Uganda: Kayunga Farmers Trained On Safe Pesticide Use to Protect Health and Environment

What the report says

Farmers in Kayunga District, Uganda, have been encouraged to use pesticides more carefully to protect their health, the environment and crop yields, according to a report published by Nile Post and distributed by AllAfrica. The message was delivered at the closing of a two-day stakeholder training held at Kayunga District Headquarters in Ntenjeru, where participants discussed the risks linked to improper handling of agricultural chemicals and practical steps for safer use.

John Mwanja, the Assistant Commissioner for Agrochemicals at Uganda’s Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, said farmers need clearer guidance on correct pesticide use. He warned that misuse can expose farmers, consumers and surrounding ecosystems to harm, and stressed basic precautions such as reading labels, wearing protective gear, following application rates, observing waiting periods before harvest, avoiding banned products and storing chemicals away from food and water sources.

The report also quotes Emmanuel Tebandeke of Makerere University’s Chemistry Department as saying the initiative is intended to extend sensitisation and training to farmers across Uganda. He said the programme, funded by the Canton of Geneva, aims to improve productivity while reducing health and environmental risks. In a district where many households rely on farming, the effort is presented as part of broader work to support safer food production, soil and water protection, and more sustainable agriculture.