Issues of Improving the Methodology of Agricultural Damage Assessment

Abstract

The main role in the agricultural insurance program is damage assessment, which is very peculiar due to its specificity. Damage assessment is carried out by determining the percentages of loss, final real production and expected real production according to the insurance conditions of the plant damaged by insurance risks, this process is carried out by an agro expert. The damage assessor evaluates the deviation of the condition of the vegetative and generative parts of the plant, fruits from the standard/initial condition as a result of injuries caused by the insured risk. The assessment is done only to determine the percentage of quantitative and not qualitative losses. The purpose of determining the percentage of damage is to determine by how much the percentage of the crop/plants that existed before the occurrence of the insured risk occurred/will occur, compared to what it was before the occurrence of the risk. Perfection of damage assessment methodology in the agricultural insurance program is vital for the farmer. The specifics of properly conducted agro loss assessment will contribute to the development of agriculture and agro-insurance. As the research shows, a lot of work is needed to regulate agricultural losses. In order to perfect the methodology of damage assessment, it is necessary to conduct practical studies and to certify agricultural experts. Furthermore, it is necessary to share the world experience for the development of agro-insurance, taking into account the local specifics; Moreover, the perfection of the necessary agricultural insurance state program for correct assessment of risks, adequate determination of insurance premium and full compensation of financial losses of farmers are necessary; It is quite important to create and to improve damage assessment methods for different cultures individually. Keywords: Insurance, farmer, damage, appraisal, expert, agriculture.