Back to Library

Enabling Productive But Asset-Poor Farmers to Succeed: A Risk Financing Framework

Published by:
Document
Download
Publication date
09/02/2004
Number of Pages
22
Language:
English
Type of Publication:
Working Papers & Briefs
Focus Region:
Global
Focus Topic:
Market / Trade
Institutions / Organizations
Type of Risk:
Market-related
Type of Risk Managment Option:
Risk reduction/mitigation
Commodity:
Crops
Livestock
Other
Author
Eugene Gurenko, Olivier Mahul
Organization
The World Bank

This research paper examines how market-based risk financing instruments could enable asset-poor, but productive, farmers exposed to production shocks to engage in riskier but higher return agricultural activities. The financing of these exogenous shocks is addressed in a conceptual framework based on an optimal allocation of capital where the farm is viewed as a business unit. The approach allows for (i) testing the business viability of a specified crop by assessing the minimum business capital required to ensure the continuity of the business after the occurrence of an adverse production shock; and (ii) designing an optimal risk financing program to finance the minimum capital requirements using a combination of instruments (insurance, savings, and borrowing). The authors provide numerous numerical and graphical examples to illustrate the relevance of this financial approach to the specific issues of agricultural risk management.