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\hypersetup{pdftitle={Crop Insurance Scheme as a Strategy for Climate Change Adaptation in Malawi: Opportunities and Challenges},pdfauthor={Oluyede C. Ajayi, Festus K. Akinnifesi, Gudenta Sileshi, A.O. Ajayi, S. Mng'omba, B.I. Nyoka, T. Beedy},pdfsubject={Tropentag 2010: Abstract},pdfkeywords={Climate adaptation, micro credit, natural resource management, Southern Africa, weather-based index},pdfpagemode=None,colorlinks=true}
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\parbox[b]{13.4cm}{\centering \large{\textbf{Tropentag, September 14-16, 2010, Zurich}}\\[1ex] \Large{``World Food System  ---\\A Contribution from Europe''\\[2ex]}}
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\begin{center}
\Large{\textbf{Crop Insurance Scheme as a Strategy for Climate Change Adaptation in Malawi: Opportunities and Challenges\footnote{\textbf{Contact Address:} Oluyede C. Ajayi, World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF), Economics \& Policy, P. O. Box 30798, Lilongwe, Malawi, \mbox{e-mail}: \email{o.c.ajayi@cgiar.org}}\\[0.8ex]}}
\normalsize{\textsc{Oluyede C. Ajayi, Festus K. Akinnifesi, Gudenta Sileshi, A.O. Ajayi, S. Mng'omba, B.I. Nyoka, T. Beedy}}
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\begin{itemize*}
\item[]{\small{\textit{World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF), Malawi}}}
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\index[author]{Ajayi, Oluyede C.}
\index[author]{Akinnifesi, Festus K.}
\index[author]{Sileshi, Gudenta}
\index[author]{Ajayi, A.O.}
\index[author]{Mng'omba, S.}
\index[author]{Nyoka, B.I.}
\index[author]{Beedy, T.}
\begin{center}
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\textbf{Abstract}
\begin{abstract}
\normalsize{
Climate change and weather extremes increase agricultural production uncertainties and may entrench a cycle of hunger and poverty among smallholder farmers. This is the case in Malawi where the economy is dominated by smallholder agriculture that is totally reliant upon erratic unimodal rainfall occurring in five months per year. Crop insurance has been advocated as adaptation strategies against uncertainties occasioned by climate change and erratic rainfall. A pilot project has been implemented for two years to test the concept. The objectives of this study are to \textbf{(i)}~conduct a field survey to assess the extent, causes of and coping mechanisms against crop failure in Malawi; \textbf{(ii)}~identify lessons learnt from a pilot crop insurance scheme; \textbf{(iii)}~assess the feasibility, opportunities and potential constraints for scaling up crop insurance to wider geographical areas.  



Results in southern region of Malawi show that the odds are \mbox{62\,\%} that households will experience crop failure at least once every five years. Over a third of households experienced crop failure for three or more years within the last five years. In two years, the pilot crop insurance scheme provided 2,600 smallholder farmers with insurance cover which enabled them to access improved agricultural inputs worth US\$145,000. Opportunities for crop insurance in Malawi include increased awareness on weather changes by the farming communities, political support and adoption of crop insurance as part of the national Agricultural Development Programme, existence of platform of institutions interested in crop insurance and, breakdown of traditional safety nets thus reinforcing need for formal insurance cover. Potential constraints include the open marketing of maize (the staple crop) which makes loan recovery difficult as insured crop is sold on side markets, lack of high quality data on historical weather information, high transaction costs to deal with several smallholder farmers, absence of farmers' database and credit worthiness. It is concluded that crop insurance is feasible depending on the extent to which the constraints are addressed.



}

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\noindent \textbf{Keywords:} Climate adaptation, micro credit, natural resource management, Southern Africa, weather"=based index
\index[key]{Climate adaptation}
\index[key]{Micro credit}
\index[key]{Natural!resource management}
\index[key]{Southern Africa}
\index[key]{Weather"=based index}
\end{document}