In Uganda, banana farmers like Ahumwire Justine are severely impacted by climate change, facing increasing weather unpredictability. The NDC Action Project, in collaboration with UNEP, introduces innovative insurance solutions and training in technology, enhancing resilience among farmers. This initiative aims to protect farmers’ livelihoods by providing support during extreme weather events, with plans to expand coverage to 50,000 farmers nationwide.
Ahumwire Justine, a banana farmer residing in Shuku, Uganda, experienced a calamitous day last October when a severe rain and hailstorm decimated 300 banana trees and resulted in the loss of two of her cows. The resulting devastation prompted her family to contemplate abandoning their two-hectare farm, which remained uninsured at the time. Justine expressed the dire situation, stating, “We had no food, no money for school fees for my children and no food for my animals.” The frequency and severity of extreme weather events, as highlighted by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, have escalated due to climate change, exacerbating the vulnerability of farmers like Justine. In response, the NDC Action Project, a collaborative initiative involving the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and its Copenhagen Climate Centre (UNEP-CCC), seeks to provide farmers with essential protection against the unpredictable climate. Mirey Atallah, Chief of the Adaptation and Resilience Branch within UNEP’s Climate Change Division, acknowledged the hardships faced by smallholder farmers due to the climate crisis, noting, “That’s why projects that combine technical and financial instruments such as these are so important. They increase resilience and ensure that extreme weather does not have to be catastrophic for farmers.” Bananas are vital to Uganda’s economy, involving 47 percent of farmers in their cultivation, as per data from the Uganda statistics bureau in 2019. Beyond being a dietary staple, the banana plant contributes fibers for ropes and mats and its leaves for mulching and packaging. However, many banana farmers are confronting an uncertain future due to increasingly erratic weather patterns attributed to climate change over the past 15 years, according to the Uganda government. Florence Muranga, Director at the Banana Industrial Research and Development Centre, remarked on the extreme weather events, stating, “We could have two years of non-stop rain, and then six months with no rain at all. [Farmers] can lose their food, their livelihood, their house in one day.” The center, which advocates for 5,000 banana farmers, has been instrumental in UNEP’s efforts to enhance access to crop insurance. Approximately 930 banana farmers have been trained to utilize smartphones for documenting their healthy crops on a digital platform. In the event of a storm, farmers can submit photographic evidence of the damages, allowing agroeconomists from the insurance company to assess the extent of the loss. Notably, almost half of the participating farmers are women. The introduction of smartphones posed no significant barrier as ‘Champion farmers’ like Justine received training to guide their peers in using these devices. Furthermore, Agriculture and Climate Risk Enterprise Africa, in partnership with the UNEP, facilitates connections between smallholder farmers and insurers through a public-private coalition of 13 insurance companies known as Agro Consortium Limited. This innovative insurance model, linked to a digital platform, minimizes the need for in-person damage assessments, thereby accelerating claim payouts while reducing premiums. Additionally, farmers receive training on water management and agroforestry, leading to significant productivity enhancements and a reduction in climate-related losses. These strategies also mitigate the financial risks for insurance providers and enhance farmers’ access to loans. The successful implementation of this pilot project sets the stage for a broader rollout to encompass all 5,000 farmers represented by the Banana Industrial Research and Development Centre, with aspirations to extend the program to 50,000 banana farmers nationwide. For Justine, the insurance represents an invaluable asset: peace of mind. She expresses gratitude for the support available after crop damage, saying, “I know that if [my crops get damaged] I have help. It’s not like in other years, where I would have to start from zero.” UNEP leads efforts aligned with the Paris Agreement’s aim to limit global temperature increases to well below 2°C, striving for 1.5°C compared to pre-industrial levels. The UNEP has devised a Sectoral Solution, a strategic framework aimed at emission reductions across key sectors to meet these global climate commitments.
Banana farming plays a crucial role in Uganda’s agricultural landscape and economy, with significant involvement from smallholder farmers. However, the impacts of climate change have led to unpredictable weather patterns, resulting in increased risks and losses to crops and livestock. The NDC Action Project seeks to alleviate some of these challenges by providing innovative insurance solutions to enhance resilience among banana farmers, particularly in the face of extreme weather events.
In conclusion, the implementation of a novel insurance scheme in Uganda is crucial for supporting banana farmers affected by climate change. By leveraging technology and sustainable agricultural practices, this initiative offers farmers like Justine not only protection from extreme weather but also invaluable peace of mind. As the program expands, it represents a significant step towards building resilience in vulnerable agricultural communities across Uganda.
Original Source: www.unep.org
