Abstract:

【Objective】 The objective of this research was to design weather claiming index for citrus freezing damage insurance and to provide technology for policy- guided agricultural insurance. 【Method】 Based on the relationship between perennial fruit trees production and tree age, size and environmental factors, a model of citrus production was established, and the potential yield, meteorological yield, nutrition yield are decomposed. By using the risk assessment techniques, yield loss rate caused by agrometeorological disasters was determined. The freezing damage index was designed, weather indicators and yield loss rate were determined. Severe freezing damage claiming index insurance was designed based on the advantage of area yield crop insurance and weather index insurance. 【Result】 Risk assessment facilitates identification of severe freezing damage claiming index of citrus. When the freezing damage index is greater than -7.0℃ in coastal areas or greater than -9.0℃ in other areas, claiming index and indemnity rate are equal to 0. When the freezing damage index is from -7.0℃ to -7.9℃ in coastal areas or from -9.0℃ to -9.9℃ in other areas, the claiming index is equal to 1 and the indemnity rate is equal to 50 percent. When the freezing damage index is from -8.0℃ to -8.9℃ in coastal areas or from -10.0℃ to -10.9℃ in other areas, the claiming index is equal to 2 and the indemnity rate is equal to 70 percent. When the freezing damage index is lower than or equal to -9.0℃ in coastal areas or less than -11.0℃ in other areas, the claiming index is equal to 3 and the indemnity rate is equal to 90 percent.【Conclusion】 Weather claiming index insurance is designed for the needs of policy- guided agricultural insurance. It can be use for avoidance of converse choice and moral hazard, and thus resolving the problems of low indemnity efficiency and high indemnity costs in agricultural insurance.

Key words: citrus, freezing damage, agricultural insurance, claiming index, design