What is greenhouse insurance?
Greenhouse insurance is agricultural insurance for the investment under plastic: the frame and polythene, the crop growing inside at its cost of production, irrigation equipment and, as options, machinery breakdown and produce in refrigerated transit. The main perils are fire, lightning, storm, hail, excessive rain and theft after a break-in.
The parts of a greenhouse policy
Structure and cladding
The steel or timber frame and the polythene, against fire, storm, hail and impact.
Growing crop
Tomatoes, capsicum, flowers or herbs inside, paid at their cost of production.
Irrigation equipment
Drip lines, pumps, tanks and fertigation units.
Machinery breakdown
Cold rooms, generators and pumps that fail suddenly.
Produce in transit
Harvested flowers or vegetables in a refrigerated truck to the airport or market.
Theft
Equipment and produce stolen after a forced entry.
How the sum insured is set
- The frame: what it costs to rebuild each house today.
- The polythene: its current value, which falls with age; insurers ask how old it is.
- The crop: inputs, labour and seedlings up to harvest, per house.
- Equipment: replacement cost of irrigation, cold rooms and pumps.
Under-insuring any part means a claim is scaled down in proportion, so revalue after expanding.
What growers should know
Published greenhouse covers insure the plastic cladding and frame, the growing crop at its cost of production, irrigation equipment, machinery breakdown and harvested produce in refrigerated transit. One insurer covers steel-framed greenhouses only.
Source: Kenyan insurers' greenhouse pages, checked 18 October 2026
Only one Kenyan insurer publishes rate bands: 4% to 9% of the sum insured for livestock and 4.5% to 15% for crops. Published minimum premiums run from KES 3,000 to 5,000, per farmer or per animal depending on the insurer.
Source: Kenyan insurers' agriculture pages, checked 18 October 2026
Insurance is exempt from VAT in Kenya, so no VAT is added to a crop or livestock premium. Fees for assessors and loss adjusters are not exempt.
Buying greenhouse cover
- Tell us about each house Size, frame, age of the polythene, crop and location.
- Farm visit Most insurers inspect before quoting.
- Compare terms We set out cover, the storm excess and any steel-only rule side by side.
- Cover starts Once the premium is paid; renew before the long rains.
Keeping greenhouse claims smooth
- Replace polythene on schedule and keep the receipts: aged plastic is not paid for.
- Record inputs and labour per house, so the crop's cost of production is easy to prove.
- Photograph each house at the start of cover and straight after any storm.
- Secure doors and stores; theft is only covered after a forced entry.
- Tell the insurer when you add houses, or the new ones are uninsured.
Frequently asked questions
What does greenhouse insurance cover?
It covers the structure and polythene, the crop growing inside, irrigation equipment and, as options, machinery breakdown and harvested produce in refrigerated transit. The main perils are fire, lightning, storm, hail, excessive rain, impact and theft after a break-in.
Is torn or worn polythene covered?
Polythene torn by a storm or hail is covered. Sheeting that has aged, faded in the sun or simply worn out is not, because wear and UV damage are not insured events. Insurers ask the age of your plastic, so replace it on schedule.
How is the sum insured for a greenhouse set?
Two parts: the cost of rebuilding the frame and re-cladding it, and the crop at its cost of production up to harvest. Add irrigation kit and any cold-chain transport separately. Keep receipts for the structure and a record of input costs per house.
How much does greenhouse insurance cost in Kenya?
No Kenyan insurer publishes a greenhouse rate, and most quote after a farm visit. The nearest published benchmark is 4.5% to 15% of the sum insured for crop cover. Expect an excess on storm damage, often 10% of each loss with a fixed minimum.
Can a wooden greenhouse be insured?
Sometimes. One insurer covers steel-framed greenhouses only, while others assess wooden structures case by case. Tell us the frame, age and size of each house and we approach the insurers that accept it.
Is there cover for flower farms and export produce?
Yes. Floriculture is written under crop and greenhouse cover, and the refrigerated-transit section protects cut flowers or vegetables on the way to the airport or market. For the international leg, exporters add marine cargo cover.
Do I need greenhouse insurance for a loan?
Lenders financing greenhouse kits increasingly ask for the structure to be insured until the loan is repaid. We arrange cover with the lender noted, so the loan is cleared if a storm flattens the house.
What does greenhouse insurance not cover?
Common exclusions are:
- Wear and tear, ageing and sun damage to polythene
- Pests and diseases you could have controlled
- Theft without forced entry
- Poor crop management or a crop planted out of season
- Gradual rust or rot in the frame
We go through the excess on storm and hail claims with you before you sign.
Storm season is coming
Tell us how many greenhouses you have, the frame and what you grow. We compare the insurers that cover them.
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Sources (4)
- Kenyan insurers' greenhouse pages, checked 18 October 2026
- Kenyan insurers' agriculture pages, checked 18 October 2026
- VAT Act 2013, First Schedule, Part II
- Business Daily, 4 August 2026
Facts and published prices checked 18 Oct 2026; last reviewed October 2026 by Naveah Capital. Rates shown are published bands, scheme figures and market estimates before levies, not a quote or a promise. Naveah Capital Insurance Agency is an IRA-licensed insurance agency in Nairobi; this page is general information, and your policy wording decides your cover.
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