A Bold Call for Agricultural Progress in Uganda: Innovation, Sustainability, and Community Empowerment
Agriculture sits at the heart of Uganda’s growth. It sustains more than sixty percent of households, engages around seventy percent of the workforce, contributes about a quarter of the nation's GDP, and accounts for roughly 42 percent of export earnings, driven largely by coffee.
The Best Farmers Awards 2025 once again showcased Uganda’s top agricultural innovators, celebrating resilience, creativity, and leadership across the sector.
dfcu Bank, a longstanding partner in this journey, reaffirmed its commitment to transforming agriculture and uplifting farming communities across the country.
During the awards ceremony in Kampala, Annette Kiconco, Chief Retail Banking Officer and Head of Agriculture at dfcu, spoke about the bank’s eleven-year partnership with Vision Group and other stakeholders. She framed dfcu’s sustained involvement as a strategic investment in strengthening Uganda’s agricultural value chain.
“Agriculture is central to Uganda’s development. Over 60% of households rely on it, it employs about 70% of the labor force, contributes 24% to GDP, and accounts for 42% of export earnings, with coffee driving much of that,” Kiconco stated.
“Our collaboration with the Best Farmers initiative is purposeful. It’s about equipping farmers with finance, knowledge, and opportunities to build sustainable agri-businesses.”
She also reflected on dfcu’s heritage, rooted in its Dutch origins with Rabobank and the Dutch Development Bank (FMO). “We may have Dutch roots, but we are truly Ugandan. For more than six decades, our mission has been to transform lives and businesses,” Kiconco added.
Kiconco highlighted the dfcu Foundation, formerly the Agriculture Development Foundation, which provides capacity building for SMEs and agri-led enterprises. Through training and mentorship, farmers learn to treat agriculture as a business, adopt modern practices, and become bankable.
She cited last year’s standout success story: Elgon Cooperative Union (Bududa). Founder Godfrey Buaya, after a study tour in the Netherlands, returned with fresh insights that improved governance, enabled investments in modern processing facilities, and inspired transformative change in his community.
“This is the true power of the Best Farmers initiative—the knowledge that can transform not only farms but entire communities,” Kiconco said.
With a presence in 56 districts, including areas where dfcu is the sole banking partner, such as Abim and Dokolo, the bank reiterated its pledge to expand financial access in rural and agrarian areas.
Kiconco also applauded the initiative’s partners for their complementary roles: “KLM opens markets, dfcu provides finance, New Vision tells your story, and Khoudjis supplies quality feed. This collaboration is designed to uplift farmers across Uganda.”
This year’s overall winner, Hood Kiwana Kasirye from Mityana, earned recognition for excellence in integrated farming. His 25-acre operation combines dairy cows, poultry (layers), goats, horticulture, and mechanization, securing him the Shs 50 million grand prize.
Guest of Honour Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda, former Prime Minister of Uganda, underscored the importance of value addition in realizing Uganda’s agricultural potential. “Value addition is critical. Many of you are already producing goods for our domestic market and the region. Uganda must feed itself, the region, and ultimately the world,” he stated.
Vision Group CEO Don Vincent Wanyama praised dfcu and other partners for their ongoing support of the initiative. “Agriculture is the backbone of our economy. Through this program, we aim to inspire farmers, strengthen cooperatives, and uplift the nation,” he remarked.
The 2025 edition of the Best Farmers competition, which ran from March to November, culminated in a lively celebration of innovation, excellence, and the boundless potential of Uganda’s farming community.
