For Growers and Producers
Agricultural Insurance in St. Maarten
Farming on a small island comes with its own challenges, such as storms, drought, theft and rising costs. Agricultural insurance is designed to address some of the risks to buildings, equipment, animals and income for small farms, nurseries, livestock keepers and food producers.
In short: Agricultural insurance is a group of policies that may cover farm buildings, equipment, animals, stored produce and visitor liability against events such as storms, fire and theft. Crop insurance for growing plants can be limited in small markets, so availability depends on the insurer and the operation.
Insurance for a Small Island Farm
St. Maarten’s agriculture is small-scale: kitchen gardens, nurseries, poultry, goats, sheep, bee-keeping, aquaponics and farm-to-table producers supplying restaurants and markets. A hurricane, flood or theft can cause significant losses, and insurance is one of the ways some producers look to manage that financial risk. Hurricane Irma in September 2017 caused widespread damage on the island, and Atlantic hurricane season runs from 1 June to 30 November each year.
What May Be Insured
Depending on the insurer and policy wording, items that may be considered include:
- Farm buildings and structures: barns, coops, sheds, greenhouses and fencing.
- Machinery and equipment: tractors, tools, irrigation systems, pumps and generators.
- Livestock: loss through accident, illness or storm, subject to conditions.
- Stock and produce: harvested crops and stored products, including cold-room contents.
- Farm liability: injury to visitors, customers or neighbours, and damage to their property.
- Farm vehicles: utility vehicles and pick-ups used on the property.
- Business interruption: loss of income after an insured event.
Crop insurance for growing plants, as opposed to harvested stock, can be limited in small markets. Availability depends on the insurer and the operation.
Common Risks
- Hurricanes, strong winds and flooding
- Fire and electrical faults
- Theft of animals, produce and tools
- Disease outbreaks in livestock
- Injury to visitors on farm tours or pick-your-own days
- Spoilage caused by power cuts or equipment failure
Points Insurers May Ask About
- Records of animals, equipment and stock.
- Property security, such as fencing, locks and lighting.
- How structures are built or reinforced against storms.
- Maintenance of generators and refrigeration.
- Disease prevention and vaccination records.
Farm Insurance in Sint Maarten and Saint Martin
Producers in Sint Maarten and Saint Martin often supply restaurants, hotels and markets in an economy that depends on tourism, so an interruption after a storm can affect both the farm and its buyers. Because the island relies on imports, replacement equipment, building materials and spare parts may take time to arrive after a storm. It can help to ask how an insurer treats repair or replacement and whether business interruption is available. Generators, cold rooms, greenhouses and fencing are examples of items to list with their values. The currency of the sum insured and premium is also worth checking: US dollars are widely used locally, but a policy may be written in another currency. An advisor can go through these points with you.
Related Cover
Other Policies to Consider
Farm cover may be considered alongside property insurance, public liability if visitors are welcome, workers’ compensation for farmhands, and commercial auto for delivery vehicles.
Contact Us
You can speak with an advisor about what you grow or keep, how large the operation is and which risks matter most to you. An advisor can discuss what may be available from insurers. Request a call back or call +1 721 542 5078.
Frequently asked questions
What can be insured on a small farm?
Depending on the insurer and policy wording, it may be possible to insure farm buildings, greenhouses and fencing, machinery and irrigation equipment, livestock (subject to conditions), harvested stock and cold-room contents, farm vehicles, and liability for visitors and neighbours.
Is crop insurance available?
Cover for plants growing in the field can be limited in small markets. Availability depends on the insurer and the operation. An advisor can discuss what may be available and how stored and harvested produce might be covered.
What do insurers often look at on a farm?
Insurers may ask about records of animals, equipment and stock, property security, how structures are built or reinforced against storms, the upkeep of generators and refrigeration, and vaccination and disease-prevention records. Requirements depend on the insurer.
Can goats, sheep or poultry be insured in St. Maarten?
Livestock cover may be available from some insurers, subject to conditions. Insurers may ask about the number of animals, records, housing and disease-prevention measures. Availability depends on the insurer and the operation.
Is hurricane damage to a greenhouse or farm building covered in St. Maarten?
It depends on the insurer and policy wording. Storm and wind cover, deductibles and conditions for structures vary, and some policies treat named storms separately. It is worth reading these terms before hurricane season, which runs from 1 June to 30 November.
Is agricultural insurance available on the French side (Saint-Martin) as well as in St. Maarten?
The Enterprise Insurance offices are in Philipsburg and Cole Bay on the Dutch side. Insurers, rules and supervision differ between Sint Maarten and Saint-Martin, so availability depends on where the person, property or business is located and on the insurer. An advisor can explain what may be possible and whether a French-side insurer or intermediary is needed.
Last reviewed by the Enterprise Insurance team, St. Maarten. This website gives general information about insurance. It is not personal advice, a recommendation or an offer of cover. Terms, limits, exclusions and availability depend on the insurer and the policy wording.
Insurers an advisor may approach
Depending on the type of cover, an advisor may request quotes from insurers such as NAGICO, ICWI, Gulf Insurance, Ennia, Caribbean Alliance Insurance and Guardian Group. Which insurers can quote depends on the risk.
Contact Enterprise Insurance
If you would like to talk through your insurance needs, you can call or visit one of the offices in Philipsburg or Cole Bay, or request a call back using the form. An advisor can discuss your situation, explain how different types of cover work and answer questions about policies you already have. What suits you depends on your own circumstances.
- PhilipsburgIllidge Road #60, Philipsburg
- Cole Bay69 Welfare Road
- Call us +1 721 542 5078+1 721 544 3050
Request a Call Back
Leave your details and a short note about what you would like to discuss, and someone from the team can contact you. Please do not include payment or other sensitive personal details in the message.