By Joshua Kato
The Koudjis Nutrition BV livestock feeds factory that is under construction in Njeru, near the source of the Nile will start recruiting Ugandan workers in January 2024.
This was revealed to the 2020 Best Farmer by Johan Verhoek, Manager Sales during a visit to Koudjis in the Netherlands.
The factory also requires hundreds of tons of raw materials grown by Ugandans. The farmers who visited Koudjis on Monday (October 9) afternoon are currently on a weeklong tour of the Netherlands.
Koudjis, who are mainly producers of livestock feeds is one of the sponsors of the competition. The other sponsors include Vision Group, the Embassy of the Netherlands, dfcu Bank and KLM Airlines.
The farmers who travelled to the Netherlands are; Phillip Kalera, Immaculate Akullo, Peter Masiko, Jacent Namyalo Muwanga from Masaka, Prossy Kazibwe who is represented by her son, Titus Sebayiga Hillary, Gloria Rwamafa Karungi, Maureen Nyakato, Samuel Kange, Joseph Munerya, Michael Opiyo Kadogo, Bob Kagoro, Bernard Obaa and Ben Omodoi.
“In January 2024, we shall start recruitment of Ugandan workers mainly from areas of Jinja, Iganga, Buikwe and Mukono,” Verhoek said.
Construction of the Njeru facility started in June this year. He pointed out that worldwide, Koudjis operates in over 70 other countries, employing about 14,000 workers.
Verhoek further explained that the facility will also require raw materials, especially grains like soya produced by Ugandans.
“As you know, the facility will run mainly on processing grains into feeds. We, therefore, need a lot of these grown by Ugandans across the country,” he said.
He, however, emphasized that the produce must be of the highest quality.
“This Jinja factory will maintain the same high standards as we have across the world. Therefore, the raw materials that we shall use must also be at that level,” he said.
Use good feeds
Verhoek further reiterated the importance of using quality feeds for livestock.
“If you invest in quality feeds, your animal will give you quality products,” he said.
He pointed out that his experience with Ugandan farmers is that they ‘fear’ to invest in quality inputs.
“But if you look at all those who have invested in better technologies you realize that their profit margin is higher. This is what you must do,” he said.
Josephat Byaruhanga, the Agriculture Policy Officer at the Embassy of the Netherlands thanked Koudjis for choosing Uganda as a base for one of their facilities in Africa.
“When we first met in 2016, this was just a dream. However, as the embassy, we are happy that it is now becoming a reality. Ugandans now have got a chance to use quality feeds produced at home,” he said.
Bob Kagoro, a piggery farmer from Fort-Portal asked Koudjis to improve on the distributorship in order to avoid scarcity sometimes.
“We appreciate your contribution to the agriculture sector, but make sure that the feeds are available every day so that our animals do not suffer from scarcity,” he said.
Jaceny Namyalo Muwanga, a poultry and piggery farmer from Ssembabule asked the company to improve on sensitization of farmers about their products so that they can use them profitably.
On Tuesday, the farmers visited Livestock, cheese processors, apples, onion and potato growers across the Netherlands.
PHOTO CAPTION: Johan Verhoek, the Manager Sales addressing farmers during their visit. Photo by Joshua Kato
