By Joshua Kato and Herbert Musoke
The 2019 Best Farmers preparing to travel to the Netherlands for their study tour have been urged to have clear goals and missions during their visitation so as not to lose focus.
The 13 winners did not travel to the Netherlands as part of the winning prize for the best farmers due to the Covid-19 lockdown. They are now set to travel on June 3 and return on June 9.
In the Netherlands, they are expected to visit farmers, companies, knowledge institutions, processors and technology developers, among others.
“If you want to benefit from the trip, keep a clear focus on what you want to see. Otherwise, if you crowd your mind with many things, then you will not benefit from the trip,” Ronald Mukasa, from Enterprise Uganda, told the farmers, during a two-day pre-trip orientation workshop, held last week at the Grand Global Hotel, Makerere.
The 13 winners, who will be flying are: Rebecca Ssenkubuge, a strawberry farmer at Garuga Entebbe; Christine Kiwanuka from Iganga; Anthony Mateega Naakirya from Mpigi; Dauson Musasizi from Namutumba; Joseph Male from Magere-Wakiso and Charles Byarugaba represented by Bright Mbabazi from Kabale. Others are Nasib Mwaka from Kakumiro, Fred Lugard Ojok from Nwoya, Regina Nabwire from Busia, Grace Kwach, Tom Patrick Oyo from Dokolo, Gideon Akol Emukulio from Kumi and Phenton Tumwesigye from Kabale.
The farmers were equipped with skills of how to relate with the people they will meet in the Netherlands, sharpen their goals and have a business mind that will help them pick applicable lessons from the Netherlands, that they can use in the running of their farms for better yield. Ronald Mukasa from Enterprise Uganda, who was one of the facilitators, urged each of the farmers to go with a clear vision and goal, which will guide them not to lose focus as there is a lot to see and admire.
“Netherlands is not only one of the world’s agricultural giants, but is a developed country with a lot to see, making it easy for one to lose focus. Therefore, it is important before visiting to sharpen your goal such that whatever you do will be focused on achieving your goal,” he said.
Dr Apolo Kasharu, the executive director of Coalition for Health Agriculture and Income Network (CHAIN) Uganda, cautioned them against getting over-excited, which may drive them into promises they will fail to fulfil, especially signing contracts of deliveries before proper knowledge of the situation on the ground.
“Market has been one of the persistent challenges in Uganda and companies in such countries are looking for suppliers, which is tempting to sign contracts to supply. Unless you are sure of production, you should not hurry to sign or make promises as it is possible to fail to raise the required amounts,” he said.
Learning areas Technology Mukasa said the Netherlands agricultural production is highly mechanised, where you find a farm with 100 dairy cows managed by only three people.
This doesn’t only minimise operational costs, but also ensures efficiency and quality.
Productivity Because the Netherlands is a small country, with much of the land being reclaimed from the sea, they put much emphasis on productivity.
“We need to pick such lessons on how we can maximise productivity on our farms, rather than having 100 acres of land, yet production is like one acre,” Mukasa said.
Being true to self “Trust and honesty are some of the greatest pillars of business. Be who you are and tell what you have. Some may be tempted to change what they have as they may feel ashamed of their 1,000 chickens after meeting a farmer with millions. This temptation will make you look foolish as you will be driven in the argument you won’t manage,” Mukasa adds.
Systems Noah Wandera from Enterprise Uganda said that it is important to have systems in place through which the farm is run. Unfortunately, many farms in Uganda are personalised, such that the day one will fly to the Netherlands, no activity will be done, until they come back.
This is wrong because you are not the farm! Businesses should be able to run with or without you. Co-operative management We have seen farmers in different enterprises and regions trying to set up co[1]operatives, but still many have failed.
“You should be able to see and learn how these people are managing their co-operatives, how they have become global companies. It is through such co-operatives that farmers can sustain supply contacts, secure machinery and improve technologies and ensure quality,” Wandera added.
Legality On many occasions, farmers are advised to register their farms as companies, but don’t understand their importance. You will learn that all farms in the Netherlands are registered companies that fulfil all their obligations, including paying taxes.
Therefore, they want to deal with legally operating companies for business. Customer care For any business, one needs to know that customers are the bosses and it is important to keep them happy and satisfied all the time.
“We need to know that breaking a promise to supply that customer doesn’t only affect them alone, but all the others, who depend on him, too. For example, if you fail to supply your customer with eggs, a customer with a wedding function is affected and so on,” explains Kasharu.
Business opportunities Josephat Byaruhanga, a senior adviser on agriculture and agribusiness at the Netherlands Embassy in Uganda, said the best farmer competition presents several business opportunities for both Uganda and the Netherlands.
“For example, Johnson Basangwa, who is one of the best farmer winners after visiting the Netherlands, started importing day-old chicks for his farm and, eventually, it is now one of his businesses. Also, Koudjis is the leading animal and poultry feed concentrate producer in Uganda because of being part of the best farmers. You, too, can grab a business opportunity from the Netherlands to export or import,” he explained.
Succession plan Several farms have lived for generations. This is what we need to think about because many farmers and businesses fail the day the proprietor is unable to manage them, yet they have children.
Expectations of some winners
Anthony Mateega Naakirya is the director of St. Joseph Agribusiness Enterprises at Bbulamazzi village, located in Muduuma sub-county, Mpigi district. He has piggery, poultry, dairy, a banana plantation, horticulture, coffee and an orchard.
“I want to find appropriate technologies for local needs for the Ugandan environment, especially in the dairy and genetics that I can use to improve my herd to maximise production on small farms.” Rebecca Ssenkubuge Azza, the director of CuzFresh Farm is growing strawberries of different varieties, such as Chandler Potola and Selva at Garuga-Entebbe.
“I want to see the technology I can bring to my farm to change the way I manage and run my farm and take it to another level. I am also looking for packaging and marketing strategy.”
Charles Byarugaba, 68, is a catechist at Nyabyumba parish in Kabale district. Apart from pastoral work, he produces potato seeds for sale.
He also grows food items, like bananas, beans and sorghum for home consumption on a subsistence scale. He will be represented by Bright Mbabazi on this journey.
“My focus is on Irish potato seed production in the screen house. I want to know how we can produce clean and quality seeds for better production and packaging.”
