NAMFISA has completed consultations on its Agri-Index Insurance roadmap and will now present the plan to Cabinet for input and endorsement.
NAMFISA CEO Kenneth Matomola said the roadmap was first submitted to former Minister of Finance and Public Enterprises, Ipumbu Shiimi, last year and has since gone through further engagement.
“Earlier this year, we held a presentation with the then Prime Minister, during which we were given a clear directive: our roadmap must be formally presented to Cabinet. At the time, this instruction came just as the government transition was underway. Since then, we have engaged the new administration to ensure continuity and alignment,” Matomola said.
He added that the next and final step is to present the roadmap to Cabinet for their review.
The Agri-Index Insurance scheme is aimed at protecting small-scale farmers in rural and communal areas from weather-related risks such as drought and floods.
“This programme is designed to provide a safety net for farmers by offering insurance against various agricultural risks, thereby enhancing the resilience of the agricultural sector,” Matomola said.
He added that the scheme also supports wider national goals. “The importance of this project cannot be overstated, as it is a national initiative that aims to cover both Agri-Index Insurance and disaster risk management.”
The roadmap was developed with technical support from the World Bank, which in 2022 sent a team of experts to assist with the design of the product.
The plan comes at a time of increased pressure on farmers, with parts of the country still experiencing forage shortages caused by prolonged drought and overgrazing.
