Impact of Development Programme on Production Efficiency in Potato: A Case of Crop Insurance in India

The enterprise of agriculture is subject to lot many uncertainties. Still, more people in India earn their livelihood from this sector, than from all other economic sectors put together. Agricultural associated with several risks which include adverse changes in both input and output prices. The farmers are not assured of good quality and disease free crop which is essential for obtaining reasonable yield sufficient to recover expenses. Crop insurance is one of the major management strategies to overcome risk to greater extent. Compared to other traditional risk reducing strategies, such as crop diversification, inter-cropping, mixed farming, integration of farm etc., available to farmers crop insurance is more efficient. If a farmer is assured of financial compensation when his income is considerably low for reasons beyond his control, he would more likely allocate his resources in a manner that would maximize his return. Crop insurance not only helps the farmers to withstand the shock from uncertain situation but also acts as incentive to use the resources efficiently and achieve higher level of productivity.

Mr Shashi Kiran, A.S., is a Ph.D Scholar, Department of Agricultural Economics, University of Agricultural sciences, Bangalore. He did B.sc (Ag) in 2008 and M.Sc (Agricultural Economics) in 2010 from same university. He has received University gold medal from then President of India, Mrs. Pratibha Patil for securing first rank in M.Sc.