Hidden dangers of pesticide misuse in agriculture, a silent threat to health and livelihoods

Fort Portal: As we celebrate the abundance of our agricultural harvests, there is a silent, invisible threat lurking in the shadows one that endangers the health and livelihoods of both farmers and consumers.

The misuse of pesticides in agriculture has risen to alarming levels, especially in rural-urban farming communities, and it has sparked growing concern among health experts, environmentalists, and farmers alike.

This escalating crisis calls for immediate action and a collective effort to address the dangers that come with the reckless application of these chemicals says Dr. Bernard Bwambale a nutritionist from CONSENT during a media webinar.

Dr. Bwambale says that in Uganda, agriculture is the backbone of the economy, and pesticides are a common tool used by farmers to protect their crops from pests and diseases, however, the misuse of these chemicals has become a hidden epidemic that threatens the very core of agricultural sustainability.

“According to WHO/ FAO report on pesticide management guidelines on highly Hazardous pesticides, Uganda uses 18,928.16 tonnes of pesticides every year which is approximately 0.1% of global pesticide consumption. Common pesticides including fungicide eg (mancozeb, tebuconazole and propineb), insectides and herbicides which are ranked as hazardous to human health and environment” explains Dr. Bwambale.

Dr. Bwambale adds that the effects on human health are severe and varied, ranging from acute poisoning symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, dizziness, and headaches, to long-term illnesses including cancer, reproductive problems, and neurological disorders.

Dr. Violet Kanyiginya head of food securit, agribusiness and environment conservation at Kabarole resource and research center (KRC),70% of farmers in uganda use pesticides in their farming practices, yet a staggering 90% of them do not follow the safety instructions provided stretching  a significant harm to both farmers and consumers.

“The statistics paint a grim picture with an estimated 20,000 cases of pesticides poisoning occurring in Uganda, a number that highlights the gravity of the situation. These incidents often go unreported or are treated as isolated cases, but the damage is widespread.,” says Dr. Kanyiginya.

“In many instances, farmers are unaware of the dangers of mixing pesticides improperly, applying them at unsafe intervals, or using banned chemicals in the absence of regulation,” Dr. Kanyiginya adds.

Dr. Kanyiginya shows that according to the World health organization report, 200,000 people die annually from pesticide poisoning worldwide, a staggering number that underscores the deadly toll of improper chemical use in agriculture.

She emphasizes that the misuse of pesticides is not just a matter of personal health but an environmental crisis.

“Pesticide runoff into water sources contaminating drinking water, harming entire communities. The chemicals also damage soil fertility, reducing its ability to support crops in the future. This vicious cycle of misuse and environmental degradation undermines the sustainability of agriculture in Uganda and threatens food security,” Stresses Dr. Kanyiginya

Isaac Odel, an agronomist testifies that the problem of improper use of pesticides is compounded by the lack of proper education and training for farmers on how to handle pesticides safely.

“While many farmers rely on these chemicals to increase crop yields and protect their harvests, they often lack the knowledge of safer alternatives, or even the basics of pesticide safety. As a result, the environmental impact is also profound, as improper pesticide use leads to soil and water contamination, threatening not only agricultural productivity but also the surrounding ecosystems,” explains Odel.

Growing concern

The misuse of pesticides in Uganda’s agriculture sector has become an escalating concern, impacting both environmental and human health.

Studies have highlighted that many smallholder farmers lack adequate knowledge regarding proper pesticide handling, leading to unsafe practices.

Eric Oteba a nutritionist, while presenting a report conducted by KRC and iles de paix on  identifying the realities, limitations and drivers for vegetables (consumption and production) in fort portal food system 2024 in areas of Harugongo, Karangura, Kicwamba, Kihondo, and Nyantaboma vegetable farmers and vendors within Mpanga, Mugusu, Kacwamba and Kabundeire markets at Ataaco country resort in fort portal city last week, 53% of food vendors never knew how the vegetables were produced, but 88.9% knew that the vegetables sold were sprayed with synthetic chemicals of which 44.4% of them preferred sprayed vegetables over organically produced ones.

“Only 8% of farmers could interpret instructions of pesticides containers or bag labels correctly while the majority of vendors and consumers mentioned a misconception that vegetables with pesticide residue are fresh compared with those without pesticides,” explained Oteba.

The report shows that 41.4% of the vegetable farmers had never received any training in production with 70.5% of them producing vegetables throughout the year.

Growing more with nature

Organic farming is a sustainable agricultural system that uses natural inputs like compost and crop rotation to grow food. It avoids synthetic pesticides, fertilizers and genetically modified organisms.

James Mugabe the fort portal city agriculture officer explains that organic agriculture is a holistic production management system which aims to avoid the use of chemicals

“Organic fertilizers as a cornerstone of sustainable agriculture, improves soil structure and reduces chemical runoff among other benefits” Mugabe explains.

He says that even when there are many farmers using chemicals and GMOs, uganda is leading the African continent with 210352 certified organic farmers.

Nutritionist Oteba adds that currently KRC is working with over 100 organic farmers in districts of Kabarole and Bunyabgabu whose products are traced all the way to Mpanga Market in fort portal city where they have introduced organic stalls.

“Our sustainability values is to increase the purchase of organic ingredients by consumers produced by our identified farmers” narrates Oteba.

Moreen Nyakato an organic farmer in Kigarama Kabarole district explains that organic farming increases production by improving soil health, reducing input costs and fostering more sustainable farming system.

“My beginning was tough but hard work paid off. I increased soil quality by spending less on chemicals and only thrived on rabbit urine, water and compost manure and now i earn premiumly,” excitedly expresses Nyakato.

She adds that her organic farm is her personal contribution towards an unadulterated food chain that saw her win a trip to Netherlands by Vision group.

As consumers, we can also play a crucial role driving change by choosing organic or locally grown produce , supporting sustainable agriculture initiatives and advocating for stricter pesticide regulations for sustainable future to come.

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