Exploring knowledge, attitude and practice of farmers at the edge of Budongo forest on agrochemicals usage

Abstract

Farmers in Uganda face the challenge of a wide variety of weeds, pests (rodents, birds, insects, crustaceans), disease and other organisms that significantly lower yields. Due to this, farmers turn to a variety of agrochemicals in order to boost production. Agrochemicals, when not used correctly, most often due to a lack of appropriate knowledge, can cause detrimental effects at various interfaces. It has also been indicated that farmers living at the edges of protected areas use the agrochemicals to poison wild animals that destroy their crops. More so, studies indicate that some wild animals raid people’s gardens which is an exposure route for them to agrochemicals. The this aimed study to identify agrochemicals used by farmers at the edge of Budongo Forest and determine stakeholders’ (farmers') perspectives regarding their use. A cross-sectional study that took place on the outskirts of the Budongo Forest, 472 farmers were interviewed about their use of agrochemicals. The households visited, most in very close proximity to Budongo Forest, were comprised of 55.1% female and 44.9% male peasant farmers. These farmers commonly utilised herbicides (dicamba salt and 2,4-D, glyphosate, glyphosate ammonium, sulfentrazone), pesticides/insecticides (abamectine, dimethoate-30%, chlorpyrifos, lambda-cyhalothrin 5 % +imidacloprid 15 % SC), and fertilisers (NPK, NPK + trace elements-Mg, Fe, Zn) to boost production. The vast majority of farmers (96.4%) knew what agrochemicals are, and 84.1% were actively using them. Most farmers (76.1%) purchased the agrochemicals from retailers, while others received them from extension workers, vendors, and non-governmental organisations (NGO). 89% of the farmers mixed the agrochemicals for use by themselves as advised by retailers and extension workers. Sixty percent of the farmers agreed that agrochemicals may be misused, and many (63.8%) also agreed of their impending danger to wildlife. The farmers (69.5%) identified some training programmes on the correct use of agrochemicals and demanded that more trainings are conducted. In addition, 78.8% indicated that they would be willing to encourage the use of agrochemicals to other farmers. Education, willingness to promote agrochemicals, availability of training programmes, and misuse of agrochemicals were all factors that were found to have a significant association (p<0.05) with the use of agrochemicals. Agrochemicals are extremely helpful for increasing production, but they also carry the potential to cause serious harm to people, domestic animals, wild animals, and the environment. As a result, strict regulatory measures are required.