Perceptions of Rural Livestock Insurance among Livestock Producers and Insurance Specialists in Isfahan Province, Iran

Abstract

The purpose of this descriptive and correlational study was to describe the perceptions of livestock producers and insurance specialists regarding livestock insurance in Isfahan Province, Iran. Using cluster sampling techniques, 236 livestock producers and 22 insurance specialists were chosen to participate in the study. Results show that livestock producers perceived that agriculture and livestock producers are continuously faced with risks and dangers and that livestock insurance is beneficial to farmers. Livestock producers indicated that over the past five years, diseases, wild animal attacks, drought, and theft were primarily responsible for damage and loss in their operations. Of livestock producers adopting insurance, most indicated the attitude that insurance specialists and insurance costs were good. Major obstacles hampering the development of rural livestock insurance as perceived by insurance specialists includes lack of equipment and facilities for personnel at the agriculture bank branches and lack of knowledge by livestock producers of the benefits of livestock insurance.