By Herbert Musoke
As its name Harvest Money Expo suggests, the biggest event in agriculture does not fall short on this expectation.
Some people harvest money from the sale of goods and services, while others do so after implementing ideas got from exhibitors and training.
This is how Prudence Ukkonika, the managing director of K-Roma Limited, the producers of Bella Wine and juices, started her interview about her company’s sponsorship of the Harvest Money Expo slated for February 14- 16 at Mandela National Stadium, Namboole in Wakiso district.
“I have partnered with Vision Group for over 10 years, but I was mesmerised the first time I exhibited at the Harvest Money Expo. I was intrigued by the seriousness of the exhibitors and those visiting the stalls. They all know why they are at the expo and each of us gets value for money. For exhibitors, you get value for money because people coming to the expo buy merchandise and those coming to see or learn won’t be disappointed because exhibitors are the cream,” she said.
The expo is a meeting point for stakeholders in the agriculture sector creating networking opportunities, Ukkonika explained.
Opportunities
Ukkonika called upon the masses, especially women and the youth lacking capital, to attend the expo for support.
“Many people cry that they do not have start-up capital. However, capital is not only cash, but knowledge of how and where to start. With the many exhibitors dealing in value addition, there is no way one will fail to pick an idea on what they can venture into,” she said.
Ukkonika gives herself as an example, having started her company in her kitchen.
She started with sh100,000, which she used to buy sugar and passion fruits.
“For the equipment, I used the knives, saucepans, charcoal and stove that I was using to cook for the family,” she said.
From sh100,000, the company, now based at Mulawa in Kira municipality, Wakiso district, is worth millions of shillings.
Aside from capital, Ukkonika said another opportunity at the expo is for farmers, given that her products are made from fruits such as passion fruits, mangoes, hibiscus, pineapples, tree tomatoes and grapes.
“Such fruits must be organically grown because our products are sold abroad like in Italy, where health is a priority. Come to our stall and we talk business,” she said.
To empower show-goers, Ukkonika said she will train them on how to make fruit wine, juice making and how to grow fruits organically for farmers seeking partnership with her.
Another opportunity is venturing into the fruit wine business, with Ukkonika saying the market is growing every day.
“Our first sale in a supermarket was one bottle of wine and it took three months before it was bought. Today, reputable supermarkets in Uganda and in East African countries carry our wine. The demand is growing faster than we can supply,” she said.
This year’s expo starts on February 14; Valentine’s Day, which is known for celebrating love. On this note, Ukkonika affirmed that they will have Valentine hampers with Bella products for lovers.
What sponsors, others say
Gorreti Nabukeera, resident of Kira-Namugongo, said she has read numerous articles about Bella Wine, which have empowered her and she is considering self-employment.
Isaac Bwambale, who follows the company on social media, said he reads posts about the company and is convinced about the proprietor’s stories, noting that they offer many lessons, especially to women and youth.
Apart from K-Roma, other sponsors of the expo include the Netherlands Embassy, Tunga Nutrition Uganda Limited, Engineering Solutions Ltd, dfcu Bank and Uganda Development Corporation.
Entry fee to the expo is sh10,000 to tour the exhibitions and additional sh10,000 for attending training per day.
