Govt Trains Farmers, Agrochemical Dealers on Safe Chemical Handling in Greater Mukono

What the report says

The Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development has begun training farmers, agricultural extension workers and agrochemical dealers in Greater Mukono on safer handling of farm chemicals. According to Nile Post, the sessions were organized through the ministry’s Department of Occupational Safety and Health and brought together a wide range of stakeholders, including district agriculture officers, labour officers, sprayers and applicators.

The ministry said the effort is aimed at reducing poisoning, unsafe handling practices and the spread of counterfeit agrochemical products. Grace Adongo Choda, a senior official in the ministry, said chemicals remain important to farming and the wider economy but can create serious risks for workers, consumers and the environment when they are misused. She said the government is working to prevent injuries and illnesses linked to chemical exposure and to strengthen occupational safety rules.

The report said the Chemical Safety and Security programme is being expanded nationwide, with a focus on inspections, training, sensitization and advocacy. It also cited prior studies and a national evaluation showing significant cases of organophosphate poisoning and common unsafe practices among farmers, including inadequate protective clothing and unsafe methods for clearing sprayer nozzles.

Mukono Resident District Commissioner Hajjat Fatuma Ndisaba urged better oversight and asked that product instructions be made easier to understand, including through local-language translations. An extension worker from Kayunga, Hamidu Mugerwa, warned that fake agrochemicals can harm users and reduce yields, while also noting that enforcement against suspected counterfeit products can be slow.