“Index Insurance and Agricultural Credit: Lessons Learned and Way Forward”

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Index Insurance and Agricultural Credit: Lessons Learned and Way Forward

Index Insurance and Agricultural Credit:

Lessons Learned and Way Forward

Mario J. MirandaProfessor of Finance and Risk Management

The Ohio State University

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Index Insurance and Agricultural Credit: Lessons Learned and Way Forward

Introduction

Introduction

◮ Lending to poorer farmers is costly and risky:◮ high transactions costs◮ lack of collateral◮ exposure to systemic risk due to droughts, floods, etc.

◮ For this reason, banks simply avoid lending to poor farmers.

◮ This is unfortunate, as most poor farmers could realize hugereturns from investment, but lack access to credit.

◮ Money to be made from lending to poor farmers, but how?

2 / 13

Index Insurance and Agricultural Credit: Lessons Learned and Way Forward

Introduction

Introduction

◮ Lending to poorer farmers is costly and risky:◮ high transactions costs◮ lack of collateral◮ exposure to systemic risk due to droughts, floods, etc.

◮ For this reason, banks simply avoid lending to poor farmers.

◮ This is unfortunate, as most poor farmers could realize hugereturns from investment, but lack access to credit.

◮ Money to be made from lending to poor farmers, but how?

2 / 13

Index Insurance and Agricultural Credit: Lessons Learned and Way Forward

Introduction

Introduction

◮ Lending to poorer farmers is costly and risky:◮ high transactions costs◮ lack of collateral◮ exposure to systemic risk due to droughts, floods, etc.

◮ For this reason, banks simply avoid lending to poor farmers.

◮ This is unfortunate, as most poor farmers could realize hugereturns from investment, but lack access to credit.

◮ Money to be made from lending to poor farmers, but how?

2 / 13

Index Insurance and Agricultural Credit: Lessons Learned and Way Forward

Introduction

Introduction

◮ Lending to poorer farmers is costly and risky:◮ high transactions costs◮ lack of collateral◮ exposure to systemic risk due to droughts, floods, etc.

◮ For this reason, banks simply avoid lending to poor farmers.

◮ This is unfortunate, as most poor farmers could realize hugereturns from investment, but lack access to credit.

◮ Money to be made from lending to poor farmers, but how?

2 / 13

Index Insurance and Agricultural Credit: Lessons Learned and Way Forward

Introduction

Introduction

◮ Lending to poorer farmers is costly and risky:◮ high transactions costs◮ lack of collateral◮ exposure to systemic risk due to droughts, floods, etc.

◮ For this reason, banks simply avoid lending to poor farmers.

◮ This is unfortunate, as most poor farmers could realize hugereturns from investment, but lack access to credit.

◮ Money to be made from lending to poor farmers, but how?

2 / 13

Index Insurance and Agricultural Credit: Lessons Learned and Way Forward

Introduction

Introduction

◮ Lending to poorer farmers is costly and risky:◮ high transactions costs◮ lack of collateral◮ exposure to systemic risk due to droughts, floods, etc.

◮ For this reason, banks simply avoid lending to poor farmers.

◮ This is unfortunate, as most poor farmers could realize hugereturns from investment, but lack access to credit.

◮ Money to be made from lending to poor farmers, but how?

2 / 13

Index Insurance and Agricultural Credit: Lessons Learned and Way Forward

Introduction

Introduction

◮ Lending to poorer farmers is costly and risky:◮ high transactions costs◮ lack of collateral◮ exposure to systemic risk due to droughts, floods, etc.

◮ For this reason, banks simply avoid lending to poor farmers.

◮ This is unfortunate, as most poor farmers could realize hugereturns from investment, but lack access to credit.

◮ Money to be made from lending to poor farmers, but how?

2 / 13

Index Insurance and Agricultural Credit: Lessons Learned and Way Forward

Introduction

◮ Can index insurance, properly applied, make lending to poorfarmers safer and profitable for ALIDE banks?

◮ Yes ... however, index insurance is not a panacea and must beproperly integrated into bank risk management and creditpolicies.

3 / 13

Index Insurance and Agricultural Credit: Lessons Learned and Way Forward

Introduction

◮ Can index insurance, properly applied, make lending to poorfarmers safer and profitable for ALIDE banks?

◮ Yes ... however, index insurance is not a panacea and must beproperly integrated into bank risk management and creditpolicies.

3 / 13

Index Insurance and Agricultural Credit: Lessons Learned and Way Forward

Indemnity Insurance

Indemnity Insurance

◮ Indemnity insurance pays when insured suffers provable losses

◮ Multiple peril crop insurance available in developed countries

◮ However, MPCI is not financially sustainable

◮ Subsidized premiums, administrative costs, reinsurance

◮ Causes of market failure◮ Adverse selection◮ Moral hazard◮ High administrative costs◮ Systemic risk

4 / 13

Index Insurance and Agricultural Credit: Lessons Learned and Way Forward

Indemnity Insurance

Indemnity Insurance

◮ Indemnity insurance pays when insured suffers provable losses

◮ Multiple peril crop insurance available in developed countries

◮ However, MPCI is not financially sustainable

◮ Subsidized premiums, administrative costs, reinsurance

◮ Causes of market failure◮ Adverse selection◮ Moral hazard◮ High administrative costs◮ Systemic risk

4 / 13

Index Insurance and Agricultural Credit: Lessons Learned and Way Forward

Indemnity Insurance

Indemnity Insurance

◮ Indemnity insurance pays when insured suffers provable losses

◮ Multiple peril crop insurance available in developed countries

◮ However, MPCI is not financially sustainable

◮ Subsidized premiums, administrative costs, reinsurance

◮ Causes of market failure◮ Adverse selection◮ Moral hazard◮ High administrative costs◮ Systemic risk

4 / 13

Index Insurance and Agricultural Credit: Lessons Learned and Way Forward

Indemnity Insurance

Indemnity Insurance

◮ Indemnity insurance pays when insured suffers provable losses

◮ Multiple peril crop insurance available in developed countries

◮ However, MPCI is not financially sustainable

◮ Subsidized premiums, administrative costs, reinsurance

◮ Causes of market failure◮ Adverse selection◮ Moral hazard◮ High administrative costs◮ Systemic risk

4 / 13

Index Insurance and Agricultural Credit: Lessons Learned and Way Forward

Indemnity Insurance

Indemnity Insurance

◮ Indemnity insurance pays when insured suffers provable losses

◮ Multiple peril crop insurance available in developed countries

◮ However, MPCI is not financially sustainable

◮ Subsidized premiums, administrative costs, reinsurance

◮ Causes of market failure◮ Adverse selection◮ Moral hazard◮ High administrative costs◮ Systemic risk

4 / 13

Index Insurance and Agricultural Credit: Lessons Learned and Way Forward

Indemnity Insurance

Indemnity Insurance

◮ Indemnity insurance pays when insured suffers provable losses

◮ Multiple peril crop insurance available in developed countries

◮ However, MPCI is not financially sustainable

◮ Subsidized premiums, administrative costs, reinsurance

◮ Causes of market failure◮ Adverse selection◮ Moral hazard◮ High administrative costs◮ Systemic risk

4 / 13

Index Insurance and Agricultural Credit: Lessons Learned and Way Forward

Indemnity Insurance

Indemnity Insurance

◮ Indemnity insurance pays when insured suffers provable losses

◮ Multiple peril crop insurance available in developed countries

◮ However, MPCI is not financially sustainable

◮ Subsidized premiums, administrative costs, reinsurance

◮ Causes of market failure◮ Adverse selection◮ Moral hazard◮ High administrative costs◮ Systemic risk

4 / 13

Index Insurance and Agricultural Credit: Lessons Learned and Way Forward

Indemnity Insurance

Indemnity Insurance

◮ Indemnity insurance pays when insured suffers provable losses

◮ Multiple peril crop insurance available in developed countries

◮ However, MPCI is not financially sustainable

◮ Subsidized premiums, administrative costs, reinsurance

◮ Causes of market failure◮ Adverse selection◮ Moral hazard◮ High administrative costs◮ Systemic risk

4 / 13

Index Insurance and Agricultural Credit: Lessons Learned and Way Forward

Indemnity Insurance

Indemnity Insurance

◮ Indemnity insurance pays when insured suffers provable losses

◮ Multiple peril crop insurance available in developed countries

◮ However, MPCI is not financially sustainable

◮ Subsidized premiums, administrative costs, reinsurance

◮ Causes of market failure◮ Adverse selection◮ Moral hazard◮ High administrative costs◮ Systemic risk

4 / 13

Index Insurance and Agricultural Credit: Lessons Learned and Way Forward

Index Insurance

Index Insurance

◮ Index insurance offers an alternative to indemnity insurance.

◮ Payouts based, not on provable losses, but an “index”correlated to losses, such as

◮ Rainfall◮ satellite-measured vegetation indices◮ “ENSO” indices◮ area-yields

5 / 13

Index Insurance and Agricultural Credit: Lessons Learned and Way Forward

Index Insurance

Index Insurance

◮ Index insurance offers an alternative to indemnity insurance.

◮ Payouts based, not on provable losses, but an “index”correlated to losses, such as

◮ Rainfall◮ satellite-measured vegetation indices◮ “ENSO” indices◮ area-yields

5 / 13

Index Insurance and Agricultural Credit: Lessons Learned and Way Forward

Index Insurance

Index Insurance

◮ Index insurance offers an alternative to indemnity insurance.

◮ Payouts based, not on provable losses, but an “index”correlated to losses, such as

◮ Rainfall◮ satellite-measured vegetation indices◮ “ENSO” indices◮ area-yields

5 / 13

Index Insurance and Agricultural Credit: Lessons Learned and Way Forward

Index Insurance

Index Insurance

◮ Index insurance offers an alternative to indemnity insurance.

◮ Payouts based, not on provable losses, but an “index”correlated to losses, such as

◮ Rainfall◮ satellite-measured vegetation indices◮ “ENSO” indices◮ area-yields

5 / 13

Index Insurance and Agricultural Credit: Lessons Learned and Way Forward

Index Insurance

Index Insurance

◮ Index insurance offers an alternative to indemnity insurance.

◮ Payouts based, not on provable losses, but an “index”correlated to losses, such as

◮ Rainfall◮ satellite-measured vegetation indices◮ “ENSO” indices◮ area-yields

5 / 13

Index Insurance and Agricultural Credit: Lessons Learned and Way Forward

Index Insurance

Index Insurance

◮ Index insurance offers an alternative to indemnity insurance.

◮ Payouts based, not on provable losses, but an “index”correlated to losses, such as

◮ Rainfall◮ satellite-measured vegetation indices◮ “ENSO” indices◮ area-yields

5 / 13

Index Insurance and Agricultural Credit: Lessons Learned and Way Forward

Index Insurance

◮ Pros◮ Free of many problems that plague conventional insurance◮ No moral hazard - insured cannot influence indemnity◮ Low adverse selection - rated using public information◮ Low administrative costs - claims adjustment unnecessary

◮ Cons◮ Basis risk: does not cover all losses experienced by insured◮ Effectiveness depends on correlation between index and losses

6 / 13

Index Insurance and Agricultural Credit: Lessons Learned and Way Forward

Index Insurance

◮ Pros◮ Free of many problems that plague conventional insurance◮ No moral hazard - insured cannot influence indemnity◮ Low adverse selection - rated using public information◮ Low administrative costs - claims adjustment unnecessary

◮ Cons◮ Basis risk: does not cover all losses experienced by insured◮ Effectiveness depends on correlation between index and losses

6 / 13

Index Insurance and Agricultural Credit: Lessons Learned and Way Forward

Index Insurance

◮ Pros◮ Free of many problems that plague conventional insurance◮ No moral hazard - insured cannot influence indemnity◮ Low adverse selection - rated using public information◮ Low administrative costs - claims adjustment unnecessary

◮ Cons◮ Basis risk: does not cover all losses experienced by insured◮ Effectiveness depends on correlation between index and losses

6 / 13

Index Insurance and Agricultural Credit: Lessons Learned and Way Forward

Index Insurance

◮ Pros◮ Free of many problems that plague conventional insurance◮ No moral hazard - insured cannot influence indemnity◮ Low adverse selection - rated using public information◮ Low administrative costs - claims adjustment unnecessary

◮ Cons◮ Basis risk: does not cover all losses experienced by insured◮ Effectiveness depends on correlation between index and losses

6 / 13

Index Insurance and Agricultural Credit: Lessons Learned and Way Forward

Index Insurance

◮ Pros◮ Free of many problems that plague conventional insurance◮ No moral hazard - insured cannot influence indemnity◮ Low adverse selection - rated using public information◮ Low administrative costs - claims adjustment unnecessary

◮ Cons◮ Basis risk: does not cover all losses experienced by insured◮ Effectiveness depends on correlation between index and losses

6 / 13

Index Insurance and Agricultural Credit: Lessons Learned and Way Forward

Index Insurance

◮ Pros◮ Free of many problems that plague conventional insurance◮ No moral hazard - insured cannot influence indemnity◮ Low adverse selection - rated using public information◮ Low administrative costs - claims adjustment unnecessary

◮ Cons◮ Basis risk: does not cover all losses experienced by insured◮ Effectiveness depends on correlation between index and losses

6 / 13

Index Insurance and Agricultural Credit: Lessons Learned and Way Forward

Index Insurance

◮ Pros◮ Free of many problems that plague conventional insurance◮ No moral hazard - insured cannot influence indemnity◮ Low adverse selection - rated using public information◮ Low administrative costs - claims adjustment unnecessary

◮ Cons◮ Basis risk: does not cover all losses experienced by insured◮ Effectiveness depends on correlation between index and losses

6 / 13

Index Insurance and Agricultural Credit: Lessons Learned and Way Forward

Index Insurance

◮ Pros◮ Free of many problems that plague conventional insurance◮ No moral hazard - insured cannot influence indemnity◮ Low adverse selection - rated using public information◮ Low administrative costs - claims adjustment unnecessary

◮ Cons◮ Basis risk: does not cover all losses experienced by insured◮ Effectiveness depends on correlation between index and losses

6 / 13

Index Insurance and Agricultural Credit: Lessons Learned and Way Forward

Lessons Learned

Lessons Learned

◮ Impact of index insurance depends on who receives indemnity

◮ Micro - farmers

◮ Meso - banks, cooperatives, processors, NGOs

◮ Macro - district/national governments

7 / 13

Index Insurance and Agricultural Credit: Lessons Learned and Way Forward

Lessons Learned

Lessons Learned

◮ Impact of index insurance depends on who receives indemnity

◮ Micro - farmers

◮ Meso - banks, cooperatives, processors, NGOs

◮ Macro - district/national governments

7 / 13

Index Insurance and Agricultural Credit: Lessons Learned and Way Forward

Lessons Learned

Lessons Learned

◮ Impact of index insurance depends on who receives indemnity

◮ Micro - farmers

◮ Meso - banks, cooperatives, processors, NGOs

◮ Macro - district/national governments

7 / 13

Index Insurance and Agricultural Credit: Lessons Learned and Way Forward

Lessons Learned

Lessons Learned

◮ Impact of index insurance depends on who receives indemnity

◮ Micro - farmers

◮ Meso - banks, cooperatives, processors, NGOs

◮ Macro - district/national governments

7 / 13

Index Insurance and Agricultural Credit: Lessons Learned and Way Forward

Lessons Learned

◮ Many index insurance studies and pilot projects conductedthroughout the developing world over past 15 years.

◮ Most have involved micro insurance to farmers,

◮ Most have shown no sustainable positive effects

◮ Farmers abandon insurance as soon as subsidies are lifted.

8 / 13

Index Insurance and Agricultural Credit: Lessons Learned and Way Forward

Lessons Learned

◮ Many index insurance studies and pilot projects conductedthroughout the developing world over past 15 years.

◮ Most have involved micro insurance to farmers,

◮ Most have shown no sustainable positive effects

◮ Farmers abandon insurance as soon as subsidies are lifted.

8 / 13

Index Insurance and Agricultural Credit: Lessons Learned and Way Forward

Lessons Learned

◮ Many index insurance studies and pilot projects conductedthroughout the developing world over past 15 years.

◮ Most have involved micro insurance to farmers,

◮ Most have shown no sustainable positive effects

◮ Farmers abandon insurance as soon as subsidies are lifted.

8 / 13

Index Insurance and Agricultural Credit: Lessons Learned and Way Forward

Lessons Learned

◮ Many index insurance studies and pilot projects conductedthroughout the developing world over past 15 years.

◮ Most have involved micro insurance to farmers,

◮ Most have shown no sustainable positive effects

◮ Farmers abandon insurance as soon as subsidies are lifted.

8 / 13

Index Insurance and Agricultural Credit: Lessons Learned and Way Forward

Lessons Learned

◮ Skepticism regarding benefits of index insurance has beengrowing.

◮ Basis risk profoundly limits benefits of index insurance as afarm-level risk management tool.

◮ Farmer demand for index insurance would be non-existent ifsold at premiums that reflect “market” loads.

9 / 13

Index Insurance and Agricultural Credit: Lessons Learned and Way Forward

Lessons Learned

◮ Skepticism regarding benefits of index insurance has beengrowing.

◮ Basis risk profoundly limits benefits of index insurance as afarm-level risk management tool.

◮ Farmer demand for index insurance would be non-existent ifsold at premiums that reflect “market” loads.

9 / 13

Index Insurance and Agricultural Credit: Lessons Learned and Way Forward

Lessons Learned

◮ Skepticism regarding benefits of index insurance has beengrowing.

◮ Basis risk profoundly limits benefits of index insurance as afarm-level risk management tool.

◮ Farmer demand for index insurance would be non-existent ifsold at premiums that reflect “market” loads.

9 / 13

Index Insurance and Agricultural Credit: Lessons Learned and Way Forward

Lessons Learned

◮ However, we maintain that index insurance pilots have failedbecause they market micro insurance directly to farmers.

◮ The best use of index insurance is not be as farm-level riskmanagement tool ...

10 / 13

Index Insurance and Agricultural Credit: Lessons Learned and Way Forward

Lessons Learned

◮ However, we maintain that index insurance pilots have failedbecause they market micro insurance directly to farmers.

◮ The best use of index insurance is not be as farm-level riskmanagement tool ...

10 / 13

Index Insurance and Agricultural Credit: Lessons Learned and Way Forward

Ways Forward

Ways Forward

◮ Most promising uses of index insurance are at meso level tostrengthen the agricultural credit and marketing chains.

◮ Banks, in particular, should use index insurance to protecttheir agricultural loan portfolios against widespread defaultsdue to catastrophic weather.

◮ Banks diversify idiosyncratic farm-level risk, face lower basisrisk than individual farmers.

11 / 13

Index Insurance and Agricultural Credit: Lessons Learned and Way Forward

Ways Forward

Ways Forward

◮ Most promising uses of index insurance are at meso level tostrengthen the agricultural credit and marketing chains.

◮ Banks, in particular, should use index insurance to protecttheir agricultural loan portfolios against widespread defaultsdue to catastrophic weather.

◮ Banks diversify idiosyncratic farm-level risk, face lower basisrisk than individual farmers.

11 / 13

Index Insurance and Agricultural Credit: Lessons Learned and Way Forward

Ways Forward

Ways Forward

◮ Most promising uses of index insurance are at meso level tostrengthen the agricultural credit and marketing chains.

◮ Banks, in particular, should use index insurance to protecttheir agricultural loan portfolios against widespread defaultsdue to catastrophic weather.

◮ Banks diversify idiosyncratic farm-level risk, face lower basisrisk than individual farmers.

11 / 13

Index Insurance and Agricultural Credit: Lessons Learned and Way Forward

Ways Forward

◮ But how can banks use index insurance?◮ Banks require borrowers to purchase insurance, borrowers

receive payouts — but this makes insurance a micro product◮ Banks purchase index insurance to hedge their agricultural

loan portfolios, pass costs on to borrowers◮ Banks could offer contingent credit — index insurance payouts

explicitly designated to retire debt◮ Banks could use index insurance to support restructuring and

retirement of debt, but more methodically

12 / 13

Index Insurance and Agricultural Credit: Lessons Learned and Way Forward

Ways Forward

◮ But how can banks use index insurance?◮ Banks require borrowers to purchase insurance, borrowers

receive payouts — but this makes insurance a micro product◮ Banks purchase index insurance to hedge their agricultural

loan portfolios, pass costs on to borrowers◮ Banks could offer contingent credit — index insurance payouts

explicitly designated to retire debt◮ Banks could use index insurance to support restructuring and

retirement of debt, but more methodically

12 / 13

Index Insurance and Agricultural Credit: Lessons Learned and Way Forward

Ways Forward

◮ But how can banks use index insurance?◮ Banks require borrowers to purchase insurance, borrowers

receive payouts — but this makes insurance a micro product◮ Banks purchase index insurance to hedge their agricultural

loan portfolios, pass costs on to borrowers◮ Banks could offer contingent credit — index insurance payouts

explicitly designated to retire debt◮ Banks could use index insurance to support restructuring and

retirement of debt, but more methodically

12 / 13

Index Insurance and Agricultural Credit: Lessons Learned and Way Forward

Ways Forward

◮ But how can banks use index insurance?◮ Banks require borrowers to purchase insurance, borrowers

receive payouts — but this makes insurance a micro product◮ Banks purchase index insurance to hedge their agricultural

loan portfolios, pass costs on to borrowers◮ Banks could offer contingent credit — index insurance payouts

explicitly designated to retire debt◮ Banks could use index insurance to support restructuring and

retirement of debt, but more methodically

12 / 13

Index Insurance and Agricultural Credit: Lessons Learned and Way Forward

Ways Forward

◮ But how can banks use index insurance?◮ Banks require borrowers to purchase insurance, borrowers

receive payouts — but this makes insurance a micro product◮ Banks purchase index insurance to hedge their agricultural

loan portfolios, pass costs on to borrowers◮ Banks could offer contingent credit — index insurance payouts

explicitly designated to retire debt◮ Banks could use index insurance to support restructuring and

retirement of debt, but more methodically

12 / 13

Index Insurance and Agricultural Credit: Lessons Learned and Way Forward

Closing Comments

Closing Comments

◮ Consultant reports document opportunities for ALIDE banksto expand agricultural credit using index insurance.

◮ However, agricultural lending practices, risk exposures, andmarket environments vary greatly across Latin America.

◮ Implementation must be adapted to local environment.

◮ However, principles are the same — index insurance, properlyused, can make agricultural lending less risky, more profitable

13 / 13

Index Insurance and Agricultural Credit: Lessons Learned and Way Forward

Closing Comments

Closing Comments

◮ Consultant reports document opportunities for ALIDE banksto expand agricultural credit using index insurance.

◮ However, agricultural lending practices, risk exposures, andmarket environments vary greatly across Latin America.

◮ Implementation must be adapted to local environment.

◮ However, principles are the same — index insurance, properlyused, can make agricultural lending less risky, more profitable

13 / 13

Index Insurance and Agricultural Credit: Lessons Learned and Way Forward

Closing Comments

Closing Comments

◮ Consultant reports document opportunities for ALIDE banksto expand agricultural credit using index insurance.

◮ However, agricultural lending practices, risk exposures, andmarket environments vary greatly across Latin America.

◮ Implementation must be adapted to local environment.

◮ However, principles are the same — index insurance, properlyused, can make agricultural lending less risky, more profitable

13 / 13

Index Insurance and Agricultural Credit: Lessons Learned and Way Forward

Closing Comments

Closing Comments

◮ Consultant reports document opportunities for ALIDE banksto expand agricultural credit using index insurance.

◮ However, agricultural lending practices, risk exposures, andmarket environments vary greatly across Latin America.

◮ Implementation must be adapted to local environment.

◮ However, principles are the same — index insurance, properlyused, can make agricultural lending less risky, more profitable

13 / 13

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