Factors contributing towards contituation of agricultural products insurance among Iranin farmers

  Agricultural crop insurance provides protection for participating farmers against the financial losses caused by droughts, floods, or other natural disasters. Farmers’ participation is voluntary. Although it is important to encourage as many farmers as possible to adopt crop insurance, a more crucial task is continuation of insurance by farmers. Therefore, study of determinants of continuation of agricultural insurance by farmers can play an important role in success of Agricultural Products Insurance Fund programs. A nation wide multi-stage random sample of 1241 farmers was interviewed in a survey research methodology in 2004. Diffusion, farm-structure and integrated models were used as the theoretical base of the study. The findings indicated that satisfaction from insurance, attitudes towards insurance, bank accountability, amount of indemnity received and degree of awareness about insurance are among the most important factors contributing towards continuation of crop insurance by farmers. Recommendations for better practice are offered.    JEL code: G22