When an insured cow, pig or chicken dies in Rwanda, the clock starts ticking almost immediately. Farmers must alert insurer within two hours so that postmortem examinations can begin before crucial evidence disappears.

Veterinarians are then required to investigate the death, determine the likely disease or cause, and submit detailed reports that insurers rely on to decide whether and how much compensation to pay.

For years, however, weak investigations and incomplete reports have delayed payouts and triggered disputes, leaving many farmers without the compensation they were promised and discouraging others from enrolling in the scheme in the first place.

Addressing weak investigations and delays that have undermined trust

The Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board (RAB) is now responding with specialised practical training designed to sharpen veterinary investigations, restore farmer confidence and accelerate the settlement of livestock insurance claims.

Conducted in partnership with Dedicated Agri Services (DAS), a Rwandan company that supports farmers through agricultural risk management, insurance linkages and livestock loss assessment, the programme has so far brought together 98 veterinary practitioners and para-veterinarians from across the country.

Officials say many of them had not received practical refresher training in postmortem investigations or livestock loss assessment in nearly four years – a gap they believe lies at the heart of the problem.

"Sometimes reports explaining the cause of death contradicted the disease identified by veterinarians because of limited practical skills,” said Lambert Niyonshuti, Operations Manager at DAS.

"That confusion affected both insurers and farmers. The veterinarians are now returning to the field with stronger practical knowledge.”

Insurance scheme reforms target systemic weaknesses

The reforms target weaknesses in the government-backed agriculture insurance scheme known as "Tekana Urishingiwe Muhinzi Mworozi,” which protects farmers against losses caused by disease, accidents and natural disasters affecting both livestock and crops.

Under current regulations and operational guidelines, veterinarians must complete examinations within four hours of being notified, while insurers are required to process compensation within 30 days of receiving the reports.

In practice, however, weak reporting, delayed notifications and poor handling of dead animals have continued to slow the process and erode trust between farmers, vets and insurers.

Bonaventure Vumilia, a veterinarian in Kayonza District, said the training addressed practical challenges that vets routinely face during field investigations.

"I handled a case where several chickens died suddenly, but I could not clearly identify the disease at first,” he recalled. "Instead of submitting incomplete report, I consulted colleagues. That showed me how much practical training we needed.”

Joint mechanism established to handle disputes

To restore confidence in the system, RAB and the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources have set up a joint team to handle disputes linked to postmortem findings and rejected claims.

The team will review complaints from farmers dissatisfied with veterinary reports, insurers contesting findings, and cases in which reporting errors may have contributed to denied compensation.

Training to strengthen scientific basis of insurance system

Dr Fabrice Ndayisenga, Head of Animal Resources Development and Disease Control at RAB, said the training is meant to put the insurance system on firmer scientific footing.

"Determining the cause of animal death requires specialised scientific knowledge,” he said. "We are training veterinarians so that reports are based on science and proper assessment methods. Weak reporting should not become a reason for farmers to miss compensation.”

Farmers urged to improve livestock management

Authorities also urged farmers to improve the feeding, treatment and monitoring of their livestock, paying particular attention to animals that have recently given birth and are more vulnerable to disease because of weakened immunity.

Officials further warned against the practice of consuming animals that die unexpectedly before postmortem examinations are completed, saying it undermines both scientific investigation and public health safety.

Shortage of veterinary professionals remains a challenge

The shortage of qualified personnel remains a major hurdle to those ambitions. In 2023, Rwanda had about 5,000 registered veterinary practitioners, according to the Council of Veterinarians, far below the estimated 13,000 needed to meet the country’s growing livestock demands.

Closing that gap, officials acknowledge, will take years of sustained investment in training, recruitment and the retention of qualified animal health workers, particularly in remote rural districts.

Nationwide rollout planned to strengthen system

For now, RAB says the new programme will be rolled out nationwide in phases as Rwanda seeks to strengthen its veterinary services and reduce insurance-related disputes.

If it succeeds, the reforms could transform a system long marked by mistrust into one that delivers timely compensation, encourages more farmers to insure their animals, and protects the rural livelihoods that underpin much of the country’s agricultural economy.