In cooperation with its partners, the government of Burkina Faso provides farmers with insurance to protect their crops from climatic threats. Thus, after several experiments, insurance was offered to farmers in several regions of the country. For the time being, it only takes into account maize and sorghum crops.
Many farmers in Burkina Faso suffer greatly because of the enormous destruction of crops during dry season, which in most cases leads to higher food prices on the market and subsequent famine. In order to correct this situation and to relieve the farmers of their activities, the government has introduced a new insurance policy. It is offered to anyone who has a farm.
Farmers who really want to subscribe to this insurance have to pay half of the compensation amount and the government provides the remaining 50%. “In terms of subscription, the price is unique, namely 12,397 CFA francs per hectare. And in this 12,397 CFA francs, the state subsidises 50%. So the producer will have to pay 6,193 CFA francs per hectare. In terms of compensation, the ceiling is 130,000 CFA francs per hectare,” explains Jean-Marie Vianney Beyi, deputy general manager of the project’s partner insurance company.
Drought as a threat to agricultural crops.
Drought is the only natural disaster for which this insurance has been implemented. According to the report by Victor Bonogo, Secretary General of the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Resources and Fisheries, drought constitutes 53% of the threat to agricultural production in Burkina Faso: “Very often over the last ten years, we have recurrent drought or pockets of drought, and we experience rainfall deficits. This is practically one of the factors that most strains our producers in Burkina.
The government is invited to extend the project to other crops.
In Burkina Faso, the products most consumed by the population are maize and sorghum. Because of this high consumption, the government therefore considered it useful to take these two products into account for this project. In addition, the majority of farmers cultivate maize and sorghum.
In the Mouhoun Boucle region, there is a farmer by the name of Alidou Bayilou, who farms 14 hectares of several crops including maize, millet and cotton. Unfortunately, it has already lost 50% of its production due to the drought.
In view of this sad reality and to ensure the development of all, the government has promised to include other cultures in this insurance program.
Charbel Ahouandjinou(stag).
