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Are Rainfed Agricultural Households Insured? Evidence from Five Villages in Vidarbha, India

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  • Gaurav, Sarthak

Abstract

There are several studies on risk and insurance in village economies in the developing world. However, there is a lack of evidence for recent decades in spite of profound changes including structural transformation and widespread market liberalization in most regions. In this paper, I use primary panel data from five rainfed villages in a high-risk region of India and find evidence of considerable exposure as well as vulnerability to idiosyncratic and covariate risks. Further, there is significant wealth differentiated heterogeneity in vulnerability. The findings help identify the scope of public policy in improving risk management in rainfed agriculture.

Suggested Citation

  • Gaurav, Sarthak, 2015. "Are Rainfed Agricultural Households Insured? Evidence from Five Villages in Vidarbha, India," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 66(C), pages 719-736.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:wdevel:v:66:y:2015:i:c:p:719-736
    DOI: 10.1016/j.worlddev.2014.09.018
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    Cited by:

    1. Chuang, Yating, 2019. "Climate variability, rainfall shocks, and farmers’ income diversification in India," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 174(C), pages 55-61.
    2. Demont, Timothée, 2022. "Coping with shocks: How Self-Help Groups impact food security and seasonal migration," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 155(C).
    3. Bina Agarwal & Ankush Agrawal, 2016. "To farm or not to farm? Indian farmers in transition," Global Development Institute Working Paper Series 012016, GDI, The University of Manchester.
    4. Lohmann, Steffen & Lechtenfeld, Tobias, 2015. "The Effect of Drought on Health Outcomes and Health Expenditures in Rural Vietnam," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 72(C), pages 432-448.
    5. Kurup, Suresh A. & Reddy, A. Amarender & Singh, Dharm Raj & Praveen, K.V, 2021. "Risks in Rainfed Agriculture and Adaptation Strategies in India: Profile and Socio-Economic Correlates," 2021 Conference, August 17-31, 2021, Virtual 315127, International Association of Agricultural Economists.
    6. Timothée Demont, 2020. "Coping with shocks: the impact of Self-Help Groups on migration and food security," Working Papers halshs-02571730, HAL.

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