A week of farming experiences starts in Netherlands

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The 2025 Best Farmers have started their farming tour of the Netherlands. The group arrived in the Netherlands on May 31st and will tour farms and firms, plus attend a poultry expo, among other things.

The Best Farmers’ competition is organised by Vision Group and New Vision Foundation with sponsorship from the Embassy of the Netherlands, dfcu Bank, KLM Airlines and Koudjis Nutrition BV. Ten winners share sh150m and an all‑expenses‑paid study tour of the Netherlands.

Since its launch in 2014, the competition has produced 137 winners, of whom 124 have travelled to the Netherlands.

From the experience of the previous best farmers, the trip helped improve their farm practices, with many of them getting productive partnerships with Dutch colleagues. Among these include, farmers importing livestock breeds and feeds, seeds, exporting apiary products etc. 

Travelling group

This year’s travelling farmers are;

• Hood Kasirye Kiwana of Kasirye Breeders in Mityana, who is engaged in dairy cattle breeding

• Pison Busingye of Itungo Pastures in Kiruhura, who is engaged in livestock pastures

• Richard Wemesa of Jolwe Farm in Gayaza, who is involved in piggery, dairy and poultry

• Nelly Turyahebwa from Tororo, who is involved in dairy, poultry and agro-tourism.

• Charles Oyuk from Serere, who is involved in layers

• Ann Hope Anguyo from Arua, who is engaged in poultry, piggery and greenhouses

• Alfred Ojok from Gulu, who is engaged in coffee farming

• Joan Kantu from Fort Portal, who is involved in cocoa/chocolate.

• Grace Natukunda from Mityana who is involved in large-scale poultry farming

• Patrick Olobo from Lira, who is engaged in bananas

• Zubair Mukaaya from Kamuli, who is involved in poultry and fish farming

• Christopher Okwang from Alito Cooperative in Lira who are engaged in oil seeds bulking

• Daniel Kiguwa from Kibinge Coffee Farmers’ Cooperative

Programme in the Netherlands

The group arrived in Amsterdam on a sunny Sunday morning.

According to Michel Hillen of Emerging Markets for Africa (EMSA), contracted by the Dutch government to host the farmers, they enjoyed a boat ride around Amsterdam city before checking in at Fletcher Hotels, Doorwerth, followed by a welcome dinner.

On Monday, the farmers visited the Koudjis/De Heus processing facility. Koudjis, a sponsor of the competition, has a significant share of Uganda’s feed sector and opened a fish feed plant in Njeru near Jinja in September 2024.

Later, the group toured Schippers Group, specialists in livestock hygiene solutions, and a chocolate processing facility for those engaged in cocoa.

On Tuesday, the farmers will split into four groups. These include the coffee group, the dairy keeping group, the poultry group and the cocoa/horticulture group. The Coffee farmers will visit We Wonder Company, dairy farmers will tour PUM, Organic Jersey cows and GD Deventer Animal Health, while poultry farmers will visit Eric Hubbers Poultry Farm, Vencomatic Poultry Equipment and Hendrix Genetics.

On Wednesday, all dairy and poultry farmers will spend the day at the ViV Livestock World Expo in Utrecht, while the coffee and cocoa groups will visit Dutch processors in Utrecht.

On Thursday, the farmers will reunite for a matchmaking session to network with potential business partners.   “It is during matchmaking that the farmers meet possible partners for their respective businesses,” said Andrew Byaruhanga,  the Policy Officer for Trade, Investment and Economic Diplomacy at the Embassy of the Netherlands, who will lead the team.

In the afternoon, the farmers will be treated to sightseeing around Utrecht. Friday will feature visits to dairy farms, sightseeing in Utrecht and shopping.