DFCU Bank has called on Ugandan farmers to capitalise on the country’s favourable climatic conditions to advance the agricultural and livestock sectors. Speaking at the 2024 Uganda Best Farmers Awards ceremony held at the bank’s headquarters in Nakasero, Charles Mudiwa, the bank’s managing director wondered why farmers struggle to utilise the abundant water resources, fertile soils, favourable temperatures, and reliable rainfall to engage in crop and livestock farming.
“As a bank, we are committed to supporting Ugandan farmers with agricultural financing to help them achieve their goals,” said Mudiwa.
He emphasised the bank’s efforts to involve young people in agriculture to combat youth unemployment and enhance productivity, noting that agriculture remains the backbone of Uganda’s economy. Mudiwa, joined by sponsors including KLM (Royal Dutch Airlines), Koudijs, Vision Group, and the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, praised their support for the farmers’ competition, which began 11 years ago.
Mudiwa urged the 2024 Best Farmers Award winners to serve as Uganda’s goodwill ambassadors, sharing their experiences and best practices with Dutch farmers during a study trip to the Netherlands and upon their return. He affirmed that dfcu, part of the dfcu Group—the world’s largest agricultural bank—will continue to support farmers, as agriculture is integral to its mission.
Frederieke Quispel, the ambassador of Netherlands to Uganda, encouraged DFCU Bank to provide affordable agricultural financing to women, who constitute 80% of Uganda’s farmers, to boost agricultural and livestock production.
She commended dfcu for its role as a farmers’ bank and urged Ugandan farmers to embrace diversification, such as growing Irish potatoes, where Dutch companies have invested significantly to enhance the value chain.
“God created the earth, and the Dutch created the Netherlands. Unlike the Netherlands, which was once a swamp, Ugandan farmers have fertile soils, favourable climatic conditions, and abundant water resources. You can challenge us, the second-largest exporter of agricultural products after the US, to transform agriculture,” Quispel said.
Representing the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry, and Fisheries, Stephen Tibejuka Byantwale, commissioner for Crop Rotation, outlined the government’s strategic guidance in implementing agricultural value strategies, prioritising enterprise selection, seed and livestock stocking, and supporting large-scale farming for strategic commodities.
Byantwale praised Ugandan farmers for leveraging technological support from the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, enabling effective mechanised farming. He highlighted significant achievements in the agricultural sector, including the production of 9.3 million 60kg bags of crops, generating $2.24 billion from 7.8 million bags.
Additionally, cocoa exports earned $620 million, maize exports to the East African Community (EAC) region generated $268 million, beans contributed $119 million, and 5.3 billion litres of milk were produced.
The 2024 Uganda Best Farmers Awards winners included Oyella Janny Winnifred from Gulu, specialising in coffee, bananas, fruits, and cocoa; Brenda Tusiime from Fort portal dealing in pumpkin, maize and rice farming; Meridah Nandudu from Mbale City, focusing on speciality coffee; and Allen Atuhaire from Intercity Dairy Farm in Bushenyi.
The winners will embark on a study trip to Dutch farms in the Netherlands to further their expertise.
