Under an insurance scheme, farmers can claim compensation for animals that have died as a result of pastures drying up. Photograph: Sayyid Azim/AP

Farmers who signed up to a livestock insurance scheme could receive their first payments, after the worst drought in the region for 60 years

Insurers will assess in October whether Kenyan farmers signed up to the index-based livestock insurance scheme will receive their first payment, after the worst drought in the region for 60 years.

The scheme, which has been piloted in northern Kenya since early 2010, uses freely available satellite data to assess the state of pastures. When the images show that pastures have dried up, farmers can claim compensation for animals that have died as a result — without insurers having to verify the deaths in person.  Read more….