ETHIOPIA- An innovative crop insurance initiative by the World Food Programme (WFP), in collaboration with the Ethiopian government and nonprofit Pula Advisors, is significantly altering Ethiopia’s rural farming landscape.
Launched in 2013, this scheme provides crucial insurance coverage for farmers against various climate-related adversities, including droughts, excessive rainfall, hailstorms, pests, and crop diseases.
These challenges have historically deterred farmers from adopting improved agricultural practices, leaving them vulnerable to food insecurity.
Farming in Ethiopia is not just a means of livelihood; it is deeply embedded in the cultural identity of millions.
Yet, the sector faces numerous risks, including climate shocks, conflict, and volatile market prices. Yohannes Negash, a farmer from the northern Amhara region, exemplifies these struggles.
He cultivates chickpeas, pulses, soya beans, and wheat, but has suffered significant losses, including a devastating 50% loss of his wheat harvest due to a local crop disease known as wag.
“I’m a farmer, born into a farming family, with a legacy that stretches back through generations. However, with these challenges, I wondered how I would have the courage to plant again,” Negash recounted.
The WFP’s insurance scheme is particularly impactful in the Amhara region, targeting approximately 54,000 farmers.
This initiative is part of a broader global effort to enhance rural resilience, including improving agricultural practices and increasing farmers’ incomes by creating job opportunities for rural workers in projects to restore degraded lands.
Olipa Zulumbata, WFP’s program head in Amhara, stated, “The idea is to reinforce farmers’ resilience at every point in the farming process, which builds their capacity to withstand the effects of extreme weather and strengthens their food and income security.”
For Negash, introducing crop insurance has been a lifeline amid ongoing challenges. The past few years have been particularly harsh, with droughts and conflict severely impacting his yields.
“War reached us in 2021, and I couldn’t harvest,” he explained. Last year, the wag disease devastated his crops, compounding his difficulties. Initially hesitant about joining the insurance program, Negash changed his mind after attending informational meetings.
Tackle Hailu, a project coordinator with Pula Advisors, shared insights into the program’s acceptance: “We initially struggled to gain acceptance. However, our collaboration with WFP and other partners to educate the communities led to great success.”
This year, Negash was among many farmers who benefited from insurance payouts totaling US$675,000 for losses incurred due to wag disease.
Reflecting on the importance of the insurance scheme, Negash remarked, “The biggest lesson I’ve learned is that while I can’t control everything that affects my farm, I can be prepared. For vulnerable farmers like me, crop insurance is essential. Just as we have health insurance for our bodies, we need insurance for our farms.”
WFP’s initiatives supporting smallholder farmers through crop insurance in Ethiopia are made possible thanks to the generous backing of Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (KfW), the German Development Bank.
This collaborative effort not only aims to safeguard farmers against losses but also strives to empower them, ensuring a more secure and prosperous future for Ethiopia’s rural communities.
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