On 23 October 2026, around 45 participants from 28 countries attending the International Conference on Inclusive Insurance (ICII 2026) in Kigali visited Rulindo District to learn how Rwanda is implementing its National Agriculture Insurance Scheme (NAIS), known as TEKANA. The delegation visited Trusted Firm, a poultry enterprise in Mbogo Sector, and COVAMABA, a cooperative of 3,083 maize and Irish potato farmers in Bushoki Sector, where they heard firsthand how agricultural insurance is helping farmers and agribusinesses manage risks, recover from losses and invest with greater confidence.

The visit was organized by the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources (MINAGRI), through Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board (RAB), in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning, the National Bank of Rwanda and Access to Finance Rwanda. It aimed to share Rwanda’s experience in promoting agricultural insurance through public-private partnerships with a government support of 40% premium subsidy. The visit was officiated by Théoneste Rugerinyange, Vice Mayor in charge of Economic Development, and Steven Biganiro, Director General in charge of Capital Markets and Government Schemes at Rwanda’s Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning (MINECOFIN).

Visited Trusted Firm is owned by Providence Dusengimana and Christian Habumuremyi and manages approximately 7,500 birds and produces around 6,500 eggs daily. Through TEKANA, the poultry enterprise has benefited from livestock insurance that has helped it recover from significant losses. In its second year of insurance coverage, the business lost 1,000 birds and received RWF 5 million in compensation from Radiant Insurance Company. In 2024, a disease outbreak killed 5,600 birds, resulting in a further payout of RWF 28 million.

The owners explained that the compensation enabled them to revive their business after the losses and that insurance strengthened their ability to access bank loans by providing protection against risks to their poultry enterprise. They emphasized that without TEKANA, the business might have closed following the 2024 outbreak.

COVAMABA Cooperative, which cultivates 261 hectares, joined TEKANA in 2020, when only a few members were initially willing to participate. According to its president, Thacien Hakizimana, farmers gradually embraced the scheme after witnessing its benefits, and all members are now subscribed. The cooperative has received a cumulative RWF 86 million in insurance compensation. Hakizimana noted that insurance has improved farmers’ access to agricultural loans, strengthened risk management and increased their confidence to invest despite climate-related risks.

The visiting delegates and insurance practitioners commended the farmers’ understanding of agricultural insurance, their confidence in the scheme and the collaboration between the Government of Rwanda and insurance companies. They also recognized the 40% government premium subsidy as an important measure for making agricultural insurance more accessible and affordable to farmers.

The experiences of Trusted Firm and COVAMABA demonstrate that agricultural insurance is more than a mechanism for compensating losses; it helps sustain businesses, protect livelihoods, improve access to finance and encourage investment in agriculture. 

Rwanda’s experience provided the visiting delegates with practical insights into how government commitment, public-private partnerships and farmer-centred approaches can support the expansion of inclusive agricultural insurance and strengthen the resilience of agricultural systems.

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