Linking agricultural index insurance with factors that influence maize yield in rain-fed smallholder farming systems
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Date
Authors
Masiza, Wonga
Chirima, Johannes George
Hamandawana, Hamisai
Kalumba, Ahmed Mukalazi
Magagula, Hezekiel Bheki
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
MDPI
Abstract
Weather extremes pose substantial threats to food security in areas where the main source of livelihood is rain-fed crop production. In most of these areas, agricultural index insurance (AII) is recognized as being capable of securitizing food production by providing safety nets against weather-induced crop losses. Unfortunately, however, AII does not indemnify farmers for non weather-related crop losses. This study investigates how this gap can be filled by exploring strategies through which AII can be linked with non-weather factors that influence crop production. We do this by using an improvised variable ranking methodology to identify these factors in the O.R. Tambo District Municipality, South Africa. Results show that key agrometeorological variables comprising surface moisture content, growing degree-days, and precipitation influence maize yield even under optimal weather conditions, while seed variety, fertilizer application rate, soil pH, and ownership of machinery play an equally important role. This finding is important because it demonstrates that although AII focuses more on weather elements, there are non-weather variables that may expose
farmers to production risk even under optimal weather conditions. As such, linking AII with critical non-weather, yield-determining factors can be a better risk management strategy.
Description
Keywords
Agricultural insurance, Bundling, Crop yield, Risk management, Variable importance, Agricultural index insurance (AII)
Sustainable Development Goals
Citation
Masiza, W.; Chirima, J.G.;
Hamandawana, H.; Kalumba, A.M.;
Magagula, H.B. Linking Agricultural
Index Insurance with Factors That
Influence Maize Yield in Rain-Fed
Smallholder Farming Systems.
Sustainability 2021, 13, 5176.
https://doi.org/10.3390/su13095176.