By HELEN ZULU –

THE Zambia State Insurance Corporation (ZSIC) has paid out more than K3 million in claims for farmers on the Zambia National Farmers Union (ZNFU) Lima Credit Scheme who suffered crop failure in 2014/2015 farming season.
The 2014/2015 farming season saw a lot of farmers both commercial and small-scale suffer crop failure brought about by drought.
ZSIC General Insurance Limited managing director Charles Nakhoze said the company had paid K3, 042, 735.00 and the total claim payment was estimated at more than K5 million after all affected farmers were inspected and evaluated.
Mr Nakhoze said the claim payment will see more than 6,000 farmers benefit and that it had been phased in such a way that the company was settling claims according to completed batches submitted by ZNFU.
He said this when he presented a cheque worth K3, 042, 735. 00 to ZNFU in Lusaka yesterday.
“The cheque we are presenting is for K3, 042, 735. 00 broken down in such a way that phase one is K531, 624.66 covering Kawambwa, Chienge, Monze, Namwala, Chibombo, Livingstone, Kazungula, Nchelenge, Samfya, Milenge, Chongwe and Chipata.
The second phase is K2, 070, 434.06 covering Kaoma, Lundazi, Chadiza, Kapiri Mposhi and Katete and the third phase is K440,677.09 covering Chinsali, Mpika, and Isoka,” he said.
ZNFU executive director Ndambo Ndambo said prolonged dry spells reduced the national maize crop by about 22 per cent to 2.6 million tonnes and severely affected the soy yields to less than a tonne per hectare for the small-scale farmers.
Mr Ndambo said the lima credit scheme farmers were not spared as 9, 292.5 hectares of 38, 000 plus hectares of financed crop in 2014/2015 season were negatively affected by the prolonged dry spells across the country.
Mr Ndambo said since inception, more than K8.2 million premiums had been paid to ZSIC with a total claim payout of about K5.1 million to date.
He said it was gratifying to see an increasing number of small-scale farmers beginning to appreciate the role of insurance in their farming.