The 12th edition of the Best Farmers Competition was launched on 24 March 2026 in Njeru, Jinja district with one clear message: Uganda’s agricultural future lies in transforming farming from subsistence to a fully-fledged business.
At the heart of enabling that shift is dfcu Bank, whose growing role in the initiative is shaping how farmers access finance, scale operations, and integrate into the wider agricultural value chain.
Held at the De Heus/Koudijs Animal Nutrition Plant, the unveiling marked a new phase for the competition under the Vision Initiative for Sustainable Agriculture (VISA) Programme, backed by a €1 million grant from the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
The initiative brings together a coalition of partners including Vision Group, KLM, and Koudijs. They all aligne around the single goal of commercialising agriculture.
Financing the Entire Value Chain
For dfcu Bank, the competition is more than sponsorship, it is a strategic platform to demonstrate how financing can unlock productivity across agriculture.
Mathias Jumba, Head of Integrated Channels at the bank, emphasized that this year’s theme, Farming as a Business; Growth, Commercialisation and Cooperatives, reflects a shift in thinking.
“The entire value chain matters; from the farm gate to supermarket shelves. Every link must be strong, and dfcu is committed to financing every link,” Jumba noted.
This approach positions the bank not just as a lender, but as an ecosystem enabler through supporting farmers, processors, transporters, and agribusinesses. By embedding financial services across the chain, dfcu is helping reduce bottlenecks that often limit farmers’ ability to scale.
A Legacy of Agricultural Development
Founded in 1964 with a mandate to develop Uganda, dfcu Bank’s involvement in agriculture is rooted in its institutional DNA. Its decision to support the Best Farmers Competition since its inception in 2014 reflects a long-term belief that farming is a viable enterprise.
Over the years, the competition has evolved into one of Uganda’s most respected agricultural platforms, recognising 137 farmers nationwide and awarding over Shs1.6 billion in prize money; funds that winners have largely reinvested into mechanisation, irrigation, and modern technologies.
For dfcu, this track record provides tangible proof that access to finance, combined with knowledge and exposure, can transform livelihoods.
Building Bankable Farmers
While the competition is known for its rewards, including an all-expenses-paid trip to the Netherlands for winners, dfcu Bank is particularly focused on the process behind the prizes.
Participants undergo rigorous profiling, evaluation, and media exposure through Vision Group platforms. This, according to Jumba, helps farmers sharpen their business acumen and become more attractive to financial institutions.
Dr Emma Naluyima, one of the first winners of the competition, reinforced this perspective, noting that modern farmers must be “bankable, visitor-ready, and keep proper books of accounts.”
Through initiatives such as the dfcu Foundation and its alignment with the VISA Programme, the bank is extending training, mentorship, and tailored financing solutions to farmers, ensuring they are not just productive, but financially literate and investment-ready.
Driving Commercial Agriculture Nationwide
The competition’s national reach, spanning 10 sub-regions, ensures inclusivity, even in areas where agriculture is less developed. According to Don Wanyama, CEO of Vision Group, this deliberate structure creates regional role models who inspire peer learning and adoption of best practices.
By supporting such a model, dfcu Bank is helping to democratize access to agricultural financing, ensuring that even farmers in underserved regions can transition from subsistence to commercial production.
This transition is critical. Commercial farmers are better positioned to export, adopt technology, create jobs, and contribute to tax revenues, making agriculture a true engine of economic growth.
Strengthening Cooperatives and Market Access
A key focus of the 2026 edition is revitalising cooperatives, many of which exist only on paper despite Uganda having over 30,000 registered groups. By recognising high-performing cooperatives and exposing them to global best practices, the competition aims to strengthen collective bargaining and market access.
This aligns closely with dfcu’s financing model, which increasingly targets group-based lending and value chain financing—structures that reduce risk while improving farmers’ access to capital.
Linking Recognition to Investment
The presence of Koudijs Uganda SMC Ltd at the launch highlighted the importance of pairing farmer recognition with real sector investments. The company’s expanding aqua feed production—now reaching export markets in Kenya and Tanzania—demonstrates how industrial support strengthens the broader agricultural ecosystem.
For dfcu Bank, such developments create bankable opportunities across the chain—from input supply to export financing.
Investing in Uganda’s Future
As Uganda pushes toward agricultural transformation, the role of financial institutions is becoming increasingly central. Through its active participation in the Best Farmers Competition, dfcu Bank is not only facilitating access to capital but also shaping a new generation of commercially minded farmers.
“Together, we are proving that when you invest in farmers, you are investing in Uganda’s future,” Jumba said.
With 13 more winners set to be crowned in 2026 and Shs150 million in prizes to be awarded, the competition continues to grow in scale and impact. But beyond the accolades, it is the strengthening of Uganda’s agricultural value chain—powered by partnerships like dfcu Bank—that may prove to be its most enduring legacy.
