Village and Development

Village and Development

Examining the Satisfaction Level of Date Insurance Policyholder Villagers in Date-Producing Provinces of the Country (Tobit Heckman's Approach)

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
1 PhD Student of Agricultural Economics, University of Sistan and Baluchestan, Zahedan, Iran.
2 Assistant Professor of Agricultural Economics, University of Sistan and Baluchestan, Zahedan, Iran.
3 Associate Professor of Agricultural Economics, University of Sistan and Baluchestan, Zahedan, Iran.
Abstract
Introduction
Meeting the expectations of farmers (insurers) who are key stakeholders in the insurance sector is crucial for the sustainability and growth of villages and the insurance industry. This study explores the factors influencing the satisfaction of date insurance policyholders, considering both economic and non-economic motivations. Regional differences may also play a role in determining satisfaction levels.
Materials and Methods
To analyze the variables affecting the decision to purchase insurance and the willingness to be insured, Heckman's two-stage model was employed. Dates are a significant agricultural product in the Middle East region, particularly in Iran's southern and central provinces. Date insurance plays a vital role in supporting the production and export of this product. This study focuses on assessing the satisfaction levels of date insurance policyholders in six major date-producing provinces of Iran: Sistan and Baluchestan, Khuzestan, Kerman, Fars, Bushehr, and Hormozgan. Data was collected through a researcher-designed questionnaire administered to 105 insurance brokers using random sampling. The analysis utilized Heckman's two-stage Tobit model with Shazam software.
Results and Discussion
The results of the first stage, employing the probit model, indicate the explanatory power and accuracy of the model in predicting willingness to insure date products. The area under cultivation emerged as a significant factor influencing the willingness to be insured. In the second stage, the Heckman model revealed that variables such as cultivated area, agricultural insurance and marketing contracts significantly impacted the satisfaction level of date insurance policyholders. Cultivated area had the most positive effect on willingness to insure date crops, highlighting its importance in insurance decisions. Conversely, variables like education, social networks, and land ownership had a negative impact on satisfaction levels.
Conclusions
The findings suggest that policymakers should focus on enhancing the satisfaction of date farmers by integrating date lands to boost production and export opportunities. This approach can increase farmers' income and contribute to the sustainability and growth of villages and the insurance industry.
Keywords

Subjects


  1. Ainollahi, M., Ghahremanzadeh, M. & Dashti, Gh. (2019). Evaluating the possibility of utilizing whole-farm revenue insurance in Zanjan city. Agricultural Economics13(2), 51-82. https://doi.org/22034/iaes.2019.107554.1690. [In Persian]
  2. Akbari, A., Shahikitash, M.N. & Yazdani, F. (2014). Factors affecting pistachio production uncertainty in Sirjan. Journal of Agricultural Economics Research6(23), 175-190. [In Persian]
  3. Alam, A.F., Begum, H., Masud, M.M., Al-Amin, A.Q. & Leal Filho, W. (2020). Agriculture insurance for disaster risk reduction: A case study of Malaysia. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction47, 101626. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijdrr.2020.101626.
  4. Ali, W. (2022). Essays on formal and informal risk management in agriculture: behavioral insights on cocoa farmers in Ghana, PhD Thesis of the Institute of Food Economics and Consumption Studies of the Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel.
  5. Alizadeh, I., & Sheikhi, M. (2017). Factors affecting farmers' willingness to insurance agricultural products (Case study: Ramhormoz city). 7th National Conference on Sustainable Agriculture and Natural Resources. [In Persian]
  6. Amini, A.M., & Ramezani, M. (2001). Insurance of agricultural products, an inevitable solution to achieve development goals. Conference on Agricultural Insurance, Development and Investment Security, Tehran. [in Persian]
  7. Awondo, S.N., Kostandini, G., Setimela, P. & Erenstein, O. (2020). Multi‐site bundling of drought tolerant maize varieties and index insurance. Journal of Agricultural Economics, 71(1), 239-259. https://doi.org/10.1111/1477-9552.12344.
  8. Basharande Saluti, M., & Tavakoli Dastjardi, N. (2018). Investigating the economic factors affecting the acceptance of agricultural products insurance (Case study: Colzakaran of Golugah city). 9th National Conference on Sustainable Agriculture and Natural Resources. [In Persian]
  9. Fallahi, E., & Gholinezhad, S. (2014). Identifying and ranking the effective factors on farmers' satisfaction of rice crop insurance in Mazandaran province; the application of analytical hierarchy process approach. Agricultural Economics Research6(21), 131-154. [In Persian]
  10. Fely, S., Pezeshk irad, Gh.R., Chizari, M. & Baghaei, M. (2008). Factors affecting wheat growers' participation in the wheat project: A case study of Tehran province in Iran. Village and Development, 11(3), 123-141. [In Persian]
  11. Ghalavand, K., Chizari, M., Fely, S. & Baghaii, M. (2006). Study of factors effective in adoption of crop insurance among wheat farmers in Tehran& Mazandaran provinces. The Quarterly Journal of Insurance and Agriculture (QJIA), 3(11), 68-68. [In Persian]
  12. Gu, H.Y., & Wang, C.W. (2020). Impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on vegetable production and countermeasures from an agricultural insurance perspective. Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 19(12), 2866-‏ https://doi.org/10.1016/S2095-3119(20)63429-3.
  13. Hasdemir, M., & Ozudogru, H. (2018). Satisfaction levels of insured apricot producers towards agricultural insurance services. Journal of Agricultural Science, 10(3), 111.‏ https://doi.org/10.5539/jas.v10n3p111.
  14. Hosseinnejad Mir, N., Gholamrezai, S., Rahimian, M. & Rahmani Karchegani, M. (2019). Exploring the solutions of agricultural insurance development in Iran. Village and Development, 22(1), 71-86. https://doi.org/10.30490/rvt.2019.91766. [In Persian]
  15. Hu, C., Adams, D.C., Feng, H. & Cheng, J. (2023). Refining the rent dissipation model in land use: Application to agricultural insurance in China. Land12(2), 278. https://doi.org/10.3390/land12020278.
  16. Ifft, J., Kuethe, T. & Morehart, M. (2013). Farm debt use by farms with crop insurance. Choices28(3), 1-5.
  17. Jamanal, S.K., Natikar, K.V. & Halakatti, S.V. (2019). Satisfaction level of insured farmers about crop insurance schemes in Northern Karnataka. Current Journal of Applied Science and Technology, 38(4), 1-8.‏ https://doi.org/10.9734/cjast/2019/v38i430370.
  18. Kalvani, S. (2019). Investigating the factors affecting the satisfaction of farmers in Babol city with agricultural products insurance. The Fourth National Conference on New Approaches in Education and Research. [In Persian]
  19. Karaminasab, S., & Shahbazi H.R, (2019). The role of dates in Iran's agricultural economy and human health. National Conference on Sustainable Development with the Opportunity and Investment Challenges Approach in the Terrible Area. Kashmar. [In Persian]
  20. Khodaverdizadeh, M., Hayati, B., Raheli, H. & Kavoosi Kalashami, M. (2015). Estimating the recreational value and determining effective parameters on willingness to pay of saint Stephanus Charch visitors by applying two Stages Heckman Approach. Journal of Environmental Science and Technology, 17(2), 105-116. [In Persian]
  21. King, M., & Singh, A.P. (2020). Understanding farmers’ valuation of agricultural insurance: Evidence from Vietnam. Food Policy, 94, 101861.‏ https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodpol.2020.101861.
  22. Knapp, L., Wuepper, D., Dalhaus, T. & Finger, R. (2021). Revisiting the diversification and insurance relationship: Differences between on–and off-farm strategies. Climate Risk Management32, 100315. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.crm.2021.100315.
  23. Lapachi, A. (2021). Challenges and perspectives of agricultural insurance in Georgia. In the 2nd International scientific and practical conference Results of Modern Scientific Research and Development (May 2-4, 2021) Barca Academy Publishing, Madrid, Spain. 2021. 640 p. (p. 500).
  24. Li, L., Wang, J. & Zhao, J. (2010). Study on the consumer satisfaction of agricultural insurance based on fuzzy comprehensive evaluation and Markov chain method. 2010 Seventh International Conference on Fuzzy Systems and Knowledge Discovery. IEEE.‏ Yantai, China. https://doi.org/10.1109/FSKD.2010.5569178.
  25. Li, C.S., Liu, C.C. & Zhang, Y. (2017). Determinants of agricultural household demand for insurance in China from 2004 to 2007. China Agricultural Economic Review9(4), 660-667. DOI: 10.1108/CAER-08-2017-0154
  26. List, G., Laszlo, S. & Coomes, O.T. (2019). Mitigating risk for floodplain agriculture in Amazonia: A role for index-based flood insurance. Climate and Development12(7), 649-663. https://doi.org/10.1080/17565529.2019.1674125.
  27. Mirzad, N., Abedi Sarvestani, A. & Abdolahzadeh, Gh. (2021). Pattern of factors affecting the acceptance of agricultural insurance by palm growers in Iranshahr city, Sistan and Baluchestan province. Geography and Development18(61), 91-114. http://dx.doi.org/10.22111/J10.22111.2021.5834. [in Persian]
  28. Mohapatra, L., Dhaliwal, R.K. & Kaur, M. (2016). Farmers' knowledge about the agricultural insurance scheme in Punjab. Indian Research Journal of Extension Education16(1), 49-53.
  29. Mollashahi, M., Ahmadpour, M., Ziaee, S. & Moradi, E. (2021). Spatial analysis of economic factors affecting agricultural production.Quarterly Journal of Quantitative Economics18(3), 163-‏ https://doi.org/10.22055/jqe.2021.30224.2117. [In Persian]
  30. Mollashahi, Gh.A. (2016). Determination amount of farmers satisfuction from wheat insurance and effecting factors in Zabol township. Journal of Agricultural Extension and Education Research, 8(4), 1-12. [In Persian]
  31. Nguyen, K.A.T., Nguyen, T.A.T., Bui, C.T., Jolly, C. & Nguelifack, B.M. (2021). Shrimp farmers risk management and demand for insurance in Ben Tre and Tra Vinh provinces in Vietnam. Aquaculture Reports, 19, 100606.‏ https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aqrep.2021.100606.
  32. Niakan, L., & Khadivar, A. (2022). Analysis of the needs and expectations of the policyholders of the Agricultural Insurance Fund. Agricultural Economics, 16(3), 145-167. https://doi.org/22034/iaes.2022.555857.1928. [In Persian]
  33. Niu, Z., Yi, F. & Chen, C. (2022). Agricultural insurance and agricultural fertilizer non-point source pollution: Evidence from China’s policy-based agricultural insurance pilot. Sustainability14(5), 2800.‏ https://doi.org/10.3390/su14052800.
  34. Nooripoor, M., Abdollahi, Kh. & Maleki, R. (2016). Performance comparison of private agricultural insurance agents and production cooperatives using CSM & Seraqual techniques: The case of Shiraz County. Iranian Journal of Agricultural Economics and Development Research, 47(4), 839-850. https://doi.org/22059/ijaedr.2016.61331. [In Persian]
  35. Nouri, Gh., Khoshsima, R., Salehi, H. & Kakoolaki, S. (2016). Factors affecting the policyholders' satisfaction cold water fish farmers of Mazandaran Province corresponding agricultural insurance. Iranian Scientific Fisheries Journal, 25(1), 11-19. [In Persian]
  36. Rahmati, E.A., Kohansal, M.R. & Ghorbani, M. (2015). Survey of willing to participate wheat farmers of Mashhad county in new methods of agricultural insurance. Agricultural Economics and Development, 23(3), 135-159. https://doi.org/10.30490/aead.2015.59006. [In Persian]
  37. Ricome, A., & Reynaud, A. (2022). Marketing contract choices in agriculture: The role of price expectation and price risk management. Agricultural Economics53(1), 170-186. https://doi.org/10.1111/agec.12675.
  38. Ricome, A., Affholder, F., Gérard, F., Muller, B., Poeydebat, C., Quirion, P. & Sall, M. (2017). Are subsidies to weather-index insurance the best use of public funds? A bio-economic farm model applied to the Senegalese groundnut basin. Agricultural Systems156, 149-176. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agsy.2017.05.015
  39. Saei, M. (2020). An evaluation of effective factors on adoption of date crop insurance (Case study of Kerman province). Commercial Surveys, 18(101), 63-76. [in Persian]
  40. Sehat, S., Get Babaei, J. & Ghorchani, H. (2013). Determining the level of satisfaction of farmers with private agricultural insurance brokers in Mazandaran province. 21st National Conference and 7th International Conference on Insurance and Development, Tehran, Iran. [in Persian]
  41. Shahnoushi, N., Rafiei Darani, H. & Edalatian, A. (2011). Investigation of structural and functional factors affecting agricultural insurance satisfaction: A case study on Khorasan Razavi province. Agricultural Economics, 5(1), 103-121. [In Persian]
  42. Shirsath, P., Vyas, S., Aggarwal, P.K. & Rao, K.N. (2019). Designing weather index insurance of crops for the increased satisfaction of farmers, industry and the government. Climate Risk Management, 25, 100189.‏ https://doi.org/10.1016/j.crm.2019.100189.
  43. Torabi, S., Dourandish, A., Daneshvar, M., Kianirad, A. & Mohammadi, H. (2019). The evaluation of effective factors on apple gardeners' willingness to pay for weather-based index insurance in Damavand County. Quarterly Journal of Agricultural Economics and Development26(4), 71-101. https://doi.org/ 30490/AEAD.2019.85204. [In Persian]
  44. Velandia, M., Rejesus, R.M., Knight, T.O. & Sherrick, B.J. (2009). Factors affecting farmers' utilization of agricultural risk management tools: the case of crop insurance, forward contracting, and spreading sales. Journal of Agricultural and Applied Economics41(1), 107-123. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1074070800002583.
  45. Vyas, S., Dalhaus, T., Kropff, M., Aggarwal, P. & Meuwissen, M.P.M. (2021). Mapping global research on agricultural insurance. Environmental Research Letters, 16(10), 103003. https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/ac263d.
  46. ‏ Ward, P.S., Makhija, S. & Spielman, D.J. (2020). Drought‐tolerant rice, weather index insurance, and comprehensive risk management for smallholders: Evidence from a multi‐year field experiment in India. The Australian Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics64(2), 421-454. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-8489.12342.
  47. Wąs, A., & Kobus, P. (2018). Factors differentiating the level of crop insurance at Polish farms. Agricultural Finance Review, 78(2), 209-222. https://doi.org/10.1108/AFR-06-2017-0054.
  48. Zamani, Gh., & Yazdan Panah, M. (2013). Determinants of farmers' willingness to repurchase agricultural products insurance. Iranian Journal of Economic Research and Agricultural Development, 23(4), 523-530. https://doi.org/10.22059/ijaedr.2013.35717. [In Persian]
  49. Zhang, D., XU, X. & MU, P. (2012). The research on the satisfaction of agricultural insurance service based on the discrete choice. China International Conference on Insurance and Risk Management July 18-21. Qingdao China. Available at: http://www.ccirm.org/conference/2012/uploadfiles/C/II-C/4-zdl.pdf.
  50. Zou, B., Ren, Z., Mishra, A.K. & Hirsch, S. (2022). The role of agricultural insurance in boosting agricultural output: An aggregate analysis from Chinese provinces. Agribusiness, 38(4), 923-945. https://doi.org/10.1002/agr.21750.