Climate variability and the role of access to crop insurance as a social-protection measure: insights from India

Panda, Architesh. 2013. Climate variability and the role of access to crop insurance as a social-protection measure: insights from India. Development Policy Review, Volume 31, no. s2

Based on a primary survey conducted in India, this article examines the merits of crop insurance in adapting to the changing climate. However, lack of awareness and the complicated process of agricultural insurance were found to be major obstacles to the uptake of such schemes among small and marginal farmers. While crop insurance might help farmers at the household level, there is a need in developing countries like India to devise insurance schemes that take account of the long‐term negative consequences of present adaptation practices.