General insurance company AXA has announced its entry into the farm insurance market here.
AXA said it was launching a range of new insurance products targeted at farmers and their families which will be available across the country through branches, farm advisors, brokers and online.
AXA said the new products will cover all standard farm insurance categories along with other items and services not typically available including insurance for additional business activities such as guest houses.
Initial products will include property cover for homes and farm property, livestock cover, cover for crops, milk and forestry, cover for farm vehicles, income protection and loss of income cover as well as employers and public liability cover.
Antoinette McDonald, director of Direct Distribution and Customer Experience at AXA, said the company had been preparing for a move into the farm sector for over a year.
"AXA want to offer farmers new, innovative insurance products combined with excellent service, from a company they can trust," she said.
The company has opened a specialist farm centre in Athlone, with a dedicated agri-specialist telephony service. She said the company will assist customers through its nationwide brokerage system, its online service and its branch network.
The head of Farm at AXA, Christy Doherty, said the core AXA offering would be branded as AXA Smart Farm.
He said it would deliver "farm friendly products" supported by leading edge technology and service with tailored offers for different size farms.
