Insurers Encouraged to Adapt for Climate-Resilient Agriculture

In a recent address, Agriculture Principle Secretary Paul Rono emphasized the need for insurers to tailor their services to better cope with the impacts of climate change on agriculture. He highlighted that unpredictable weather and events like the floods during this year’s long rains have significantly harmed farmers, resulting in the loss of about 60,000 acres of crops, valued at approximately Sh800,000 million.
Rono spoke during the launch of four agricultural sub-sector policies: the Kenya Agricultural Sector Extension Policy (KASEP) 2023, National Agricultural Insurance Policy 2023, Phytosanitary Policy 2023, and the National Agricultural Mechanisation Policy 2024. These policies, developed in collaboration with the private sector, donor community, and county governments, aim to address gaps in the current agricultural insurance framework and better support farmers.
The policies are part of broader efforts to align agricultural insurance with farmers’ current challenges, improve extension services, and meet international phytosanitary standards. Rono stressed the urgency of implementing these policies to benefit farmers promptly, noting that teams will be formed within a month to oversee this process and engage legislators to facilitate necessary laws and regulations.