The ninth edition of the Harvest Money Expo was a success. The event attracted large numbers of attendees, facilitated knowledge sharing, sparked innovation and provided a crucial platform to bridge the gap between farmers, suppliers and service providers in the agricultural sector.
While the success of the event was evident, we sought insights from attendees and exhibitors on their key takeaways. Here’s what they had to say:
Met expectations and beyond
For Marvin Amandu, a soya and maize farmer, the expo delivered precisely what he was looking for.
“It met my expectations. I found everything I needed and even gained extra knowledge, such as which fertilisers to use at different growth stages — from planting to flowering and the point where the plant starts developing nodes,” Amandu shared.
Maya Mbabazi, who attended the expo with a keen interest in poultry farming, found added value in comparing machinery and service providers.
“Our main goal was to explore various suppliers, assess the quality and pricing of equipment and gather relevant contacts. We now feel more confident in making informed decisions before starting poultry farming,” she noted. Her mother, Yerus Nyangoma, appreciated the fact that the expo catered to all categories of farmers.
“We saw machinery ranging from sophisticated equipment for large-scale farmers to simpler tools for small-scale farmers. I liked that the event wasn’t just targeting big farmers, but also those looking to start small,” she remarked.
Sales, networking and business growth
Gerald Mutyaba attended the expo with an inventory worth of sh1.2m and was able to sell products worth sh400,000 — a significant achievement compared to regular business days.
However, his biggest gain was the connections he established.
“I made three major connections. One was with a Dutch gentleman interested in helping me with financial and business management. I also met potential distributors from Mityana and Mubende, who plan to sell my products in their areas,” he revealed.
For Angella Babirye, founder of Lamaru Essentials — an agro-processing company that adds value to oil seeds such as peanuts, castor beans and sunflowers — sales were impressive, but the networking opportunities were even more rewarding.
“We sold products worth over sh1.5m. More importantly, we connected with four smallholder farmers willing to grow castor and groundnuts for us. We also met customers interested in partnering with us to press oil for them,” Babirye explained.
A coffee farmer from Mbale, who mainly produces Arabica coffee, observed an interesting trend among visitors to his stall: “Most people were asking for Robusta coffee, which gave me a learning opportunity. Arabica is grown in regions such as Kasese, Rwenzori and Elgon, but central Uganda prefers Robusta. This insight will help me diversify my stock.”
He also valued the networks he built over the three-day event: “The networking was excellent. I connected with people interested in collaborating with us on coffee roasting, which is one of the most valuable aspects of such expos.”
Areas for improvement
Lourine Mirembe, from Women Tea Out-growers, said sales this year were significantly better than at the previous expo, with white and green tea being the best-selling items.
However, she took note of some customer feedback.
“Many clients said our marketing and packaging need improvement because not many people were aware of our products,” she admitted.
Mirembe also appreciated the security arrangements at the venue.
For chef Derick Liaz, who represented Liam Foods as one of the expo’s food service providers, sales were moderate, but impacted by stall positioning.
“We made some sales, though not as much as expected. I think my location was a disadvantage — I wasn’t at the forefront, so some people may not have noticed my stall. However, overall, the expo was a great opportunity to make money and gain exposure,” he said.
The ninth edition of the expo proved to be more than just a marketplace — it was a hub for knowledge exchange, networking and business growth.
From farmers gaining industry insights, to exhibitors making meaningful connections, the event underscored the importance of such platforms in strengthening Uganda’s agricultural sector.
Organised experience
Sonia Mazira Adibaku, an aspiring farmer, praised the event’s organisation, noting that it enabled easy access to stalls, while ensuring that overcrowding was minimised, despite the high attendance.
“The setup was well-organised, allowing everyone to access stalls and find what they needed,” she said.
Adibaku also highlighted the challenge of acquiring vast knowledge in a short time, making networking crucial.
“I collected a number of contacts because absorbing all the information at the expo is difficult. I was also impressed that many enterprises have a strong social media presence, which is particularly appealing to Gen Zs. Platforms such as YouTube make learning much easier,” she added.
