Level of Awareness of the Farmers Adopting Agricultural Rice Insurance: Basis for Risk Mitigation

This study examined the awareness and adoption of rice crop insurance among 260 farmers in Balanga City, Bataan—130 insured and 130 uninsured. It analyzed their socio-demographic profiles, farm characteristics, and levels of insurance awareness. A mixed-method approach was used: the quantitative component involved a survey-descriptive design with descriptive statistics and hypothesis testing (Mann-Whitney U-test, Kruskal-Wallis H-test) to explore the relationship between awareness and demographic factors. The qualitative part involved in-depth interviews with ten purposively selected farmers, analyzed using MAXQDA software to understand reasons for non-adoption. Findings showed that 72% of respondents were male, 45% were aged 56 or older, and 35% had completed technical or vocational education. About 30% had been farming for 21–30 years, and 81% were members of farming organizations. Overall awareness of rice insurance was low, with no significant differences by age, sex, education, or experience. However, organizational membership was associated with higher awareness. Key barriers to adoption included limited access, low awareness, and doubts about reliability. The study proposed strategies like streamlining claims, offering targeted training, using social media, providing incentives, and integrating insurance into advisory services to improve adoption and resilience in agriculture.