Emerging market economies continued to deliver strong growth in 2005 despite generally rising global interest rates and commodity prices. Both, life and non-life insurance premiums are registered further gains, of 7.5% and 5%, respectively, in the year after adjusting for inflation. While uncertainties stemming from the global interest rate cycle and geopolitical tensions looks to persist in the near term, the insurance growth outlook for 2006 and 2007 remains sound. Few emerging markets currently offer sufficient insurance coverage against the broad range of production risks inherent in agriculture activities. Total agricultural insurance premiums in emerging markets were estimated at around USD 1.1 billion in 2005, less than 20% of the global total, although emerging markets account for nearly 70% of food production worldwide. A properly-designed risk management system is thus essential for protecting farm operators and reinforcing rural development. Emerging market economies continued to deliver strong growth in 2005 despite generally rising global interest rates and commodity prices. Both, life and non-life insurance premiums are registered further gains, of 7.5% and 5%, respectively, in the year after adjusting for inflation. While uncertainties stemming from the global interest rate cycle and geopolitical tensions looks to persist in the near term, the insurance growth outlook for 2006 and 2007 remains sound. Few emerging markets currently offer sufficient insurance coverage against the broad range of production risks inherent in agriculture activities. Total agricultural insurance premiums in emerging markets were estimated at around USD 1.1 billion in 2005, less than 20% of the global total, although emerging markets account for nearly 70% of food production worldwide. A properly-designed risk management system is thus essential for protecting farm operators and reinforcing rural development.