dfcu Bank, in partnership with Vision Group, the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, and Koudijs BV, has officially flagged off the 13 winners of the 2024 Best Farmers Competition for a week-long study tour in the Netherlands.
The event, held at dfcu Bank’s Head Office in Nakasero last week, celebrated a decade of promoting excellence and innovation in Uganda’s agriculture sector.
The winners, drawn from diverse agricultural value chains across Uganda, will visit some of the world’s most advanced farms, cooperatives, and processing facilities to gain exposure to global best practices in mechanisation, sustainable farming, branding, and agribusiness management.
dfcu Bank Chief Executive Officer Charles Mudiwa described the Best Farmers Competition as more than an award, calling it a vehicle for transformation.
“Each year, we see Ugandan farmers evolve into champions of agribusiness, ready to scale their enterprises and inspire others. The Netherlands, a global leader in agricultural innovation, offers our winners invaluable lessons that will help position Ugandan farmers as key players in feeding our nation and competing in international markets,” Mudiwa said.
Mudiwa also highlighted dfcu’s ongoing commitment to agribusiness transformation. By December 2024, the bank had supported over 1,281 agribusiness enterprises with financing and training, mentored 490 entrepreneurs, and reached more than 59,000 beneficiaries through advisory services.
dfcu has also facilitated over $22m (over sh759b) in business linkages and connected more than 5,000 enterprises to tailored agricultural financial services.
“For us at dfcu, Uganda’s agricultural potential is unmatched. With the right skills and mindset, our farmers can feed Africa and beyond,” he added.
The Guest of Honour, Stephen Byantwale Tibeijuka, Commissioner for Crop Protection at the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, lauded dfcu Bank and its partners for their role in promoting agricultural excellence.
“Agriculture is the backbone of our economy, and initiatives like this make a great contribution to developing the sector,” he said.
Byantwale emphasized the importance of government guidance in shaping agricultural priorities. “Cabinet has directed us to focus on enterprise selection, mechanization, irrigation, and tackling pests and diseases. We are also promoting large-scale farming and fisheries to ensure food security and export growth,” he said. He added that Uganda’s coffee exports had reached 7.8 million bags worth $2.24 billion, while cocoa exports stood at $620m, and milk production had hit 5.3 billion litres annually. “Ugandan farmers are heroes, and today we celebrate their sweat,” Byantwale remarked.
He urged the travelling farmers to be ambassadors of Uganda’s agriculture.
“Carry with you a good picture of Uganda. Be positive ambassadors of your country. Learn from the Netherlands, which is the world’s second-largest exporter of agricultural products, and share that knowledge with your fellow farmers back home,” he advised.
Netherlands Ambassador to Uganda, H.E. Frederieke Quispel, commended Uganda’s growing agricultural cooperation with the Netherlands and challenged financial institutions to increase support for women farmers.
“I’m challenging the bank to ensure that women farmers get as many loans as men. Access to finance is key for good farming, and we need to make sure women are equally included,” she said.
Ambassador Quispel highlighted the Netherlands’ contribution to Uganda’s agricultural development through partnerships and technology transfer. “It’s not just Dutch development cooperation; Dutch companies are here investing in seed technology, buying Ugandan produce, and supporting the potato value chain,” she noted.
Vision Group CEO, Don Wanyama, praised the enduring partnership between Uganda and the Netherlands, citing growth in livestock, dairy, and seed value chains.
“We have witnessed gradual business growth between the two countries. Our long-term partner, Koudijs BV, recently opened a state-of-the-art facility in Jinja to serve Uganda’s market, which is a testament to how far this partnership has come,” Wanyama said.
He described the Best Farmers Competition as one of Uganda’s most impactful agricultural initiatives.
“This 11-year-old competition has transformed lives, created jobs, and built communities. Some of our past winners are now exporting their products, like David Wamayi from Bugisu, who now sells his coffee in the Netherlands,” Wanyama shared.
Since its inception in 2014, the Best Farmers Competition has attracted thousands of participants nationwide, highlighting stories of innovation from both crop and livestock farmers. Many have since expanded their enterprises, improved productivity, and become role models within their communities.
The 2024 winners include Professor Paul Kibwika, Brenda Tusiime, Meridah Nandudu, Abbas Ssekajja, Janny Winfred Oyella, Allen Atuhaire, Apollo Gabazira, Joyce Omait, Emmanuela Oroma, Tom Okao, and Godfrey Bwaya, alongside cooperative leaders Joseph Nkandu and Martha Namabiro Matovu.
As they travel to the Netherlands, these farmers represent not only their personal success stories but also the spirit of Uganda’s agricultural transformation. They are expected to return home as ambassadors of modern, sustainable, and competitive farming — equipped with the knowledge and inspiration to drive agribusiness growth across Uganda
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