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Santam at NAMPO Cape: Protecting farmers and securing South Africa’s food future

Santam’s presence at NAMPO Cape highlights its commitment to farmers, brokers, and cooperatives - protecting agriculture and strengthening South Africa’s food security.
Written by
Hanlie Kroese
Published on
September 18, 2025
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Every September, the town of Bredasdorp in the Western Cape becomes the epicentre of South African agriculture during NAMPO Cape.  

Hosted by Grain SA and Bredasdorp Park NPC, the event has quickly established itself as the Western Cape’s premier agricultural trade show. While the larger NAMPO Harvest Day in Bothaville is known across the southern hemisphere, NAMPO Cape brings the same spirit of innovation, knowledge-sharing, and collaboration to the heart of the country’s grain, livestock, and fruit production region.

When I caught up with Hanlie Kroese, Business Development Manager at Santam, at NAMPO Cape, she underscored why events like these matter for the insurance industry:

“NAMPO Cape is more than a showcase of machinery and seed trials. It’s where we talk with farmers about their risks, their ambitions, and their role in safeguarding food security. For Santam, it’s an opportunity to show that we are not just an insurer, we are part of the farming community.”

Agriculture’s unique risk profile - The Western Cape is a critical contributor to South Africa’s agricultural output, from wine and fruit exports to grain and livestock. But the region’s farmers face mounting risks. Unpredictable rainfall, severe droughts, and more recently, devastating floods and winds have underlined the sector’s exposure to climate volatility. Beyond weather, farmers also contend with pests, diseases, fluctuating markets, and rising input costs.

Agricultural insurance is therefore not a luxury, but a necessity. Unlike standard insurance products, crop insurance must address the complexities of partial losses, yield estimation, and seasonal cycles. Agronomists and loss adjusters are essential in assessing damages accurately, ensuring that payouts reflect the real impact on farmers’ livelihoods.

Brokers and Cooperatives at the centre - In South Africa, 90% of Agri-insurance is broker-driven, and the Western Cape is no exception. Cooperatives, which bundle financing, inputs, and insurance, remain a cornerstone of the value chain. Independent brokers also play an indispensable role, especially in smaller towns where relationships with farmers are deeply personal.

“Agri insurance is niche and knowledge-intensive,” Hanlie explained. “Brokers need to understand planting cycles, risk profiles, and regulatory requirements. That’s why Santam invests so heavily in training and accreditation, we want to empower brokers to give farmers the best possible advice.”

In practice, this means intensive seasonal training aligned with the insurance cycle. For example, winter crops in the Western Cape are typically insured between May and August, requiring brokers to be fully up to date on product features and compliance requirements during that time.

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“No insurer can tackle climate risk alone. Partnerships between insurers, cooperatives, regulators, and government are essential. Farmers need systemic solutions, not quick fixes.”

Hanlie Kroese
Santam

Evolving farm risks in the western cape - At NAMPO Cape, one could see firsthand how farming in the province is evolving. Beyond traditional cultivation, farmers are investing in cold storage facilities, wine cellars, solar installations, and packaging plants. These diversification efforts generate new income streams but also expose farms to risks not covered by standard policies.

It is important to note that farming is not static. Every new structure, third-party arrangement, or asset, whether a bottling plant or a harvesting contract, introduces new exposures. If not disclosed, they could leave farmers underinsured. This is where brokers again prove critical. By maintaining close relationships and conducting regular policy reviews, they ensure that new risks are captured, regulatory standards are met, and farmers remain adequately covered.

The climate challenge - The Western Cape has felt the sharp end of climate volatility in recent years, from record-breaking droughts to widespread flooding. These events have underscored the need for advanced risk modelling and innovative insurance solutions. Santam and other leading insurers are increasingly turning to satellite imagery, data analytics, and digital claims platforms to refine assessments and speed up payouts.

But as Hanlie noted, “No insurer can tackle climate risk alone. Partnerships between insurers, cooperatives, regulators, and government are essential. Farmers need systemic solutions, not quick fixes.”

Why NAMPO Cape matters - Events like NAMPO Cape are uniquely valuable because they combine technology, expertise, and dialogue in one space. Farmers can compare hundreds of products, test machinery, and hear directly from specialists. For Santam, being present at NAMPO Cape means being part of these conversations, not only about risk transfer, but about resilience, sustainability, and the future of farming.

Grain SA has been intentional in ensuring that NAMPO Cape, like its Free State counterpart, remains trade-focused, offering producers direct access to innovations and expert advice rather than drifting toward entertainment. This ensures that the exhibition continues to be one of the strongest contributors to food security in South Africa and beyond.

Looking ahead - The agricultural insurance market in South Africa may be modest in size (about R2.7 billion in premiums), but its importance is outsized. Every accurately assessed loss, every well-trained broker, and every partnership with a cooperative strengthens the foundation of national food security.

As climate volatility increases and farming operations become more complex with higher value assets, insurers will need to design flexible products, embrace digital tools, and keep investing in knowledge. Brokers, in turn, must evolve from intermediaries to risk advisors, embedded in the long-term planning of their clients’ businesses.

NAMPO Cape is a reminder that agriculture is both tradition and transformation. By standing alongside farmers at events like this, Santam demonstrates its commitment to sustainable farming and resilient communities.  

Because in the end, agricultural insurance is not just about financial protection, it’s about ensuring that South Africa’s fields remain productive, its farmers supported, and its people fed.

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