Agriculture is an inherently risky business. It is subject to a number of random price, climatic, biological, and geological shocks that require coping strategies and financial management instruments to deal with the implications. Traditional risk management strategies and ex post government provided emergency relief have often not proven to be sufficiently effective and robust in preventing serious economic loss or permitting a speedy recovery. This paper focuses on production risk management, explaining key concepts, understanding why crop insurance markets have been slow to develop, and making recommendations about how to build sustainable markets in developing country contexts. 

Author: Mark Wenner 

Country: USA