Abstract

Kelechi Ajunwa, Uzoma Osuji and James Ikedi Njoku

The importance of insurance in mitigating food insecurity necessitated this study that analyzed rural cassava farmers’ participation in the Nigeria agricultural insurance scheme in Imo State, Nigeria. The study focused on the socio-economic differentials of participants and non participant; reasons for participation and determinants of participation. Data collected from 90 sampled cassava farmers using structured questionnaire and interview schedule were analyzed with the aid of percentage count, frequency tables, z-test and logit regression model at 0.05 levels of significance. The result shows socio-economic differentials in the age, education, farming experience, social organization membership, status of participants and non participants in the scheme. The reasons cited for participation included the acquisition of loan and continuation of business even after suffering losses. While the reasons for non – participation included inadequate knowledge of the scheme and cost of insurance, the socio-economic and farm enterprise characteristics of age, education, marital status, farming status, farming experience, farm size and credit opportunity, determines the farmers that participated in the scheme. It was recommended that extension education campaign be mounted for enlightenment of the scheme and consideration should be given to the farmers socio-economic and farm enterprise characteristics in designing intervention strategies and advocacy on the scheme.