Up to 50,000 farmers have so far insured their crops with the government-backed Hinga Urishingiwe farmers insurance scheme, an official at the Agriculture ministry has said.

The farmers hail from the Western and Southern provinces which have served as pilot areas for the scheme since its launch last year, according to Ernest Ruzindaza, the ministry’s permanent secretary.

Ruzindaza told The New Times on Thursday that the next step was now to extend the scheme to the rest of the country, urging farmers to embrace it. He said that besides compensation in case of loss as a result of changing weather patterns, the scheme also helps empower beneficiaries with knowledge and information related to farming.

 "As a result we have seen production increase tremendously in areas where residents have embraced this scheme,” he said without giving figures.

The scheme was launched last year in partnership with Syngenta Foundation for Sustainable Development (SFSA), a Swiss-based organisation that helps promote value-addition for smallholder farmers in developing countries.

The scheme has seen eight automated weather stations installed in the two pilot provinces.

The stations have transmission systems that record and disseminate regular updates on weather patterns to farmers and the public in general, Ruzindaza added. The government hopes these efforts will boost production of small-scale farmers and ultimately ensure sustained food security in the country.

"Those who subscribe to the insurance scheme are also facilitated with fertilisers through the One Acre Fund,” the PS added said.