According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources, more than Rwf2 billion had been paid out to livestock farmers in Rwanda as compensation for insured livestock losses, since 2019, as of June 2024.

Jean Claude Ndorimana, Director General of Animal Resources Development in Minagri, said that a total Rwf8.5 billion in insurance premiums has been collected from the agriculture sector, with over Rwf4.4 billion already paid out to farmers to cover losses.

This includes approximately Rwf2 billion paid to livestock farmers and approximately Rwf2.3 billion to crop farmers, The New Times has learnt.

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Jacqueline Murekatete, a farmer from Kayonza, explained how her life, which was transformed by the Girinka program, was at risk of being shattered again when her cow died. Fortunately, insurance covered her loss.

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"My cow contracted a disease called anaplasmosis. Although it was treated, it eventually died. A month later, I was compensated, and with that money, I bought another cow that now provides milk," Murekatete said.

"I urge other farmers to join the insurance programme. In Kayonza, we often deal with livestock diseases like foot and mouth disease, but with insurance, if all your cows are infected, you’re compensated and can continue farming,” said Murekatete.

Anitha Kanyange, a farmer of pigs in Rwamagana district, explained how insurance has reduced her fears of losing livestock.

"I started farming in 2018, facing challenges like epidemics that could wipe out my entire herd. Now, thanks to insurance, any disease that kills livestock is covered, and we get compensation. I encourage all livestock farmers to consider insurance because it protects you from losses when disease strikes."

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Ndorimana noted that under the second National Strategy for Transformation (NST2), the government will allocate $25 million (approximately Rwf33 billion) for the rollout of this program, with $10 million (Rwf13 billion) specifically set aside for premium co-financing, offering 40 per cent subsidy to farmers.

"Investment will help scale up the scheme over the next five years. This funding covers premium services, awareness campaigns, product design, and farmer education," Ndorimana said.

"To improve the performance of the programme, the government has also linked this insurance initiative with district-level performance contracts. Districts are now tasked with ensuring that farmers are enrolled in the insurance scheme as part of their data collection and performance evaluations,” he added.

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Ndorimana said that the Ministry has adopted a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model where all market players, including private insurers, have equal opportunities to participate in the agricultural insurance market.

"Previously, private insurers viewed agricultural insurance as a losing venture, but now they have gained confidence in the scheme and are investing more," he said.