By Willy Kadewere & Leah Malimbasa
Minister of Agriculture, Sam Kawale, on Friday handed over World Food Programme (WFP) crop insurance payout at Nkwana Village in Traditional Authority Maseya in Chikwawa District.
The K2.2 billion payout targets over 36,000 farming households in Malawi, with the aim to support farmers whose crops suffered damage due to climate induced shocks during the 2023/2024 growing season.
Kawale said crop insurance provides risk transfer mechanisms offering financial security through compensation for crop losses, noting that this ensures that farmers recover and continue farming despite facing adverse conditions.
“Malawian farmers are the backbone of our economy but they are also on the frontline facing climate shocks,” he said.
The insurance payout provides direct financial support to smallholder farmers to help off-set losses resulting from weather related challenges such as droughts and floods.
WFP Deputy Country Director in Malawi, Simon Denhere, observed that climate crisis continues to intensify such that smallholder farmers are bearing the brunt of its effects.
Denhere added that the payout is not only critical in providing immediate relief, but also an important step towards building long term resilience.
This initiative is part of a broader resilience strategy implemented by WFP aimed at building sustainable agricultural systems and supporting Malawi’s food security.
Smallholder farmers from Balaka, Machinga, Phalombe, Blantyre, Zomba, Mangochi, Chikwawa and Nsanje are expected to receive their insurance payout.
In Chikwawa District about 1,572 farmers insured their crops.
One of the farmers, Frank Ipo said he insured his crops with K25,000 in the 2023/2024 growing season and is expected to receive K103,000.
