By Herbert Musoke
“An empowered farmer is the best farmer!” These were the remarks of Don Wanyama, the CEO of Vision Group, the organisers of the Harvest Money Expo, which not only brings together exhibitors, but also provides a platform for learning.
This year’s expo will run under the theme, Farming as a Business, Value Addition and Co-operatives.
All is set for both showgoers and exhibitors to gain value for their money, as there is something for everyone.
This year’s event is sponsored by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Uganda, Engineering Solutions Ltd (ENGSOL), K-Roma (Bella Wine), Tunga Nutrition, Uganda Development Corporation (UDC), aBi Development and Pepsi Cola.
They have assured that all is ready for the expo. The mega annual agricultural expo is scheduled to run from February 14, which coincides with Valentine’s Day, to February 16, at Mandela National Stadium, Namboole.
Both local and international companies will exhibit their offerings, sharing technologies and knowledge and selling their products at discounted prices.
The expo was launched at the National Union of Coffee Agribusiness and FarmEnterprises (NUCAFE) premises in Namanve, Mukono district.
NUCAFE was awarded the overall winner of last year’s Best Farmers Competition — Special Category of Co-operatives.
“The Harvest Money Expo attracts thousands of people from all walks of life and agri-based businesses. People come not only to see, but also to do business, buying and selling. Many exhibitors will offer their high-quality products at discounted prices,” Wanyama said.
In addition to the exhibitors, over 29 training sessions have been organised to provide farmers and other stakeholders with essential information that can transform their farms and lives.
Wanyama affirmed that everything is set, including the exhibitors led by the sponsors, as well as security, which will be managed by the Uganda Police with support from other state security organs.
Health services will also be available to ensure the safety of all attendees.
Over 100 Exhibitor set for Dutch Village
Frank Buizer, the agricultural counsellor at the Netherlands Embassy, who represented Ambassador Frederieke Quispel as the guest of honour, applauded Vision Group for its Best Farmers Competition and the expo, which has done tremendous work in disseminating information to local farmers.
Buizer said over 100 companies have confirmed their participation in the Dutch Village at the expo.
These include local companies collaborating with Dutch companies, as well as the Best Farmers Competition winners, who will share knowledge and technologies.
“The expo presents opportunities for farmers to access financial literacy, technologies, innovations and ideas. In addition to the training we will be facilitating, we will offer free training at the Dutch Village, where exhibitors will share valuable information with visitors throughout the expo,” he said.
Visitors to the Dutch Village will also learn about various programmes and projects supported by the Netherlands Embassy, aimed at transforming the lives of smallholder farmers.
The Netherlands Embassy has committed euro 84.2m to impact over 600,000 smallholder households through various projects aimed at improving food security and livelihoods.
These funds will be allocated through four programmes: Farmers’ Organisations for Rural Transformation, Integrated and Sustainable Production for Inclusive and Resilient Economies, Inclusive Livestock Development for Smallholder Farmers and the Agricultural Governance Results Improvement Project.
The projects will run for about five years, with a primary focus on food security and improving the lives of smallholder farmers across Uganda.
They are expected to positively impact over 600,000 households and more than three million people.
Expo is a must-attend
Med Mwiri, the sales manager at Engineering Solutions Ltd (ENGSOL), called on Ugandans to attend the expo, saying it offers more than just an opportunity to observe; it is also a chance to buy high-quality agricultural inputs and machinery at discounted prices.
“The expo is the time to get value for money. Exhibitors make sales, but showgoers also get what would otherwise be expensive items at a reasonable price. For example, ENGSOL will be offering tractors and implements at up to a 15% discount for the three days of the expo, but only for transactions made at Namboole,” he stressed.
Mwiri also said ENGSOL will showcase technology that allows an operator to control up to 10 tractors simultaneously.
“This technology addresses the challenge of limited tractor operators, which has hindered agricultural mechanisation in Uganda,” he added.
Denis Dokoria, the head of public relations at UDC, said being part of the expo is the best decision for everyone because of what they stand to gain.
“We have observed, tested and seen that the expo is more than just a chance to visit stalls. It provides a platform for interaction and the creation of working partnerships between individuals, organisations and companies,” he said.
UDC was established with the aim of promoting and facilitating industrial and economic development in Uganda.
As the government’s investment arm, it drives industrial growth by establishing subsidiary and associate companies and forming public-private partnerships with commercial, industrial, or agricultural enterprises.
“The theme of this year’s expo aligns perfectly with our activities, which focus on promoting value addition, commercialisation, and industrialisation to boost local raw materials, improve the country’s trade balance, and foster national and regional growth through industrial distribution,” Dokoria said.
To achieve this, UDC encourages the establishment of industries outside Kampala, including tea factories in southwestern Uganda, a sugar factory in the north, a facility processing ethanol from sorghum, cassava and maize in Nwoya, a fruit processing factory in Soroti, a coffee factory in Budadiri and another one soon to be set up in Luwero.
It also invests in strategic sectors to create direct and indirect employment, utilise local resources to manufacture goods for both domestic and international markets, improve Uganda’s trade balance through import substitution and export promotion, and foster local entrepreneurship.
Dokoria emphasised that the expo is the best platform for disseminating information about their efforts to the public and establishing working relationships with target customers.
Tunga nutrition to give out feed samples
Dr Samuel Ssewagudde the commercial manager at Tunga Nutrition, producers of Hendrix feed and concentrates, expressed excitement about being part of the ninth edition of the expo, saying it offers them an opportunity to engage with their customers and other sector players.
“The expo provides a platform to get feedback from our customers, which is key to improvement and innovation. For instance, at last year’s expo, we received over 2,000 visitors at our stall, including returning customers offering valuable feedback, as well as new customers,” he said.
Ssewagudde praised Vision Group for its media reach, which has helped Tunga grow its sales and visibility across Uganda.
“We will offer discounted prices, as well as free samples of feed and ingredients like maize, soya and bran at our stall. Additionally, we are eager to meet farmers who supply our raw materials, especially smallholder farmers in groups, to discuss how we can collaborate more effectively,” he said.
Give your loved one a gift
Prudence Ukkonika, the managing director of K-Roma Ltd, producers of Bella Wines and Juices, encouraged everyone to celebrate Valentine’s Day at the expo, as it coincides with the opening day of the event.
She said at the Bella tent, they will offer Valentine’s Day hampers featuring Bella products at a reduced price.
“So, if you are unsure about what to give your loved one, especially those in romantic relationships, consider giving them the gift of learning how to turn farming into a business, and top it off with a gift hamper from K-Roma,” Ukkonika said.
She invited the unemployed and underemployed to attend the expo, urging them to visit the Bella stall for inspiration.
Ukkonika started her company, which has now become international, from her home kitchen.
She won an award in Italy last month.
LEAD PHOTO CAPTION: Ukkonika (right) showing Buizer (second-right), Dokoria (third-right), Joseph Nkandu, the executive director of NUCAFE (fourth-right), Gervase Ndyanabo, the deputy CEO of Vision Group (second-left) and Barbara Kaija, the editor-in-chief at Vision Group (left), some of her products during the 2025 Harvest Money Expo launch on Tuesday. Photo by Herbert Musoke
