EXPERTS CHALLENGE GOVT ON HAZARDOUS INORGANIC CHEMICALS IN MARKETS

Daily monitor

Agricultural experts have called for tougher measures against the manufacture and importation of inorganic chemicals which are banned in other countries, warning that the continued use threatens soil fertility and the survival of indigenous seeds and traditional food systems.

They noted that agrochemicals such as paraquat, carbofuran and dichlorvos that were banned in countries including Europe remain widely available in Ugandan markets because of weak enforcement.

Paraquat, for example, is banned in the European Union but is still used on Uganda’s sugarcane and coffee plantations.

Carbofuran residues have been detected in tomatoes and cabbages, while dichlorvos has caused severe respiratory distress among farmers. Neonicotinoids, linked to declining bee populations, are also available despite restrictions.

They said, for instance, in the Lango Sub-region farmers are increasingly dependent on agrochemicals and improved seed varieties without following due diligence, a practice they say weakens local seed sovereignty and puts the food heritage of farming communities at risk.

Call for agroecology

Ms Joyce Akello, the executive director of Facilitation for Peace and Development (FAPAD), blamed the continued practice on weak enforcement and porous borders allowing the chemicals to circulate freely, undermining the government’s commitment to protect farmers and consumers.

“If government really thinks well for the generation of Uganda, then they should discourage the manufacture of these chemicals and even the importation because we are killing our future and the generations to come. I’m afraid that in five generations to come, some of them might never know about some of these seeds,” Ms Akello said on Monday.

She urged the government to instead promote agro-ecological practices to restore soil fertility, improve indigenous seed production and protect biodiversity.

“When we talk about agroecology, we are not only talking about agricultural production. We are talking about food, livelihoods, climate resilience, biodiversity, land, culture, markets and the dignity of the people who produce food,” she said.

She explained that farmers face changing rainfall patterns, drought, declining soil fertility, land pressure, high production costs and limited access to markets, meaning the government must rethink how food is produced, how natural resources are managed and how agricultural value chains are organised.

FAPAD is also encouraging farmers to adopt local, agro-ecological practices, despite a widespread perception that indigenous farming methods are time-consuming.

Ms Akello said many farmers now prefer genetically modified and commercially packaged seeds because they mature quickly, without fully considering their potential long-term effects on soil and human health.

“We are here encouraging farmers to go back to the traditional practice of producing original seeds so that we see how we can curb these diseases and bring back the nutritious food that we were consuming,” she said.

Women as custodians

Ms Akello said: “Women are the custodians of that heritage, noting that across generations they have selected, saved, exchanged and preserved seeds, while passing on knowledge of traditional crops, medicinal plants and food preparation.

Health and regulation

This publication was unable to get a response from the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries by the time of filing this story.

However, Dr Barnabas Mudde, a senior research officer at Ngetta Zonal Agricultural Research and Development Institute (Ngetta ZARDI), cautioned farmers against careless use of agricultural chemicals.

He said they should follow label instructions, use protective equipment and apply pesticides responsibly to minimise risks to people, crops and the environment.

“Toxic chemicals are fueling cancer, infertility and miscarriages. The Ministry of Agriculture should intensify farmer training and promote sustainable, eco-friendly farming,” he said.

He called for stronger regulatory frameworks, better funding for inspection bodies and regional cooperation to close the loopholes that allow banned substances to remain in use.

What farmers say

Ms Vicky Okwany, a farmer in Amolatar District, said adopting agro-ecological practices has improved her farming. She urged farmers to explore locally available alternatives for pest control.

“I used to spray my crops and, if I didn’t, I felt like I wouldn’t get anything. I used to buy seeds from the shops and take them to the garden. After the seeds germinated, I would start buying pesticides to spray them,” she said.

Soil damage

Mr Henry Alami Naputal, the operations manager at Fidena Agric Uganda Limited, said inorganic chemicals may support short-term plant growth but damage soil, cause erosion and kill organisms essential for fertility.

He said farmers in Uganda are constrained by low yields amid changing weather patterns that make production increasingly difficult.

“In the past, people were using traditional methods like ash to spray their crops against pests, and we can also adopt this,” he said.

“You go in the morning when the dew is still on, and you just spray. After it dissolves, it becomes soda ash, which becomes so bitter that no insect can eat the flowers of the plants,” he added.

He cautioned that farmers should ensure any pest-control method they use is safe and appropriate for the crop.

Written by newsroom-radiopacis