Assessment Of Farmers\' Perception And Participation In The Agricultural Insurance Scheme In Oredo And Ikpoba – Okha Local Government Areas Of Edo State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study assessed the perception and participation of farmers in the agricultural insurance scheme. Oredo and Ikpoba – Okha Local Government areas were used for the study with a sample size of 60 farmers randomly selected from 104 registered farmers. Results showed that less than half (46.7%) participated in the scheme, while only 55.0 % of the respondents were aware of the scheme and the major source of information for them (57.6%) was the Nigerian Agricultural Cooperative and Rural Development Bank (NARCDB). Majority of those who insured perceived insurance to be important (71.4%) but they participated in the scheme as a means of obtaining loan. Those who did not insure or participated (53.6%) were indifferent to the scheme and the major perceived hindrance to their non – participation was the complex bureaucracy involved. Those who insured were satisfied with the scheme and perceived agricultural insurance to be beneficial. It was recommended that there is need for enlightenment programmes on agricultural insurance through the mass media and should be included in extension messages.

Keywords: Perception, Participation, Agricultural Insurance

JOAFSS Vol. 4 (1) 2006: pp. 80-88