GK General Insurance (GKGI) is reporting that 30 members of the Jamaica Network of Rural Women Producers (JNRWP) are the latest beneficiaries of coverage under its Weather Protect peril insurance product.

The policy provides coverage for three perils — hurricane winds, excess rainfall, and drought.

The farmers were issued their new policies at a handover event held on December 6.

The JNRWP, the only national female-led agriculture group in Jamaica, received funding from CARE International, a donor agency focused on saving lives, ending poverty, and achieving social justice. The funding supported JNRWP’s Hurricane Beryl Emergency Relief project, which aimed to help female farmers get back on their feet following the hurricane that hit sections of Jamaica in July.

Speaking at the event, Chaluk Richards, general manager, GKGI, a member of the GraceKennedy Financial Group, noted the significance of the partnership in light of the growing financial strain faced by farmers in the wake of Hurricane Beryl.

“I am the grandchild of farmers from both sides of my family; I grew up with my grandparents going to the farm in rural St Andrew, Mavis Bank and Hagley Gap, so I know the devastation when a hurricane passes through one month before the banana is ready to be reaped and everything is blown down. They are not good enough to sell, so you [are forced to] dump the crop and start over,” Richards said.

He applauded the JNRWP’s efforts in investing in its members ahead of the hurricane season.

“Rural farmers, generally, don’t have the level of capital to start over after [a weather event]. The proceeds from the sale of the crop [that you plant] are what is intended to be the reinvestment of cash into the business. So, when that crop is damaged, there is a problem. GK Weather Protect is aimed at assisting farmers in not having to start over on their own or wonder where the cash will come from to recover. I applaud the pioneering work the JNRWP is doing to protect its members. When the next disaster strikes, you have the coverage to support you,” Richards said.

JNRWP President Tamisha Lee, in her address, said the handover represents more than just a safeguard against climate risk. “It symbolises another step in empowerment, sustainable livelihood, self-determination, resilience, and hope for a better future.”

Added Lee: “Our network recognises that our rural women are the heart of agriculture and food security in Jamaica, yet we are among the most vulnerable to the devastating impact of climate change. Hurricane Beryl was one of many climate events that have threatened to wipe out the livelihoods of our farmers, and the recovery is long and difficult. We can all appreciate the need to put mechanisms in place to accelerate recovery efforts and enhance the resilience of our support systems before, during, and after extreme weather events.”

Underscoring the importance of women in the field of agriculture, GKGI Assistant General Manager Andrea Muir Gibbs said: “It’s hard on us, we do a lot — be the wife, be the housewife, be the mother, and then do everything in order to produce for the family. This solution really works, it provides a solid foundation without requiring a complete restart, allowing you to purchase seedlings and reap the benefits of a successful harvest.”

Gibbs said that GKGI will be working closely with the farmers to ensure that they are onboarded and guided during the lifespan of their policy and will aim to get the full JNRWP cohort of 700 female farmers the financial support they need through GKGI.

Launched in 2021, GK Weather Protect began in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries. At its inception, the ministry covered the insurance premiums for more than 1,000 farmers and fisherfolk, ensuring they would receive essential cash coverage in the aftermath of a natural disaster.