Evaluation of maize farmers’ attitude towards risk management and preference for crop insurance in Nigeria

Abstract

This study focused on evaluation of maize farmers’ attitude towards risk management and preference for crop insurance in Nigeria. Multi-stage method of sampling was used. One hundred (100) maize producers were sampled and selected. Primary sources of data were used for this study and the data were collected through the use of well-structured and well-designed questionnaire. Econometrics and statistical tools employed were used for data analysis. The results obtained show that 51% of maize farmers were risk averse, 21% were risk preferring, and 28% were risk neutral. Age, gender, and education level were statistically and significant predictors influencing risk averse attitudes of maize farmers. Age, farm size, household size, gender, risk aversion, education level, and access to agricultural extension services were the statistically and significant predictors influencing preference of maize farmers for crop insurance policy. Garrett index ranking technique employed for risk management strategies and crop insurance policy adopted by maize farmers show that crop diversification was ranked 1st, weather information was ranked 2nd, crop insurance was ranked 3rd, and off-farm activities was ranked 4th respectively. The results of constraints faced by maize producers revealed that lack of extension services was ranked 1st, lack of credit facilities was ranked 2nd, inadequate knowledge of agricultural insurance was ranked 3rd, high premium of agricultural insurance was ranked 4th, while lack of fertilizer was ranked 5th respectively. The constraints retained explained 74.85% of all constraints in the analysis. The study recommends that extension officers should be employed to disseminate research results, innovations and information on risk management strategies and crop insurance to maize farmers. Weather information should be made available to maize farmers, and credit facilities at low interest rate should be provided to maize farmers. Bureaucratic process and cumbersome administrative procedures in accessing credit facilities should be removed.