Thirteen best farmers set for study tour in the Netherlands

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After months of anticipation, the moment has finally arrived — the 2024 Best Farmers Competition winners are packing their bags for an unforgettable journey to the Netherlands.

The 13 outstanding farmers will board a KLM flight on October 4 for a week-long study tour that promises to open their eyes to some of the world’s most advanced agricultural practices.

The official flag-off will take place on October 2 at dfcu Bank Towers in Kampala, marking the beginning of a journey that promises learning and international exposure.

Organised by Vision Group and sponsored by the Embassy of the Netherlands, dfcu Bank, KLM Airlines and Koudijs Nutrition BV, the Best Farmers Competition rewards 10 outstanding farmers with sh150m and an all-expenses-paid trip to one of the world’s most innovative agricultural nations.

Since the competition began in 2014, 121 farmers have won, with 111 of them travelling to the Netherlands for the study tour.

To ensure the farmers are well-prepared, the sponsors have organised a pre-travel training from September 1-3 at Forest Cottages, Bukoto, in Kampala, facilitated by ASIGMA, a group contracted by the Dutch embassy.

“The training will help farmers understand what to expect in the Netherlands, how to pitch their businesses and how to navigate cultural differences,” Josephat Byaruhanga says.

Byaruhanga is a senior agriculture policy officer at the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Uganda and will accompany the team. Each farmer’s business profile and expectations are being documented to tailor the itinerary.

Farmers speak out

Abbas Sekajja, the proprietor of Sekajja Agro Farms in Mukono, is eager to explore poultry technologies.

“The Netherlands is a leader in poultry innovation. I hope to find partnerships that can help me scale up my production,” he says.

Sekajja runs a broiler cycle of 220,000 birds and also processes poultry feeds.

Joyce Omiat, a dairy farmer from Bukedea, is looking forward to learning best dairy practices.

“Dutch cows produce up to 30lts of milk daily. I want to understand how they achieve that consistently,” she says.

Why the Netherlands?

Despite its small size — comparable to Uganda’s central region — the Netherlands is a global agricultural powerhouse. Its success lies in innovation, efficiency and sustainability.

Frank Buizer, the agriculture counsellor at the Dutch Embassy, explains: “We’ve consistently ranked as the second-largest exporter of agricultural products globally, thanks to our commitment to innovation.”

13 facts about Dutch agriculture

• Second-largest global exporter of agricultural products (euro 97b in 2022)
• Dairy exports were worth euro 11b in 2022
• 10 billion kilogrammes of vegetables produced annually
• 53% of land used for agriculture (approx. 2.7 million hectares)
• The world’s top flower exporter (euro 6b annually)
• Around 55,000 farm businesses, mainly dairy, vegetables and flowers
• The people consume 23 litres of milk per person per day
• Agriculture contributes 10% to the national gross domestic product
• Greenhouses for vegetables and flowers cover 8,500ha l70% of greenhouse vegetables exported to Germany, the UK and France
• Largest exporter of greenhouse tomatoes (euro 1.7b annually)
• Fresh produce makes up 60% of export volume
• Over 150 pilot projects in precision agriculture (farming with technology) active in 2023

2024 winners

• Paul Kibwika (Overall winner)
• Brenda Tusiime (first runner-up, Kabarole)
• Meridah Nandudu (second runner-up, Bulambuli)
• Abbas Sekajja (Wakiso/ Luwero)
• Tom Okao (Lira)
• Janny Oyella (Gulu)
• Joyce Omiat (Bukedea)
• Emmanuella Oroma (Nebbi)
• Allen Atuhaire (Sheema)
• Joseph Nkandu (NUCAFE)
• Godfrey Bwaya (Elgon Coffee Growers)
• Apollo Gabazira (Iganga)
• Martha Namabiro (DAFAN)