Dfcu Bank, in partnership with Vision Group, KLM, the Embassy of the Netherlands in Uganda, and Koudijs, has officially launched the 11th edition of the prestigious Best Farmers Competition at Prime Agro Farm in Zirobwe.
This year’s competition will run under the theme: “Value Addition with Focus on Large Scale Farmers and Cooperatives.”
The launch event took place at Prime Agro Farm Ltd., the agribusiness owned by Sebastian Ruta Ngabwa, winner of the 2023 Best Farmers Competition.
The event marked the beginning of another year of recognizing and rewarding Uganda’s most innovative and impactful farmers.
Speaking at the launch, Mathias Jumba, Head of Integrated Channels at Dfcu Bank, emphasized the role of the competition in driving agricultural transformation across Uganda.
“The Best Farmers Competition celebrates Uganda’s most impactful farmers, and in doing so, inspires many more to turn agriculture from mere survival to sustainable prosperity,” said Jumba. “For over 60 years, dfcu has been a steadfast partner to Uganda’s farmers and agribusinesses. Our mission remains to bridge the financing gap, support value chains, and uplift both large-scale agribusinesses and smallholder farmers across the country.”
This year, the competition takes a bold step toward promoting value addition in agriculture. All regional winners will be required to demonstrate how they add value to their products—through processing, packaging, or branding—showcasing innovation in post-harvest handling and marketing.
Alex Madolo, Sector Head for Agriculture at Dfcu Bank, echoed the importance of financial inclusion and training in transforming the agricultural landscape.
“We are privileged to witness the transformation of farmers’ lives and livelihoods through access to finance and training,” said Madolo. “dfcu Bank is not just a financial institution; we are a committed partner in the success of agribusinesses across Uganda.”
He also recognized the contributions of the long-standing sponsors—Vision Group, the Embassy of the Netherlands, KLM, and Koudijs—for their unwavering commitment to the competition’s mission of transforming the agricultural sector.
In a significant development, the 2025 edition introduces new competition categories: Large-Scale Farmers, Small and Medium-Scale Farmers, and Farmer Cooperatives. This expansion aims to encourage inclusive participation and recognize excellence across various scales of farming operations.
Through the Dfcu Foundation, the bank has continued to make tangible contributions to Uganda’s agribusiness sector. As of December 31, 2024, the Foundation had recorded impressive milestones, including:
- Supporting 1,281 agribusiness enterprises with debt financing and capacity-building.
- Accelerating 490 enterprises through mentorship and tailored business development.
- Achieving a 52% women inclusion rate since 2018.
- Reaching over 59,000 beneficiaries with training and advisory services.
- Facilitating over $22 million in business linkages for enhanced market access.
- Connecting over 5,000 enterprises to critical financial services.
The Best Farmers Competition has grown into a benchmark initiative for agricultural excellence in Uganda, with this year’s emphasis on value addition poised to further unlock the sector’s potential.