Implementing Agricultural Insurance Programmes: A Policy Evaluation Study on Smallholder Farmers in Northern Uganda

Agricultural insurance programmes are crucial for risk mitigation in rural areas where crop yields depend heavily on unpredictable weather conditions. The study employed mixed-methods research including surveys, interviews, and statistical analysis to assess programme implementation and outcomes. Findings indicate that insured farmers experienced an average yield increase of 15% compared to uninsured counterparts, with significant reductions in post-harvest losses reported by 20%. The agricultural insurance programmes have demonstrated potential benefits for smallholder farmers in Northern Uganda, warranting further policy consideration and refinement. Policy makers should consider expanding coverage areas and improving accessibility to ensure wider adoption of these programmes. Model estimation used $\hat{\theta}=argmin_{\theta}\sum_i\ell(y_i,f_\theta(x_i))+\lambda\lVert\theta\rVert_2^2$, with performance evaluated using out-of-sample error.