Uptake and utilization of agricultural insurance in Uganda: a study of small holder farmers In Wakiso District

Abstract

The study investigated the uptake and utilization of agricultural insurance in Uganda, using small Holder farmers in Wakiso district as a case study. The study was guided by four research objectives namely; to assess the awareness of small Holder farmers about the existing agriculture insurance scheme, to examine how socio-economic factors influence uptake and utilization of agriculture insurance by small holder farmers, to examine the role of the different stakeholders in implementation of agricultural insurance and to determine the outcome of the uptake and utilization of agricultural insurance for the small holder farmers in Wakiso district. The study adopted a cross sectional survey design where both quantitative and qualitative approaches were used. In this study, out of the 144 questionnaires administered, 100 were returned correctly filled representing 69%. Out of the 07 respondents that were targeted for key informant interviews, only 05 were actually interviewed implying a response rate of 71%. The data were collected using questionnaires and interviews, quantitative analysis was done using Pearson correlation coefficients and qualitative analysis was done using content and thematic analysis. The study found that awareness influences the use of Agriculture insurance among farmers in Wakiso district. The study also found that socio-economic factors such as the cost of insurance, type of farming practiced, risks surrounding crops and livestock and income generated from farming influences the use of Agriculture Insurance. The study finally found that stakeholders influence the use of Agriculture insurance through insurance through offering insurance at high costs premiums, long procedures in the acquisition of the policy, delays in compensation in case of loss, inadequate creation of awareness on the available policies and limited risk coverage by the insurance firms. The study concluded that lack of awareness, socio-economic factors and stakeholder related factors influences the uptake of Agriculture insurance among small holder farmers in Wakiso district. It was recommended that more awareness should be created among farmers on the benefits and the importance of use of Agriculture insurance. The study finally recommends that another study to be done on the benefits of use of Agriculture insurance to farmers which was not the focus of this study.