On the relationships among durum wheat yields and weather conditions: evidence from Apulia region, Southern Italy

The weather index-based insurances may help farmers to cope with climate risks overcoming the most common issues of traditional insurances. However, the weather index-based insurances present the limit of the basis risk: a significant yield loss may occur although the weather index does not trigger the indemnification, or a compensation may be granted even if there has not been a yield loss. Our investigation, conducted on Apulia region (Southern Italy), aimed at deepening the knowledge on the linkages between durum wheat yields and weather events, i.e., the working principles of weather index-based insurances, occurring in susceptible phenological phases. We found several connections among weather and yields and highlight the need to collect more refined data to catch further relationships. We conclude opening a reflection on how the stakeholders may make use of publicly available data to design effective weather crop insurances.