Budesta Adeke, a female farmer from Kumi district has been named the winner of the Nile Breweries Kickstart Season 4.
Adeke was announced during a finale that was held in Soroti District at the weekend, beating three other participants to win a tractor.
Amos Kwemboi and Francis Katenge who were first and second runners up consecutively won ox-ploughs with varying numbers of bulls accordingly.
Speaking in disbelief, the teary Adeke promised to set up a model farm in Teso region that will benefit other farmers.
“I am no longer a subsistence farmer. I am becoming a commercial farmer. I am going to set up a model farm in Teso region to boost good practices of agriculture practices for sorghum,” Ms Adeke said.
Ms Ann Muhangi, one of the judges, hailed Budesta for her hard work, adherence to proper farming methods, proper record book keeping and financial management.
“Budesta almost had everything that was required for the competition. The other competitors too picked up in the competition process,” she said
The edition that was launched in September 2017 had four finalists competing to win USD 20,000 in prizes. The finalists included; Obel Moses a sorghum farmer from Dokolo, Budesta Adeke from Kumi, Francis Katenge, and Amos Kwemboi both barley farmers from Kween District.
“The assessment has been extensive. The four finalists have all exhibited strength in agribusiness, financial management and good agricultural practices,” the Legal and Corporate Affairs Director of Nile Breweries Onapito Ekomoloit said. Kickstart is a Nile Breweries farmer’s initiative geared towards promoting agri-business and commercial agriculture in Uganda. The competition targets sorghum and barley farmers in Uganda.
The annual programme is intended to empower farmers create their own jobs, a culture of entrepreneurship by promoting business awareness and material support through developing business skills – training, equipment to support expansion of existing businesses and providing post investment support (mentoring & coaching).
“At the commencement of this project, we realized a lot of loopholes. Farmers were undermining what we were teaching them through the NBL extension services. But as the competition became stiffer, we realized a huge difference in the quality of farming,” Onapito added.
The judges for Season 4 were: Meralyn Mungereza, the Country Director of TechnoServe Uganda, Theunis Coetzee Agro Manager Nile Breweries, Charles Ocici – Executive Director, Moses Ogwal – Advocacy Director Private Sector Foundation Uganda, Ian Clarke – CEO Clarke Group, Ann Muhangi – CEO Wholesome Consult and Onapito Ekomoloit – NBL.
