Writing from Lira
MobiPay AgroSys Limited held a presentation ceremony for the 2019 1stQuarter Best Digital Community Entrepreneurs (DCEs) on Saturday, 6thApril at Lira Office. Three DCEs, Mr. Ojok Albino, Ms. Apio Brenda, and Mr. Etia Tonny from Ngetta Tropical Holdings (NTH) and Nyekorac Producer Organizations respectively were adjudged the best and presented with bicycles at a short ceremony in Lira.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Managing Director, Mr. Eric Nana Kwabena Agyei lauded Ms. Apio Brenda who emerged as the overall Best DCE for the 1stQuarter of 2019 for selling 54 solar units. He described Ms. Apio’s (18 years) achievement as a ‘feat’ that, all should be proud of, particularly being a leader and role model for other young girls in her community.
Mr. Kwabena Agyei underscored the contribution of the DCEs to farmer’s socio-economic development, which explained MobiPay’s Awards Day to honour the hardworking DCEs. He was full of praise to the United Nation’s Capital Development Funds (UNCDF) for fulfilling its development obligations particularly ensuring the delivery of a comprehensive package of services including digital financial services and clean energy solutions for the last mile population. He also expressed his profound gratitude to the USAID-FTF Producer Organization Activity implemented by Technoserve and USAID-FTF Youth Leadership for Agriculture (YLA), Uganda implemented by Chemonics for introducing MobiPay to the Producer Organizations (NTH and Nyekorac), but most importantly working with the youths to empower themselves, farmers and communities.
In presenting the award, the Director of Projects of MobiPay, Ms. Joyce Lamunu, indicated that since 2017 UNCDF had committed itself to building a friendly environment that promotes the acceptance of digital financial services and allows smallholder farmers to access phones, use mobile money and other value-added services including financial services and relevant extension information to boost their agricultural production. Ms. Lamunu added that MobiPay in partnership with the UNCDF decided to increase digital financial service usage among rural smallholder farmers, but with a focus on empowering youth with entrepreneurial skills and making them financially sustainable.
At the ceremony, the Project Manager of Ngetta Tropical Holdings (NTH), Mr. George said the DCE model is the game changer in the quest to achieve “Sustainable Producer Organization (PO) and economic opportunity for the youth”. According to him, the aggressive roles of the DCEs are one of the most innovative ways to serve the farmers and improve upon their livelihood and the economy of the country.
The recipients of the award expressed their profound gratitude to UNCDF, MobiPay and the Producer Organization Management Team for giving them the opportunity to be an integral part of the agricultural value chain with the responsibility to sensitize and educate farmers on the use of digital financial services, clean energy solutions, financial literacy, etc., while earning commissions that helps them to support their families. And also, how the bicycle will allow them to reach and serve more farmers within their communities.
Ms. Apio Brenda with excitement mentioned, “At first I used to get difficulties moving to the different groups, but now with this bicycle, I can move easily and reach in time”.
Mr. Ojok Albino who sold 48 solar units, said “Today, I am glad for the bicycle you have given me because it will improve my (DCE) work. I can now move on this bicycle to reach more farmers. For example, in a week I used to move to three groups with the facilitation, but with this bicycle, I can reach six to seven groups in a week”.
Mr. Etia also added “You have given us these bicycles to support and help us move within the communities. It will make us cover wide areas because we used to get difficulties moving in those places, but now it is going to be easy. So I am happy and I thank MobiPay and partners for supporting us”.
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