Promoting crop insurance adoption in Vietnam: Does timing of premium payment matter?

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The final goal of this research is to improve farmers’ uptake of agriculture insurance in developing countries. The initial research plan focuses on intervention related to timings of premium payments. In real implementation, I have slightly changed the intervention to premium subsidies. I have investigated the long-term direct and spillover effects of subsidies on crop insurance adoption in Vietnam.To attain the research objectives, my research target in the AY2022 was to conduct a baseline survey and first intervention. This target was achieved. I collaborated with Thai Nguyen University of Agriculture and Forestry (TUAF), CARE International (an NGO), and Women Union to conducted a randomized controlled trial (RCT) with members of Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs); a form of autonomous microcredit groups; established by ethnic minority women in Lai Chau province of Vietnam.The baseline and intervention were conducted in April-May and November-December 2022. Preliminary results showed the spillover effect from the full subsidized farmers to other farmers in their network (VSLAs). I have planned to conduct further surveys to explore mechanisms of the spillover effect and investigate the long-term impacts of the subsidies.Preliminary findings of this research were presented at the 62th WRSA Annual Meeting, Asian Economic Development Seminar of Kyoto University, and JADE/GRIPS Development seminar.