Best farmers' high expectations for Netherlands tour
This is the 8th cohort of farmers that has travelled to the Netherlands.
Best farmers waiting to board a fun boat. (Credit: Joshua Kato)
NewVision Reporter
@NewVision
_____________
The 13 farmers were flown to Netherlands by the Royal Dutch Airlines, KLM on Saturday (October 12, 2024).
On arrival, they were given a boat tour around the city of Amsterdam, before moving by bus to Den Bosch where they were boarded at Hotel the Den a Tribute Portfolio Hotel.
“We have organised tours around the Netherlands that are suited not only to the aspirations of the visiting farmers, but also the aspirations of Ugandan farmers,” Josephat Byaruhanga, the senior agricultural policy Officer, at the Embassy of the Netherlands in Uganda, who also led the team said.
This is the 8th cohort of farmers that has travelled to the Netherlands.
From across the country
The travelling farmers included; Martin Kananura from Mbarara, Henry Lugolobi from Wakiso, Sebastian Ngambwa from Luwero, Paul Awor from Tororo, Agnes Akello from Soroti, Bosco Otto from Gulu, Solomon Odong from Soroti, Fiona Acayo from Lira, Simon Amajuru from Adjumani, Muawiya Mukasa from Nakaseke, Dr Pamela Bakabulindi from Mukono, Patrick Kyakulaga from Iganga and Phoebe Kagambe from Kyenjojo.
During a send-off event on October 10, Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Thomas Tayebwa, officiated the event.
The week-long tour saw the farmers visit Koudjis Nutrition BV's head office in the Netherlands. Koudjis, which is also a sponsor of the Best Farmers' Competition, is located in Ravenstein. Koudjis is one of the leading suppliers of livestock feeds in Uganda. Other sponsors of the competition include the Embassy of the Netherlands, dfcu Bank, KLM Airlines and Koudjis Nutrition BV.
Best famrers enjoying a boat ride. (Credit: Joshua Kato)
Best famrers enjoying a boat ride.(Credit: Joshua Kato)
The farmers also visited HAS Green Academy in Den Bosch. This is renowned for training farmers in the Netherlands. During the visit, the farmers got knowledge in organising similar trainings in Uganda because this is key to improving the agriculture extension services. On the same day, the farmers visited Hoeve Boveneind, a medium-size dairy farm in Herwijnen.
The farmers also visited Bosch Growers, who grow vegetables in Green Houses, LC Packaging, a leading company in providing packaging solutions to farmers, Schippers group who provide livestock field and health solutions, New Generation Nutrition who among other things do insect breeding, Friesland dairy farm, De Stroom a fish farm owned by Jack Van Der Schoot and De Groene Griffioen which is an organic farm. The tour will end on Friday.