Agricultural Risk Management in Arid Zone of Rajasthan Sharma Rajesha, Chandra Sunilb aInstitute of Agri Business Management, S.K. Rajasthan Agricultural University, Bikaner, Rajasthan bIDBI Bank, Bikaner, Rajasthan Online published on 9 October, 2012. Abstract The agricultural sector faces several uncertainties and is exposed to many controllable and uncontrollable risks. Also, several challenges lie in providing risk mitigation measures to it. In India, efforts are being made since late-1970, when the first crop insurance scheme was launched. The study was undertaken on a sample of 160 farmers to find agricultural risks faced by farmers in the area, indigenous practices used by them for risk mitigation and suggestive mechanism for agricultural risk mitigation by farmers. Lack of irrigation, low price realization, borrowing money from money lenders and high rate of interest were the major problems faced by the farmers. Many farmers were not adopting the insurance schemes because they perceived no benefit from them and a large number of farmers were not aware about the insurance scheme. The above poverty line (APL)farmers were managing the risk by different subsidiary/supplementary occupations or businesses, while below poverty line (BPL)-farmers were managing risks through the labour market. Certified seeds/quality inputs, good extension services and technical assistance along with timely availability of credit are the inputs required by the farmers. The study has outlined various measures adopted by farmers for mitigating different types of risks and based on these suggestions the study has made some policy recommendations. Top Keywords Agricultural risks, risk management, arid-zone, Rajasthan. Top |