to insured and resilient agricultural operations that provide protection against inherent risks.
Haruna described the partnership with the Yazeed Project as timely and impactful, noting that it would enhance farmers’ capacity and increase awareness on measures to boost food production.
According to him, one of NAIC’s core mandates is to educate farmers on insurance subsidies, risk protection against floods and diseases, and timely claims processing to ensure business continuity and food security.
“The main objective of this programme is to educate farmers on our products, claims processes, and the importance of insuring against various risks to stabilise income and attract credit.
“We encourage farmers to insure against natural disasters such as floods, droughts, pests and diseases to avoid total losses.
“Agricultural insurance enables farmers to receive compensation for losses, remain in business throughout the year and invest in modern farming practices,” he said.
Haruna expressed appreciation to the Yazeed Project for supporting the initiative, describing it as the first of its kind in the over 30 years of the NAIC office in Zamfara State.
“We are always ready to collaborate with farmers and their associations to reach millions of farmers across the state and deepen awareness about NAIC’s activities,” he added.
Earlier, the State Coordinator of the Yazeed Project, Mr Abubakar Umar, said the partnership was designed to improve farmers’ awareness of food security, economic resilience and access to credit.
He explained that the sensitisation programme was also meant to complement the efforts of the current NAIC administration under its Managing Director, Hon. Yazeed Danfulani.
the event was attended by representatives of various farmers’ associations, including the Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN), Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN), Nigerian Association of Women in Agriculture (NAWIA), Women’s Agriculture Empowerment Network (WAGEN), Providence Crops and Livestock Farmers Association (PCLFA), Farming Sustainable Initiative (FASI), National Cotton Association of Nigeria (NACOTAN), among others.