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Search for Uganda's best farmers is on!
By Joseph Kizza
The 2018 edition of the Best Farmer's competition is launched at Kiwenda in Wakiso district, with stakeholders
pledging to continue support
PIC: The 2018 edition was launched at the farm of Celia Kansiime
(right). She took guests, including Vision Group CEO Robert
Kabushenga (second left) and the Dutch ambassador to Uganda Henk
Jan Bakker (left), around her farm on Thursday. (Credit: Maria Wamala)
AGRICULTURE
WAKISO - Farmers across the country now have a chance to win
farm inputs plus a fully sponsored study trip to The Netherlands, after the Best Farmer's 2018 competition
was launched on Thursday.
"We are making a nationwide impact and are changing the image of agriculture in Uganda," Henk Jan Bakker, the
ambassador of The Netherlands to Uganda, said while launching this year's edition of the contest in Wakiso
district.
For the launch, Bakker was joined by several other guests, including sponsors and journalists, at the farm of Celia
Kansiime, one of the 2016 winners.
"If you wake up everyday and believe you can do farming, have the business drive within you. Then you are
eligible for the Best Farmers competition," the ambassador (pictured below addressing guests) tipped at Mish
Farm Ltd, Kiwenda.
As has been in the previous editions, the Vision Group-initiated contest is expected to attract a large pool of
farmers from across the country. It is open to all farmers.
Vision Group Chief Executive Officer Robert Kabushenga was keen to underline the strides the competition has
made.
"The first time we did this launch was in the boardroom with fruits on the table. Today we are in the farm with our
overalls and are able to bring the public into people's farms. We are no longer sitting in broadrooms. We are talking
to farmers and real people," he told guests.
"Thank you Celia for allowing us to host the launch here," Kabushenga added.
Meanwhile, the competition organisers will feel a strong sense of gratification from the fact that a new sponsor has
come on board, as revealed by Bakker.
"We started the Best Farmers competition with four sponsors: KLM, an embassy, New Vision and dfcu. Now we
have brought a sponsor who knows something about farming."
And that new sponsor is Koudijs Animal Nutrition, an organisation that focuses on the production, sales and
services of complete animal feed, concentrates and premixes.
Earlier, Kansiime took her guests around her farm. They started off at the large poultry house, then the two green
houses in which she grows tomatoes and sweet peppers.
Kansiime, who emerged among the top winners in the 2016 women's category of the annual farmers competition,
said she is also trying out passion fruits.
She is rearing chicken that are two years and six months. The barn is fitted with curtains. When it gets hot, the
curtains are draw so that the hens do not see each other when laying eggs to prevent them pecking the other's
eggs.
"As long as the birds are still giving me enough eggs, I keep them," Kansiime said.
"We don't place them [the birds] in the cages right from the start. It takes them some time to adjust to the new
environment," Kansiime explained.
The host farmer, who wore green overalls, also took her keen visitors to a large structure where the chicken feeds
are mixed, ground and stored.
Kansiime has two greenhouses. She said someone with a greenhouse can have a continous income for
six to seven months.
"Once you get steady market, you have to keep supplying your market. You cannot disappoint them.
She harvests 60kg of sweet pepper per harvest.
Sweet peppers usually take 30 days in the nursery bed, after which they are translated. It takes another
three months for them to turn from green to red to be ready for the market.
"I am grateful that my farm was chose for the launch of the Best Farmers competition," Kansiime said.
Former agriculture minister and competition judge Victoria Sekitoleko attended the launch, and said one of the
things that she derives satisfaction from is when the judging is fair.
"You are happier," she said.
"I hope that Kansiime produces more Kansiimes. Many are wishing and hoping to win."
Paul van Apeldoorn, dfcu's chief transformation officer, said they are impressed by the work of Kansiime and
others like her.
"I want to emphasise agribusiness because this is the sector that can bring Uganda forward. This is key for
thedevelopment of the country and the key for reaching the Millenium Development Goals (MDGs)," he said.
"This competition is part of what dfcu does to grow the agribusiness in Uganda."
He said such an initiative cannot be a success year in and year out without partners, such as New Vision, KLM and
The Netherlands.
On his part, Kabushenga said the influence of Best Farmers cannot be overlooked.
"We are doing more for Ugandans than we realise. People think I am some kind of magician because of the people
we host and how this initiative has been able to impact people.
"It is powerful and huge, and there is a massive impact on people and their lives. I encourage you to focus on
young professional girls because they are desperate for something to do. It is just that they don't have mentors,"
Kabushenga urged.
"We shall continue giving best farmers publicity. People are asking me how they can fo to The Netherlands on their
own. The good news is that we are bringing The Netherlands to the Harvest Money Expo.
The three-day expo at Namboole Stadum will kick off on February 16 and end February 18.
The competition
The competition does not consider farm enterprise or size, but rather puts emphasis on farm organisation and
management, knowledge of farm, plus use of innovations.
It also looks at family contribution and continuity of enterprise, environment-smart practices, for example, land and
water conservation, animal waste control, social impact, access to markets, post-harvest handling and value-
addition.
Basically, farmers can nominate themselves or be nominated by others by sending their names to any of the Vision
Group platforms countrywide. They include New Vision, Bukedde, Rupiny, Orumuri, Etop, Arua One radio and TV
West.
Nominations can also be through e-mail to [email protected]. To nominate by SMS, type: Farmers
[space] name of farmer and send to 8338.
After the nominations, farmers will be profiled on the various platforms. Thereafter, their stories will be forwarded to
the judges for assessment.
A cash prize and a sponsored study tour to The Netherlands awaits the overall top winners.
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