At the 10th Anniversary celebration of the Agriculture Climate Risk Enterprise (ACRE) Africa, held in Nairobi, CEO Ewan Wheeler emphasized the organization’s commitment to “Building Farmer Resilience.” Since its inception in 2014, ACRE Africa has pioneered agricultural insurance in Kenya, aiming to protect farmers from the unpredictable challenges posed by climate change. Wheeler reflected on the early days of the organization, recalling the difficulties in convincing farmers of the value of insurance. “It’s difficult to sell insurance on its own to a farmer. So we bundle insurance with other services like seed replacement and loan repayment. This approach, alongside other strategies, has worked well,” he noted.
Today, ACRE Africa has insured over five million farmers, with nearly a million new enrollments each year. The event highlighted the integration of technology into their services, particularly through the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to streamline the insurance process. This innovation allows farmers to take photos to assess damages or seek advice, significantly enhancing efficiency. Stella Kimani, ACRE Africa’s Chief Operations Officer, elaborated on the critical role of local agents, known as village champions, who educate farmers about insurance and connect them to essential resources.
One of these champions, Wycliffe Mwake, shared his experience of how agriculture insurance has been a lifeline during adverse weather conditions, enabling him to recover from droughts and floods. Since adopting the insurance in 2018, Mwake has successfully led a group of 250 farmers, with 130 enrolled in the program. His journey underscores the growing understanding of insurance’s value among farmers, although he advocates for ongoing training to enhance this awareness further.
The event also featured insights from Eileen Bureza of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, who stressed the need for collaboration to establish a solid foundation for agricultural insurance in Kenya. She pointed out the risks and opportunities in the unregulated insurance landscape, urging a focus on building sustainable systems before rapid expansion. Bureza proposed leveraging the village champions’ model to train government agri-preneurs, thereby extending the reach of insurance services.
Farid Wangara, Principal Officer for ACRE Africa, reiterated the importance of insurance in mitigating climate-related risks, emphasizing that compensation can safeguard farmers’ investments. Anne Chelagat, CEO of the Insurance Regulatory Authority, praised ACRE Africa for advancing insurance solutions and highlighted how technology is simplifying processes, making it easier for farmers to access coverage.
The implications of this anniversary celebration extend beyond mere recognition of ACRE Africa’s achievements. The event showcased a growing understanding of the critical role that agricultural insurance plays in enhancing food security and stabilizing farmers’ incomes in the face of climate change. By fostering innovation, education, and collaboration, ACRE Africa is not only transforming the agricultural landscape in Kenya but also setting a precedent for similar initiatives across the continent.
