Farmers Urged to Sign Up for GK Insurance In Preparation for Dry Period
By: , December 8, 2025
Photo: Donald De La Haye
Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, Hon. Floyd Green (5th right), shakes hands with the GraceKennedy (GK) Group's Head of General Insurance, Tammara Glaves-Hucey (4th left), during the recent symbolic handover of a $2.88 million insurance payout under the GK Weather Protection Programme, to 98 farmers affected by Hurricane Melissa, at the Agriculture Ministry in St. Andrew. Sharing the moment are Assistant General Manager for Client and Partner Services at GK General Insurance, Andrea Muir Gibbs (3rd left); Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) Chief Executive Officer, Garnet Edmondson (5th left); Client and Partner Services Manager at GK General Insurance, Orette Duncan (4th right), and several farmer beneficiaries.The Full Story
Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, Hon. Floyd Green, is appealing to farmers to sign up for the Government’s GK Insurance Programme, particularly as they prepare for the upcoming dry period.
“It might make sense to get some protection against drought as we go into what will be a very hot period,” he said.
The GK Insurance Programme provides protection against losses caused by hurricanes, storms, droughts, and other natural disasters.
Speaking at the official opening of two solar-powered cold storage containers in Flagaman, St. Elizabeth on Friday (Dec. 5), Minister Green highlighted the importance of insurance as a tool for safeguarding investments and promoting resilience in the agricultural sector.
He noted that payouts from the programme have already reached farmers affected by Hurricane Melissa, helping them recover quickly and minimise financial losses.
“Every single person who signed up for the GK insurance is getting a payout because of Hurricane Melissa. Unfortunately, it was only about 100 people. If it was 10,000 people [who signed up], 10,000 would’ve gotten a payout; if it was 100,000, 100,000 would’ve gotten a payout. Most people got their payouts within two weeks,” he pointed out.
He noted that the Government is actively supporting farmers to participate in the programme, particularly those who are unable to afford premiums.
“I have said the first 2,000 people who signed up for the GK insurance, the Government will pay for you. You don’t have to pay a dollar. We will pay the base for you,” he said.
“In fact, of the [over] 100 people that got a payout, 95 or [so] of them paid no money because it was the Government who paid. The base is like $3,000, so, what you can also do is take the base that we pay and add on some money on that,” he explained.
Noting that the GK Insurance Programme is “tried and tested”, Minister Green said that “for every weather event, Hurricane Beryl, Tropical Storm Rafael, and Hurricane Melissa, farmers have received money from their insurance. I would urge all of you to sign up.”