Dutch Ambassador urges shift from subsistence to export farming

KAMPALA - The Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Uganda has praised her predecessors for laying the foundation of the Harvest Money Expo a decade ago, saying the 10-year partnership journey with Vision reflects a sustained commitment to transforming Uganda’s agriculture.

Speaking at the 2026 Harvest Money Expo, Ambassador Frederieke Quispel commended those who initiated and maintained the partnership that has seen the exhibition grow over the years.

She said the original goal had been to move farmers from subsistence to commercial agriculture, but stressed that the next step is helping farmers enter export markets.

“There is so much business to be done,” she said, noting that while the economic potential of agriculture is increasingly being tapped, significant opportunities remain.

The ambassador emphasised the importance of smallholder farmers working in cooperative groups to improve access to quality inputs, finance and markets, including international buyers.

She pointed to the Netherlands’ own model, describing it as the world’s second-largest agricultural exporter, with much of its strength rooted in cooperatives. “Smallholder farmers work together to access markets together,” she said.

As an example, she cited a group of farmers in the Busoga sub-region who began their journey with support from the Dutch partnership.

Starting with 300 kilogrammes of produce, the group has grown its output to 1,100 kilogrammes and is now independently running its business, selling to Dutch firms.

“They are going to make Uganda great. This is the future of farming,” she said, adding that doing business internationally with organised smallholder farmers represents the future of the sector.

Her remarks reinforced the Expo’s broader vision that farming, when organised and market-focused, can move beyond subsistence and become a doorway to global trade.