Zambian Smallholder Soybean

This study evaluates the impact of limited access to formal crop insurance on the resilience and value addition capabilities of smallholder soybean farmers in Eastern Province, Zambia. As climate change intensifies production risks like droughts and pests, formal crop insurance specifically Weather Index Insurance (WII) is recognized as a vital mitigation tool. However, uptake remains low, prompting this research to investigate the barriers to financial inclusion from both demand and supply perspectives.Methodology1) Quantitative Data: Structured surveys were administered to 200 smallholder soybean farmers across seven districts in Eastern Province. The data was analysed using descriptive statistics via SPSS.2) Qualitative Data: 15 key informant interviews were conducted with representatives from four major insurance providers (Professional Insurance, Madison General, ZISC, and Nico Insurance) and analysed using thematic analysis.Key Findings1)Demand-Side Awareness Gap: A staggering 94% of surveyed farmers reported having no knowledge of formal crop insurance product2)Supply-Side Data Constraints: Insurers face severe data scarcity.