For Ahumwire Justine, a banana farmer from Shuku, in Uganda's southwest, a rain and hailstorm last October underscored the vulnerability of her plantation to extreme weather, destroying 300 of her banana trees and killing two cows. This event highlighted the challenges faced by farmers in regions increasingly affected by climate change. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has noted a rise in the frequency and intensity of such storms, exacerbating the struggle for farmers to protect their livelihoods and crops.
The NDC Action Project, a collaboration between the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) and the UNEP Copenhagen Climate Centre, is focusing on enhancing the resilience of farmers like Justine against the backdrop of climate change. Mirey Atallah, of UNEP, emphasized the importance of integrating technical and financial tools to bolster farmers' defenses against extreme weather events.
In Uganda, bananas represent a critical sector, engaging 47% of farmers in 2019, with the crop serving multiple purposes beyond nutrition. However, unpredictable weather patterns over the past 15 years have cast uncertainty on this vital industry. The Banana Industrial Research and Development Centre, representing 5,000 banana farmers, has been instrumental in facilitating access to crop insurance, crucial for mitigating the impacts of climate variability.
An innovative aspect of this insurance scheme is the use of digital platforms for damage assessment, which streamlines the claims process and makes insurance more accessible and affordable for smallholder farmers. This initiative not only provides financial protection but also incorporates training in sustainable farming practices, significantly enhancing productivity and reducing vulnerability to climate change.
The project's expansion to cover more farmers across Uganda signifies a step forward in securing the agricultural sector against the adverse effects of climate change, offering farmers like Justine not just compensation, but also the confidence to face future challenges.
Source: UNEP