Farmers get insurance payouts

Approximately 32 farmers in Litchfield, Trelawny, have received insurance payouts under the GraceKennedy (GK) Weather Protection Programme to support their recovery following Hurricane Melissa.

The payments were distributed last week during a joint visit to the community by the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) Connect team, together with representatives of the GK Insurance Group.

GK General Insurance Client and Partner Services Manager, Orrette Duncan, described the moment as "bittersweet", noting that the programme - implemented in partnership with RADA - has provided $2.8 million in coverage to affected farmers whose crops were damaged by Hurricane Melissa.

"In terms of being bitter, Hurricane Melissa had passed and left its impact upon us; but sweet in the fact that you are able to receive some measure of compensation through our product," he stated.

Approximately 60 additional farmers registered for the GK Weather Protection Programme during the handover, a response that Duncan said reflects growing awareness of the importance of agricultural insurance in safeguarding livelihoods.

More than 134 farmers across the island have received compensation through the programme. In addition to the $2.8 million disbursed to RADA farmers, GK General Insurance has already provided more than $2.2 million in payouts to 30 female farmers from the Jamaica Network of Rural Women Producers.