The use of agrochemicals has long been a common practice in agriculture to increase crop yields and protect crops from pests and diseases. However, their widespread and often indiscriminate use has led to significant adverse impacts on the environment and human health. In Uganda, the use of agrochemicals has surged in recent years among commercial farms and smallholder subsistence farms, leading to rising environmental and health concerns.
One of the most significant impacts of agrochemicals is on soil and water health. Pesticides and fertilizers leach into groundwater and surface water, contaminating drinking water and harming aquatic life. Soil pollution due to excessive use of agrochemicals has also led to a decline in soil fertility and crop productivity. “when we first started using agrochemicals, we recorded very high yields. Over time, with continued use of the agrochemicals, we have recorded very significant crop yield declines with some of our crops failing at seedling stage”, said one of the smallholder farmers in Arua.
Another major concern is the impact of agrochemicals on human health. Agricultural workers and smallholder farmers who handle and apply agrochemicals are at a high risk of exposure, resulting in various health problems, including respiratory and neurological damage. Moreover, residues from agrochemicals accumulate and persist in the food chain, exposing consumers to harmful chemicals. “We have tried to put regulatory policies around the importation of agrochemicals and the enterprises that deal in them, however, it seems that there are still leakages out there in policy implementation. While several farmers are ill-informed about the impacts of some chemicals, the market vendors also do little to inform them”, reiterated an Agriculture Inspector.
Despite these grim concerns, the indiscriminate use of agrochemicals continues to increase in Uganda. This is partly due to the urgency to boost food production to meet the growing demand amidst climatic changes that threaten food production. However, there is a growing recognition that a different approach is needed to ensure a sustainable future for agriculture and the environment. The shift to agroecology offers a way to address the negative impacts of agrochemicals and promote sustainable agriculture. Agroecology is a holistic approach to farming that recognizes the interconnectedness of the environment, economy, and society. It focuses on using natural processes and locally available resources to increase crop yields, reduce waste, and conserve the environment.
In Uganda, many farmers are already practicing agroecology for more sustainable and profitable agriculture. Some farmers are practicing intercropping, a technique where two or more crops are grown together, to increase crop diversity and yields. Others are practicing crop rotation to maintain soil fertility and reduce pests and diseases. John Pariyo, a farmer dealing in horticulture and aquaculture abandoned agrochemicals and shifted to the practice of agroecology after the agrochemicals he used in his vegetable farms started polluting his fishponds downstream.
Courtesy photo: Algal bloom caused by chemical nutrient pollution of aquatic ecosystems.
In addition to benefiting farmers and the environment, the shift to agroecology has also been proven to improve food security and reduce poverty in rural communities. By using locally available resources and promoting the use of traditional knowledge and practices, agroecology helps to increase food production and improve access to food for vulnerable communities.
The transition to agroecology requires significant changes in the way that agriculture is practiced, policies, and investment priorities. The government and, development agencies as well as other actors such as the private sector must provide support to farmers and rural communities to transition to agroecology. This includes providing training, resources, and creating market opportunities and scalable business cases for agroecological practices.
Author: Amos Amanubo. Email: amos.amanubo@gmail.com
