Which of the following works as a safeguard to verify policy intent?

The option stating that crops must be planted before the policy is effective serves as a safeguard to verify policy intent because it confirms that the insured party is engaging in agricultural activities that the insurance policy is designed to protect. This requirement ensures that the applicant has a legitimate interest in the crop being insured, thus affirming the intent behind acquiring the policy. By mandating that crops be planted prior to the insurance taking effect, the system reduces the risk of moral hazard, where individuals might take out insurance for crops they do not intend to cultivate or for which they may not have adequate risk management practices in place.

In contrast, the other options do not effectively serve the same purpose of verifying the intent behind the insurance policy. Ownership of the land or assessing local weather patterns might be pertinent factors in determining coverage, but they do not directly confirm the intent of actively farming the crops insured. Additionally, previous insurance history can provide insights into the risk profile of the insured, but it does not inherently validate current intent to plant and grow. Thus, having crops planted before the policy becomes effective is the most direct means to affirm the legitimacy of the policyholder's claim and to ensure that the policy intent aligns with actual agricultural activity.