The Ministry for Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) has challenged farmers across the country to always attend meetings summoned by Agricultural Extension Workers with or without transport allowances.
The call was made by Fred Muzira, a Senior Agricultural Inspector in the Department of Crop Inspection and Certification during a media sensitization workshop organized by the Ministry in conjunction with UN’s Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) at Source of the Nile Hotel-Jinja. The workshop aimed to improve on journalists’ coverage of Plant Health sector majoring on crop pests and diseases reporting.
He explained that whereas the recommended Extension worker: Farmer ratio is 1:500, in Uganda currently, the ratio stands at 1:2000 farmers.
“That’s really too big. Ours is four times the recommended ratio. What we request is that there should be self initiative. When trainings are called, they should come because it will be expensive meeting every farmer at individual level” he said.
Muzira said as a Ministry, it invests a lot in training Agricultural Extension Workers who should be the ones to propagate the Ministry’s message down to the local farmers, but unfortunately, farmers ask for allowances before they can attend.
“We call for trainings but farmers ask for allowances. So, farmers beyond the transport refund, mind about life. The primary goal is not money but food security” he urged.
He said for example, government is moving towards possible restriction or phase out of 12 pesticide products on the Ugandan market, and that the first people to be informed shall be the extension workers.
“The Extension Workers will be the first to know. If the farmers abuse the pesticides, we all get affected” he warned.
Muzira who presented a paper on Registration of Plant Pest Control in Uganda under the Department of Crop Inspection and Certification, said in spite of tight controls in place to curb fake pesticides from entering on the market, these continue to be smuggled into the country and are sold cheaply to farmers.
“They (farmers) are doing this but they don’t know their efficacy and risks. If farmers can reject these products and stick to registered ones, we shall save our lives and our people” he said.
He noted that whereas most farmers pay attention to their cows when they fall sick by looking for qualified Vets, they don’t do the same on crops and pesticides.
He explained that over 99% of Uganda’s pesticides are imported mainly from Europe, the reason the Ministry subjects them to rigorous processes before they are allowed on the market.
Muzira said that 30% of crop losses in Uganda is as a result of pests, hence the need to apply the right pesticides as indigenous methods are no longer enough.
“That’s why pesticides need to come. They are good if we use them responsibly. The population is growing and yet land is not increasing. We therefore, need mechanisms of ensuring food security because the population needs to eat” he said.
He explained that before pesticides are allowed on the market, they undergo registration and other stages including analysing their risks on human beings and ecosystem.
“We need to protect our bees, earthworms, fish etcetera. All this is done during the registration process. These pesticides have been produced in Europe, we therefore, must be sure that do they work here also? What about the efficacy of those pesticides? That’s why we do all those assessments before approvals are made” he said, adding that every pesticide that is approved is given it’s registration number akin to that of NINs for people.
BANNING MANCOZEB PESTICIDE
Muzira said that whereas this pesticide has not been approved on the European market, Uganda is not about to ban it in the near future.
He however, admitted that reports are coming in suggesting that this pesticide if not used properly, it has adverse effects. Muzira urged farmers to follow the proper dosage, wear personal protective gear in order to minimize on its risks if used.
“For now, we encourage farmers to follow the dos and don’ts as we wait for an alternative. Currently, we don’t have an effective alternative to MANCOZEB” he said.
He said that for now, government is placed between a hard place and a rock to either consider banning it or risk people’s lives as a result of lack of food.
Muzira cited in Kigezi, Masaka and Eastern Region where farmers greatly rely on this pesticide. In Kigezi for example, they spray it on Irish potatoes, Masaka on passion fruits and Eastern on tomatoes.
“Once we do (ban), we shall suffer food insecurity in Eastern, Kigezi and Masaka. Farmers will ask for alternative but we don’t have any now. However, what we should know is that all pesticides are inherently harmful. But if we stay within the line, the effects will be minimized” he guided, adding that there’s need for creating awareness among farmers that as government works towards getting an alternative, they should follow guidelines such as use of long sleeved shirt, long pants, gloves among others as they apply it.
FARMERS TAKE
According to him, farmers suggest that when they apply MANCOZEB chemical, it expands the shelf life of their tomatoes, in addition to controlling a number of fungal problems on Irish potatoes, passion fruit, green pepper. This 2-days workshop was also addressed by senior officials from the Ministry including Dr. Joab Tugume, a Senior Agricultural Inspector and also officials from FAO including Martin Ameu (program officer), Agrey Atuhairwe (program officer) and Agatha Ayebazibwe (Communications Officer) among others. The scribes were trained on reporting outbreaks and pest control.
