Since 1964, dfcu Bank has played a central role in Uganda’s economic transformation, guided by its purpose of transforming lives and businesses. In agriculture, this commitment has taken shape through strategic partnerships across the value chain, most notably the Best Farmers Awards, organised by Vision Group in partnership with dfcu Bank, the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, and Koudijs Animal Nutrition.

Since 2014, the awards have recognised over 130 farmers for excellence in productivity, sustainability, record-keeping, and agribusiness management, while offering winners exposure to global best practices through study visits to the Netherlands.

This intervention comes against a long-standing challenge in Uganda’s agricultural sector, where smallholder farmers have historically faced limited access to finance, technical knowledge, and reliable markets. The Best Farmers Awards have helped address these gaps by creating a platform that not only recognises achievement but also drives innovation, resilience, and growth across the farming ecosystem.

By encouraging the adoption of modern farming practices and positioning agriculture as a viable and profitable enterprise, the initiative has contributed to shifting perceptions, particularly among young people, about the role and potential of farming.

One of the clearest examples of this impact is Charles Oyuk, a poultry farmer from Kumi District in Eastern Uganda.

Originally trained as a teacher, Oyuk turned to farming in search of additional income. What began as a modest “Plan B,” raising just 50 birds in a spare bedroom, has since grown into AJ Poultry Farm, a structured and expanding enterprise that earned him recognition as Best Farmer in 2025.

His early experience was not without setbacks. Limited technical knowledge led to the loss of more than half of his initial flock. Rather than abandon the venture, Oyuk invested in learning, seeking guidance from established players such as Jeka Poultry Farm Limited. This exposure reshaped his approach, prompting a strategic shift from croilers to layers, where he identified a more stable and predictable income stream through egg production.

To improve quality and consistency, he began importing poultry stock from the Netherlands, strengthening the foundation of his operation.

The results followed steadily. He expanded from a small setup to a structured poultry house accommodating 750 layers, later scaling to 1,500 birds, with daily production reaching 18 trays of eggs sold within his local market. At the time, he was the only farmer in his area producing eggs from specialised layers, positioning himself as a key supplier.

Following his recognition in the Best Farmers Awards 2025, Oyuk reinvested his UGX 7 million reward into critical infrastructure, including farm fencing to enhance security and a water storage system to mitigate climate-related risks. These improvements enabled him to scale further to 3,000 layers, with production exceeding 100 trays of eggs daily and distribution expanding beyond Kumi to markets in Kapelebyong, Mbale, and Soroti.

His approach extends beyond production into sustainability and knowledge sharing. By converting poultry waste into manure for crop farming, he has created a circular system that benefits both his enterprise and surrounding farmers. He also plays an active mentorship role, using radio platforms and on-farm engagement to share practical insights on poultry management with aspiring farmers.

Oyuk’s journey reflects a broader shift within Uganda’s agricultural sector, where access to knowledge, financing, and structured support is enabling farmers to transition from subsistence activities into scalable, commercially viable enterprises.

Through initiatives like the Best Farmers Awards, dfcu Bank continues to support this transformation, helping to build a more productive, resilient, and opportunity-driven agricultural economy.