Saturday Mar 21, 2026
Saturday Mar 21, 2026
Friday, 20 March 2026 00:04 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
The Agricultural and Agrarian Insurance Board has launched a new “pig insurance scheme” aimed at strengthening and sustaining the country’s commercial pig industry.
The scheme, introduced in collaboration with the Department of Animal Production and Health, comes under the purview of the Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation Ministry and is designed to provide financial protection to farmers engaged in commercial-scale pig farming.
Agricultural and Agrarian Insurance Board Chairman Pemasiri Jasingarachchi said under the new initiative, insurance coverage will be extended to breeding pigs maintained on registered commercial farms. The policy covers deaths caused by accidents and diseases, offering relief to farmers facing unexpected losses.
Eligibility for coverage applies to breeding pigs aged between six months and four and a half years. “Farmers can obtain insurance based on the declared value of the breeding animal, with coverage available up to a maximum of Rs. 200,000, or based on the replacement or production cost,” he said.
He stressed that the scheme specifically covers claims relating to the death of breeding pigs due to insured causes and does not extend to other types of losses.
To qualify for compensation, farmers are required to maintain their farms in accordance with the biosecurity guidelines issued by the Department of Animal Production and Health, ensuring proper disease control and management standards are upheld. It was noted that the new insurance scheme is expected to enhance stability within the pig farming sector by mitigating financial risks and encouraging adherence to improved farm management practices.
