agriculture

Historically, Botswana is an agricultural economy with cattle breeding as the main activity. However, the lack of financial security in the agricultural sector has seen a down turn in economic activity
.
General Insurance Botswana (Pty) limited realizes the need to provide the requisite financial security to the farming community, thus the introduction of Crop and Livestock insurance.

Cattle Insurance

As well as introducing cover for other livestock, GIB now offers the first cattle insurance in Botswana.

The insurance shall cover animal stocks per location broken down in groups as follows:
Dairy cows, Heifers, Calves, Young stock, Fattening cattle

All animals in good health from the age of six months may be admitted under this insurance. Females at the end of the tenth year and fattening cattle at the end of the third year may no longer be covered.
A uniform sum insured per animal shall be determined for each group. The multiplication of the uniform sum insured by the number of animals per group results in the total sum insured per group and location .

The insurance shall not cover animals that are not kept and managed in compliance with governmental regulations on the protection of animals and animal keeping or with general standards.

Other Livestock Insurance

As well as cattle, GIB offers cover for a range of livestock including:

Pigs
Sheep
Poultry
Game animals

Insured Losses and Perils

The insurance shall cover losses proven to have been caused by the following perils:

1) Death or emergency slaughter as a result of disease or epidemics.
2) Death or emergency slaughter as a result of accident.
3) Death or emergency slaughter as a result of fire, explosion, lightning inundation or windstorm.
4) Theft or slaughter with the intention of committing theft. Cover shall not apply to losses due to mysterious disappearance of livestock.

General Exclusions

The insurance shall not indemnify the Insured in respect of loss, damage or liability directly or indirectly caused by or arising out of or aggravated by:

a) War and kindred risks;
b) Nuclear reaction, nuclear radiation or
radioactive contamination;
c) Willful negligence of the Insured or
Representatives;
d) Ceasation of work.

Claims Procedure

In the event of a loss the Insured shall notify the insurer immediately, at the latest within 48 hours. The Insured shall also immediately notify the Insurer of suspected diseases or epidemics or any official measure. Notification not initially made in writing shall subsequently be made in writing .In the event of diseases and accidents the Insured shall immediately consult a veterinary surgeon and, at the Insurer’s request, submit a veterinary report .

The insured may carry out emergency slaughter only with the consent of the Insurer unless time does not allow for such consent to be obtained.

The Insured shall whenever possible take action for loss prevention or minimization while complying with the Insurer’s instructions to the extent that such instructions do not contradict official orders.

When an indemnifiable loss occurs the Insured shall give the Insurer an opportunity to ascertain the cause and extent of the loss.

The Insured shall be obliged to report theft to the Insurer and to competent police authorities.
The Insurer shall released from his obligation to provide indemnity if the Insured fails to comply with the above requirements.