By Joshua Kato
The long-awaited trip for winners of the 2023 Best Farmers Competition to the Netherlands has been confirmed to take place from October 12-19, 2024.
This confirmation came from the sponsors and preparations for the journey are now in full swing.
Organised by Vision Group, the Best Farmers Competition is sponsored by the Embassy of the Netherlands, dfcu Bank, KLM Airlines and Koudjis Nutrition BV.
The winners will share a total of sh150m prize and will participate in an all-expenses-paid study tour of the Netherlands. This trip marks the seventh cohort of winners to travel to the Netherlands since the competition began in 2014.
Josephat Byaruhanga, the agriculture policy officer at the Embassy of the Netherlands, said preparations by the hosts in the Netherlands are already underway.
“The farmers from Uganda have already identified specific areas of interest they wish to explore during their visit,” he said.
KLM Airlines, the official carrier of the winners, has also confirmed arrangements for their travel.
The farmers selected to travel include Martin Kananura (Southwest), Henry Lugolobi (Wakiso), Sebastian Ngambwa (Luwero), Paul Owor (Tororo) and Patrick Kyakulaga (Iganga). Other are; Fiona Acayo (Lira), Phillip Amajuru(Adjumani), Phoebe Kagambe (Kyenjojo), Solomon Odong (Bukedea), Dr PamelaBakabulindi (Mukono), Muawiya Mukasa (Luwero), Bosco Otto (Gulu) and Agnes Akello (Soroti).
Their expertise covers dairy farming, poultry, greenhouse and horticulture, and large-scale rabbit farming.
Farmers to be trained
Before departing for the Netherlands, the farmers selected for the trip will undergo training in business plan presentations.
This preparation is intended to equip them with the skills to effectively pitch their ideas to potential clients and partners they will meet in the Netherlands.
Byaruhanga emphasised the importance of this training: “It will enable the farmers to make compelling presentations before potential clients and partners in the Netherlands.”
He highlighted that the Netherlands is renowned for its highly modernised agriculture sector, ranking as the second-highest exporter of agricultural products globally, after the US.
Previous winners who have participated in similar study tours to the Netherlands have utilised the experience to enhance the commercial aspects of their farms significantly.
LEAD PHOTO CAPTION: Winners of the Best Farmers Competition with Karin Boven (fifth-left, back row), the Ambassador of the Netherlands to Uganda and other sponsors after the awards at Vision Group offices in December last year.
