GK General Insurance (GKGI) and its partners, Grace Agro-Processors (GAP) and Grace Foods, hosted 46 delegates from the International Conference on Inclusive Insurance (IIC) 2022 at a case study field and farm-to-table experience at the GAP facility in Hounslow, St Elizabeth on October 28.

The field trip closed out the three-day conference which took place at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston and hosted insurance professionals from all over the world.

Delegates who took part in the field experience were presented with a case study of GKGI’s revamped GK Weather Protect solution for local farmers.

During the visit, delegates observed the operations at GAP Hounslow, with the guidance of Technical Field Officer Junior Ebanks, himself a farmer and GK Weather Protect client.

During his guided tour of the facility, Ebanks explained: “GAP and agro-parks operations have created a stable market for the network of farmers in this area, while providing technical support, imparting farming best practices, equipment, and leasing plots of arable lands for the cultivation of crops including callaloo, scallion, and peppers. These crops are then fed through to primary processing for a cross-section of local manufacturers and brands, chief being Grace.”

The tour group had a firsthand look at the products entering the plant and viewed several aspects of the processing.

“Many of the farmers have accessed funding to start their farms and, as a condition of their loans, had to access crop insurance; GK Weather Protect being the only such solution on the market. This coverage is a necessary buffer against the threat of extreme weather that the farmers welcome,” Ebanks continued.

Jordon Tait, assistant general manager, GK General Insurance, explained: “In 2013, GKGI decided to review what was then known as our Livelihood Protection Policy, which had been launched under the ‘Climate Risk Adaptation and Insurance in the Caribbean’ Programme. We received feedback from farmers, like Junior Ebanks, who experienced extreme weather incidents that damaged their crops, but could not claim against their Weather Protect coverage.”

In 2021, GKGI relaunched the policy, rebranded as GK Weather Protect, with revised parameters that allowed the solution to better serve its clients.

Tait continued: “GK Weather Protect was redesigned in consultation with the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries and several other key stakeholders, to ensure that the payout happens once a weather event meets the predefined trigger outlined in the policy. Farmers can now make an informed decision and choose coverage and premium options that are in sync with their budget and needs.”

After departing Hounslow, the tour visited local hotel, Jakes, where Grace products from GAP were served for lunch in a farm-to-table experience to close the day’s activities.