Gender gap in agricultural insurance demand

Policy and donor attention to bridging the gender gap in development emphasizes the potential benefits that weatherindex insurance (WII) could bring to female farmers in lowincome countries. Our study of male and female farmers’ preferences for WII in Southern Bangladesh reveals significant insurance aversion among female farmers. Differences in financial literacy and in the level of trust in insurance institutions were the key factors driving the differences observed between men and women. Agricultural development programs that seek to use WII to fulfill gender equity mandates in similar coastal environments are likely to require a strengthening of institutional credibility. WII should also be coupled with financial literacy programs for female farmers.