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By Annonciata Byukusenge
Farmers and livestock keepers in Nyamagabe District say that agricultural and livestock insurance under the Tekana program came at a critical moment. Before its launch in 2019, many of them were repeatedly hit by natural disasters, including droughts and excessive rainfall, which left them with little or no harvest and struggling to feed their families.
Celestin Sinzarihuga, a potato and wheat farmer from Mujuga Cell in Nyamagabe Sector, says his farming activities were constantly affected by unpredictable weather. In 2024, after attending an awareness campaign about Tekana, he decided to insure his crops.
“Before Tekana, I was already growing potatoes and wheat, but heavy rains would destroy my crops through rotting, while too much sunshine would dry them out. Either way, I ended up with no harvest.”
During the 2024 Season B, Sinzarihuga’s potato fields were damaged by natural disasters. This time, however, he was compensated.
“After joining Tekana, I faced disasters again, but I did not lose hope because the insurance company compensated me. One hectare of my potato crops was destroyed, and I received compensation of 368,000 Rwandan francs.”
Munyemana Isaie, another farmer from Nyamagabe District who grows maize and beans, also benefited from the program. Together with fellow farmers organized in a cooperative, he insured their crops under Tekana.
In the 2025 Season B, maize grown on 28 hectares was attacked by disease, resulting in a total loss. Because the crops were insured, the cooperative received compensation.
“The disease wiped out our maize completely. We had invested everything, hoping for a good harvest, but we were left with nothing. An agronomist came and confirmed that the loss was due to disease, not negligence. He prepared a report that was sent to the insurance company. After their assessment, they approved compensation, and we received 6,082,000 Rwandan francs.”
Tekana benefits not only crop farmers. Livestock keepers are also compensated when insured animals die from causes beyond the owner’s control, as stipulated in the insurance agreement.
Mukaruziga Annonciata, a livestock keeper from Ngiryi Cell in Gasaka Sector, joined Tekana in 2022. In 2024, her cow fell ill shortly after giving birth. Despite receiving veterinary treatment, the animal did not recover and ultimately succumbed to its injuries.
“We informed the insurance company, and they came to assess the case. They confirmed that the cow died from a long-term illness and approved compensation. In January 2025, I was compensated with another cow.”
The Vice Mayor of the Nyamagabe District in charge of Economic Development, Thaddée Habimana, says that the insurance coverage for crops and livestock in the district has now surpassed 50 percent.
“We are pleased with the initial response from farmers and livestock keepers who joined Tekana. They are now helping us raise awareness by sharing their experiences and explaining the benefits of insurance to others. This is especially important because some people still have incomplete information or rely on rumors. Testimonies from those who have already insured their crops and animals are playing a key role in our outreach efforts.”
So far, Nyamagabe District has insured crops grown on 152 hectares of beans, 20 hectares of rice, 92 hectares of maize, and 39 hectares of beans. In terms of livestock, 1,700 cows, 1,170 pigs, and 8,000 chickens have been insured.
Joseph Museruka, the TEKANA Project Manager at RAB-SPIU. Said that misinformation is still a major issue among some farmers and livestock keepers.
“Some people claim that TEKANA does not compensate for losses, but in many cases, the damage results from negligence by the livestock owner, which is not covered. Since 2019, TEKANA has paid out more than 8 billion Rwandan francs in compensation to farmers and livestock keepers.”
TEKANA is a government program under the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources and is implemented by the Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board (RAB).
