Analysis of Crop Insurance Uptake Among Rice Farmers in Kebbi State

This study analyzes the uptake of crop insurance among rice farmers in Kebbi State, North West Nigeria. Kebbi State is one of Nigeria's leading rice-producing states and a key beneficiary of the federal government's Agricultural Promotion Policy. Despite the state's strategic importance to domestic rice production, farmers remain highly vulnerable to production losses from flooding, drought, and pest infestation, with limited recourse to formal insurance mechanisms. The Nigeria Agricultural Insurance Corporation (NAIC) offers subsidized crop insurance products to smallholder farmers, but uptake remains constrained by awareness gaps, enrollment complexity, and claims settlement delays. This research employs a descriptive survey design with primary data from 320 rice farmers in three agricultural zones of Kebbi State. Questionnaires assess awareness of NAIC crop insurance products, enrollment experience, willingness to pay for comprehensive coverage, and post-loss experience with claims. Descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression are applied to identify predictors of enrollment. Preliminary findings are expected to reveal that proximity to NAIC field offices and membership in farmer cooperatives are significant positive predictors of uptake. The study recommends deploying mobile enrollment units and partnering with cooperative societies to expand crop insurance reach across Kebbi's rice farming communities. Keywords: Crop Insurance, Rice Farmers, Kebbi State, NAIC, Agricultural Risk Management.