Chile renews free fruit fly insurance for growers

Chile’s Ministry of Agriculture has renewed a collective insurance policy that protects growers from losses caused by fruit fly control measures. The policy will remain in place for another year and is available to producers with up to 50 hectares of fruit and vegetable crops, according to Frutas de Chile.

The insurance applies when Chile’s Agricultural and Livestock Service, SAG, orders fruit or vegetables to be removed and destroyed after a Mediterranean fruit fly outbreak is detected. It covers farms located within 200 metres of the confirmed outbreak.

Growers do not have to pay for the insurance, as Agroseguros will cover the full cost of the policy. The programme is available across Chile, from the Arica and Parinacota region in the north to Magallanes in the south.

Compensation is set at CLP800 per kilogram of destroyed produce. Payments are limited to 10,000 kilograms per hectare and one hectare per producer. At least 200 kilograms of produce must be removed and destroyed for a grower to qualify. The final payment will be based on the amount recorded by SAG officials.

To receive compensation, growers must allow SAG staff to enter their farms and carry out the required control measures. A producer who blocks access or refuses to follow the official instructions will lose the right to payment.

Chile remains officially free of fruit fly, but isolated outbreaks continue to create risks for growers and export markets. The renewed insurance is intended to reduce the financial impact on producers whose crops must be destroyed to stop the pest from spreading.

source and photo: frutasdechile.cl