Mutual & Federal strengthens its preventative fire cover for farmers

To ensure no repeat of previous years, where hectares of arable land burnt around the country, Mutual & Federal, a member of the Old Mutual Group, has introduced cover for the cost of aerial water bombing.

Andries Wiese, Group Manager for Agriculture at Mutual & Federal, says the purpose of this cover is to enable stakeholders in the agricultural value chain to become more proactive in both stopping fires and preventing their spread.

One of the preventative measures remains firebreaks, says Wiese. “Due to cold and dry winter conditions, fire outbreaks are unfortunately inevitable, particularly in farming areas. Farmers need to protect their own land, livestock and future harvests, as well as that of their neighbours, through the construction of firebreaks.”

“Firebreaks themselves do not necessarily stop fires, but give fire fighting teams access to the fire. There are many firebreak options available to farmers, including fire-made firebreaks, mechanical clearing and chemical firebreaks. They may be costly in terms of time, labour and capital layout, but ultimately can mean the difference between saving one’s livelihood and leaving one’s land to the mercy of the elements,” notes Wiese.

According to Wiese, farmers are also concerned about the loss of large tracts of arable land. However, these losses are small when weighed against the loss of assets, crops and even lives.

“The concern for the loss of land when constructing firebreaks is understandable”, Wiese continues. “The best way to handle this is by applying firebreak methods that reduce the potential waste of land, such as making use of rivers, national roads and any similar natural firebreak.”

Wiese warns farmers to be also aware of the legal implications of not having firebreaks on their farms. “Firebreaks are a legal requirement. Farmers without firebreaks need to understand that they could be held accountable by their neighbours for negligence.”

Wiese encourages farmers to join associations such as the Fire Protection Association (FPA). He explains that while not compulsory, insurers like Mutual & Federal highly recommend it. “Such associations are encouraged for they enable farmers to work as a group. They are also good for subsistence farmers who lack the resources and knowledge to implement a fire prevention strategy on their smallholdings”.

It is essential that farmers ensure they are adequately covered for losses arising directly from fires, not only for their own assets, but also for those of other parties. With a knowledgeable insurer, farmers can be offered a solution that will best protect what is important to them.