Assessment of Pesticide Use By Smallholder Farmers in Busukuma Sub County, Wakiso District.

Abstract

Over the past years, there has been an increase in the use of pesticides in developing countries. This study examined pesticide use among small-scale farmers in BusukumaSub-county which is located about 20 km North of Kampala. A cross-sectional survey was conducted using a standardized questionnaire with an objective to determine the types of pesticides applied on major crops grown, the relationship between formal training and pesticide application, and to assess the disposal methods of leftover pesticides. Results of the study showed that the most common type of pesticide used by farmers was insecticides (44.6%) followed by fungicides (40.9%). These insecticides such as cypermethrin and deltamethrin fall under the WHO (2009) class II that is, moderately hazardous pesticides. The Pearson Chi-square results (χ(1) = .031, p = .860) showed that, there is no statistically significant association between pesticide use and formal training; that is, formal training is not a prerequisite for use of pesticides among farmers. In fact, Majority (52.5%) of the smallholder farmers had not received formal training on pesticide application. On disposal of leftover pesticides, it was concluded that that there is no statistically significant relationship between disposal of pesticides and formal training (χ(1) = .9.13, p = .058); that is, formal training does not impact disposal of pesticides waste. Majority of the farmers (44%) disposed off left over pesticides in their stores while 31% did it in the yard. Farmers struggled with pesticide leftovers because they did not carefully plan the right amount of pesticide required for their farms. There was low level of formal training on pesticide disposal. The study recommends that, training of farmers in IPM methods, the practicing of organic farming, proper hygiene and the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) when handling pesticides should be promoted. Government of Uganda should strengthen policies to guide and regulate pesticide use by small holder farmers in protected areas. This will ensure proper pesticide use and application to crops and protected areas to safe guard pollution while maintaining and environmental conservation of natural resources in protected areas.

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