In the face of escalating climate-related risks like droughts and floods, many fruit and vegetable farmers are struggling to find affordable insurance, jeopardizing their livelihoods and food supply.
Patrick Cooley reports for The New York Times.
In short:
- The availability and affordability of crop insurance for small farmers, especially those cultivating specialty crops, have sharply declined, reflecting the growing impact of climate change on agriculture.
- Legislation to improve access to crop insurance for these farmers faces challenges in Congress, amid a divide between large commodity growers and small, specialty crop farmers.
- The disparity in insurance coverage underscores the broader vulnerabilities and inequalities within the agricultural sector, with small farmers often bearing the brunt of climate-related adversities.
Key quote:
“We had two extremely wet years, sandwiched around one of the driest years I’ve ever seen. We can't sustain another year like last year."
— Bernie Smiarowski, farmer
Why this matters:
For farmers, insurance is an important safety net, protecting against the loss of their crops or livestock due to adverse weather conditions. However, as the risks associated with climate change increase, insurance companies are becoming more hesitant to offer policies to farmers, or they are increasing premiums to levels that are often unaffordable for the average farmer. This leaves farmers in a precarious position, having to bear the brunt of climate change's unpredictability without the financial protection insurance once provided.
