What are farmers' five hopes for agricultural insurance?

In recent years, with the implementation of the policy-based agricultural insurance benefit policy, premium subsidies have been provided to insured farming households, enhancing farmers' ability to withstand natural disasters and becoming a "protective umbrella" for increasing farmers' income, and it has been generally welcomed by the farming masses. Recently, during conversations with farmers, the author learned that they have "five hopes" for policy-based agricultural insurance:

First, they hope the agricultural insurance policy will remain stable. In recent years, natural disasters such as hot winds, droughts and floods, rain, snow and freezing, and pests and diseases have occurred frequently, bringing adverse effects on agricultural production. Judging from the actual situation, many farmers have experienced the benefits of insurance payouts, and farmers hope the agricultural insurance policy can remain stable and unchanged over the long term.

Second, they hope to expand the insured crop varieties. According to feedback, the current policy-based agricultural insurance insured varieties are mostly still limited to major crops such as wheat and corn, and the number of insured varieties is still small. Farmers hope to add more insured varieties of melons, fruits and vegetables, nurseries, and minor coarse grains.

Third, they hope post-disaster claims will be settled promptly. Agricultural production, especially grain growing, carries high risks and low returns, and if natural disasters occur, farmers suffer even more. Therefore, farmers hope insurance companies will simplify the claims settlement workflow, avoid delaying claims, being reluctant to pay claims, or refusing claims, and pay promptly according to the terms, so that farmers' enthusiasm for participating in insurance can be better mobilized.

Fourth, they hope to increase agricultural insurance publicity. Rural transportation is inconvenient and the areas are remote, and many farmers still do not clearly understand the specific payment and claims standards of policy-based agricultural insurance. Some mistakenly believe that buying insurance adds to their burden. Farmers hope the government and insurance companies will go to villages and households and publicize the agricultural insurance terms in ways farmers can see and understand, so that they can understand the policy.

Fifth, they hope to set up outlets in townships and towns. According to feedback, insurance company outlets are generally set up in county seats, making insurance participation and claims settlement very inconvenient. Farmers hope agricultural insurance will face rural areas, and it would be best to set up agencies with townships (towns) as units, so that farmers do not have to travel far and can often meet with agents, in order to better serve "agriculture, rural areas, and farmers" and benefit farmers.