By Elita Chikwati

THE Zimbabwe Farmers Union, AFC Bank and Zep-Re (PTA Reinsurance Company) have rolled out Grain Premium Insurance, enabling farmers to pay premiums with maize, beans, sunflower and soyabeans instead of cash.

The facility targets smallholder farmers having challenges with upfront costs and seeks to boost resilience against climate change and food insecurity.

Premiums will be deducted through aggregators including GMB and ZMX. Livestock is also being considered for future inclusion.

Zep-RE project manager Ms Niza Banda said this insurance product was built around how farmers already lived.

“Barter trade is not new. Farmers trade grain for clothes or labour. Grain Premium Insurance takes that same logic and applies it to risk,” she said.

“The facility cushions farmers from climate shocks and solves the affordability problem. Most smallholders earn once a year and depend on rainfall.

“With this product, farmers are protected against losses from drought, floods, pests and diseases. Damage will be assessed using satellite technology.”

Zimbabwe Farmers union president Dr Jameson Jawi said the product was conceived by AFC Insurance and rolled out in collaboration with ZFU.

“We are delighted to be part of this climate risk management solution. Adoption of insurance by farmers has remained low despite efforts by various institutions to promote it,” he said. “One of the main challenges has been lack of access to finance to pay premiums. This initiative covers maize, soyabeans, sunflower and traditional grains, giving farmers flexibility in the type of produce they can use for premiums.

“The timing is critical as farmers prepare for the 2026/27 season amid the threat of an El Niño-induced drought. I urge farmers to take up this product to manage increased production risks.”

ZFU secretary general, Mr Paul Zakariya, said no inputs package was complete without insurance.

“There is a need to educate farmers. We will train our ward facilitators and district coordinators to drive uptake,” he said.

“This facility was tailor-made for smallholder farmers. Insurance companies must pay out promptly when disasters strike, and farmers lodge claims.”

IPEC commissioner Dr Grace Muradzikwa applauded AFC and the Ministry of Agriculture for coming up with the Grain for Premium Programme, which will improve financial inclusion and improve the penetration rate of insurance in Zimbabwe.

“Demand for insurance exists, but affordability remains a major challenge that must be addressed,” she said.

“In Zimbabwe, we are currently implementing a programme under the AFDB Bank, which has a premium subsidy of US$1.5 million.

“It sounds like a lot of money, but it’s not enough to pay for all our farmers and therefore, there is need for other means to support farmers or to enable farmers to pay the premium.”

AFC managing director Mr Cuthbert Masukume said the company was formed in 2021 to create solutions that mitigate the impact of climate change on farmers.

“As AFC Insurance, we were given an obligation by Government to create solutions for challenges being faced by farmers and commercial farmers,” he said.

Mr Masukume said they have 45 branches and had partnered with the ZFU that have decentralised offices for easy accessibility by farmers.

Officially launching the programme, Permanent Secretary Professor Obert Jiri in a speech read on his behalf by Chief Director Mr Clemence Bwenje said it was important to invest in agriculture and boost livelihoods and the economy.

“This initiative has come as a game changer, the innovation is part of NDS2 and Agriculture Food Systems. Insurance is one of the pillars of resilience and climate proofing agriculture,” he said.

“We must be able to produce food even in the face of climate change and be food secure. The four Ps; Public, Private Producer partnership represent partnerships for purposes.”

Prof Jiri said agriculture was key to Africa’s development, and smallholder farmers were central to it.

ZFU AND RWA’S JOINT MISSION TO CHAMPION WOMEN FARMERS Across Zimbabwe’s agricultural heartlands, a quiet but profound transformation is underway. It is a change driven not just by new seeds or technologies, but by the empowerment of women farmers who are rising to become leaders, innovators, and key decision makers in their communities. Central to this movement is the Zimbabwe Farmers’ Union (ZFU), which, in alignment with the advocacy goals of partners like the Rural Women Assembly (RWA), under the FACE Project is championing a future where women are at the forefront of a sustainable and resilient agricultural sector. The collaboration between the ZFU’s structured programs and the RWA’s grassroots mobilization is creating a fertile ground for change. This synergy is most evident in targeted capacity building initiatives designed to equip women with the skills and confidence to overcome systemic barriers and unlock their full potential. A cornerstone of this effort is intensive leadership training. Recognizing that empowerment extends beyond the farm gate, the ZFU has invested in programs that prepare women to take on influential roles within farming cooperatives, local agricultural boards, and their own communities.

This training goes beyond basic governance; it builds negotiation skills, financial literacy, and strategic planning abilities, enabling women to advocate effectively for their needs, influence policy, and manage their farming enterprises with greater authority and success. By fostering these skills, the ZFU is ensuring that women’s voices are not just present, but are powerful and integral to shaping the future of agriculture. In parallel with developing leaders, the ZFU is also equipping women with practical, climatesmart agricultural techniques that enhance both their productivity and their environmental stewardship.

A key example is the promotion of Bokashi compost training. This innovative Japanese method of composting uses fermentation to rapidly break down organic waste, turning it into a nutrient-rich soil enhancer. For women farmers, mastering Bokashi is a game changer. In a time of rising fertilizer costs and climate induced soil degradation, this training provides a low cost, organic alternative that revitalizes soil health, improves water retention, and boosts crop yields. It is a tangible skill that directly translates into increased food security and higher household incomes. Furthermore, by teaching women to create a valuable product from on-farm resources, it opens up new entrepreneurial avenues, allowing them to sell surplus compost and build sustainable businesses from the ground up.

While the ZFU provides the technical expertise and training infrastructure, the spirit of movements like the RWA ensures that these opportunities reach the most marginalized women and are framed within a broader fight for their rights to land and resources. The story of this partnership is one of strategic empowerment. It is a story told not just in harvest numbers, but in the growing confidence of a woman leading a co-op meeting, in the rich, dark soil of a farm revitalized by Bokashi, and in the collective strength of women who are no longer just participants in agriculture, but are leading the charge towards a more equitable and sustainable future for all of Zimbabwe.