By Seif Gracien Hasingizwimana/Kigali, Rwanda,
As climate change and livestock diseases continue to threaten rural livelihoods, farmers in Rusizi District are increasingly turning to agricultural insurance as a safety net to protect their investments and secure their future.
During a large-scale awareness campaign held on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, farmers and livestock keepers were encouraged to join the Government-supported National Agriculture Insurance Scheme (NAIS), locally known as “Tekana Urishingiwe Muhinzi Mworozi.” TEKANA is a government subsidized crop and livestock insurance program—the National Agriculture Insurance Scheme (NAIS)—officially launched by the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources (MINAGRI) on April 23, 2019.
The discussions focused heavily on the growing impact of unpredictable weather patterns, animal diseases, and other disasters that continue to affect agricultural productivity across Rwanda.
Speaking during the campaign, Project Manager of Tekana Urishingiwe Muhinzi Mworozi, MUSERUKA Joseph, said the insurance scheme has become an important tool in helping farmers recover from losses and continue investing in agriculture without fear of total financial collapse.
“Disasters are unpredictable. Insurance helps farmers continue farming even after suffering losses,” he explained, noting that the program has expanded steadily since its launch in 2019.
According to MUSERUKA Joseph, each year around 50,000 cattle, more than 15,000 pigs, nearly 400,000 chickens, and over 32,000 hectares of crops are insured under the program, while more than 200,000 farmers and livestock keepers participate annually.
Rusizi District Mayor, SINDAYIHEBA Phanuel, emphasized that climate shocks have discouraged many farmers in the past, especially in districts where agriculture and livestock farming are the backbone of the local economy.
“Our goal is to professionalize agriculture and livestock farming. Insurance restores hope and confidence among farmers who previously lost everything because of disasters,” he said.
SINDAYIHEBA Phanuel also assured farmers that efforts are being made to improve service delivery and ensure timely compensation for affected beneficiaries.
“Batamuriza Robina, a representative of the RAB/SPIU within the framework of the SIDATI project, responsible for monitoring the crop insurance scheme, clarifies that chicks are eligible for coverage subject to a prior evaluation. She emphasizes that animals with pre-existing illnesses at the time of subscription are excluded from coverage.”
Farmers who attended the campaign shared testimonies showing how compensation from insurance helped them restart farming activities after suffering losses.
MUKAYITESI Beatha, a farmer and livestock keeper from Nyakarenzo Sector, Rusambu Cell, explained that insurance support helped her recover after losing livestock.
“I had a pig that died and I was assisted. Another farmer advised us to insure a pregnant cow, and after it died shortly after giving birth, compensation was provided on time,” she said.
Another livestock keeper, NTIRENGANYA Jean Baptiste, said he first insured only four cows out of his 16 cattle because he wanted to test whether the program was reliable.
“When one cow died and I received compensation, I decided to insure all the remaining cows,” he explained, encouraging fellow livestock farmers to embrace insurance services.
The campaign also highlighted the importance of insuring emerging agricultural activities such as fish farming and greenhouse agriculture, sectors considered highly vulnerable to environmental risks.
Furahani Samuel is a rice farmer in Nyakabuye Sector. He and other farmers work together through a cooperative that cultivates rice across 345.5 ha. He says that before insuring their crops, they regularly suffered losses from climate-related disasters, especially floods and prolonged droughts.
“Climate-related disasters are the biggest threat to farming in our district. There are times when rice is just about two weeks from harvest, and a disease spreads out the entire crop, or a dry spell hits before the grain fully forms and everything withers, or heavy rains flood the fields beyond what the plants can handle. We’ve been able to move past those kinds of losses because TEKANA compensates us.”
MUTABARUKA Emmanuel, representative of the KIVU SITE fish farming cooperative in Nkombo Sector, said fish farmers often suffer losses caused by water disturbances and environmental challenges.
“We realized insurance is necessary because losses can happen at any time,” he said, adding that farmers should not wait for disasters before protecting their investments.
Under the current guidelines, verified compensation claims are processed within 30 days. The insurance package covers major crops including maize, rice, potatoes, beans, cassava, soybeans, and chili, alongside livestock such as cattle, pigs, poultry, and fish farming activities.
Recently, greenhouse farming was also added to the scheme, covering greenhouse structures, equipment, crops, harvested produce, and other agricultural assets.
Stakeholders concluded that strengthening agricultural insurance remains essential in building resilience, protecting farmers’ investments, and supporting sustainable agriculture in Rwanda’s changing climate.
The TEKANA program offers comprehensive insurance coverage against risks in the agriculture and livestock sectors. It is implemented by MINAGRI in partnership with contracted private insurance companies.
Under this scheme, the Government provides a 40% subsidy on the total insurance premium for each crop or livestock type, making the coverage highly affordable for farmers. The policy protects the farmer’s initial investment throughout the entire production cycle, spanning from land preparation up to harvest.
