Fruit Farmers Want Law To Regulate Use Of Pesticides

Posted by: Kyeyune Andrew Jonathan in Agriculture January 19, 2022

Fruits and vegetable farmers have demonstrated worry that the increased use of chemical pesticides may affect the export viability of their products.

They also said these chemicals coils as well affect and harm those who buy these fruits in terms of health.

The farmers said in an interview that the lack of food safety laws leaves a lot to be desired in terms of required standards for the export market.

“As a country, for the long time we have failed to have a strong food safety law in Uganda. Food safety control is fragmented amongst different institutions and therefore its not very effective and that’s why countries like Kenya and Tanzania are complying very fast,” said Samuel Balagadde, the Vice chairperson of Hortifesh.

Dr Doris Kiconco, a trade advisor said they need to do sensitization amongst farmers. She said they need to show them which pesticides to use during and after the harvest. This will help to yield better products for global markets.

He said some of the Chemicals they are using can cause cancer.

“When you take in these chemicals you may not die instantly because it may not be a lethal dose. But slowly they affect the way your body is functioning,” he said.

Fruit factory in Soroti

In similar story previously published by NEWSLEXPOINT.com, Uganda’s president Yoweri Museveni launched the commercial operations of Soroti Fruit Factory, which was set up by the Uganda Development Corporation (UDC) with support of the Korean government. Also launched UDC’s 10-year plan.

The trick about farming is that it must be based on “akabalo” (calculation). In Teso, people used to grow coffee and cotton on small pieces of land. You would find someone growing cotton on one acre and earning about Shs200,000 a year.

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