Agricultural Insurance: 6,600 Malian Farmers Compensated — A Turning Point for Agricultural Resilience
In the face of increasing climate shocks, the Malian government and its partners are multiplying efforts to protect smallholder farmers. On April 7, 2025, a landmark event was held at the Salam Hotel in Bamako to officially launch the payout of 100 million FCFA to 6,600 affected farmers from the 2024–2025 agricultural season. These producers, located across the Kayes, Koulikoro, Ségou, and Sikasso regions, are the beneficiaries of a pioneering climate insurance pilot designed to support recovery after climate-related losses.
Implemented by AFG Assurances Mali in partnership with the pan-African insurtech firm Pula Advisors, and backed by AGRA, the initiative is based on an index insurance model that uses weather and yield data to trigger collective payouts. This innovative approach ensures fast, objective, and transparent compensation—helping farmers avoid the downward spiral of climate-driven financial loss.
“This day is more than a ceremonial moment,” emphasized Cissé Adam Ba, CEO of AFG Assurances Mali. “It proves that when public, private, and technical actors work together, concrete and effective solutions emerge.” She also recalled the devastating floods of the past season, which led to widespread crop failure and justified the activation of the insurance mechanism.
For Pula Advisors, the goal is to stand alongside farmers when they need it most. “This wasn’t just a pilot — it was a demonstration that our product works. And when disaster strikes, it’s the insurer’s duty to be there,” said Pierre Sagara, Pula Mali’s Country Director.
National actors applauded the initiative. Sanoussi Bouya Sylla, President of APCAM (Assemblée Permanente des Chambres d’Agriculture du Mali), stressed the urgency of strengthening agricultural finance in a country where over 80% of the population depends on farming. “We need solutions tailored to our agricultural reality. This project is one of them,” he said.
AGRA’s Mali Country Director, Dr. Ahamadou Touré, highlighted the project’s broader implications. “This pilot has proven that it is possible to effectively protect farmers from climate risks. Many lost everything last year, and this compensation gives them a real opportunity to recover.”
The Commissioner for Food Security also underlined the government’s commitment to scale. “This payout marks the beginning of a larger ambition. We will work with all stakeholders to build a national framework that can extend this kind of insurance to all Malian producers.”
The project is supported by several strategic partners including the Office du Moyen Bani, CMDT, MEREF-SFD, NYÈSIGISO, and the Cotton Producers’ Cooperative Confederation. It aligns with Mali’s national priorities to strengthen farmers’ economic resilience, secure their incomes, and build a more inclusive and climate-resilient agricultural sector.
Beyond the ceremony, this initiative signals a deeper shift — the emergence of a more stable, protected agricultural future in Mali. Through accessible, data-driven, and replicable insurance tools, farmers are being empowered to cross a threshold toward lasting transformation.
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