In a bid to earn north of Shs10 million from his harvests, Mr Otim always pushes the envelope. This is not just when it comes to tilling the land. He uses five spoonfuls of a powdered fungicide.
Safe farming and careful usage of agri-chemicals
Saturday April 10 2021
Summary
Seed dressing is the practice of applying a pesticide or a poisonous substance on a seed to kill any insects, rodents, or birds that may try eating the seed.
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Seeds of Gold agronomists last week detailed the dangers of agri-chemicals to our crops. In today’s part 2, about the public health issues arising from mindless use of agricultural chemicals by farmers, agronomists advise farmers the best practices of using the chemicals that include pesticides and herbicides.
Smallholder farmers are the greatest producers of the food we eat but they have to constantly fight pests and crop diseases in order to get the food. This is mainly due to the warm and wet climate in the tropical region where we live which favours not only quick growth of crops but also rapid eruption of pests and diseases.
Daily Monitor
Saturday April 03 2021
Agricultural chemical dealers must explain to the farmers how to handle the chemicals. PHOTO/MICHEAL J SSALI
Summary
The battle against pests and diseases involves use of agricultural chemicals which has become a public health concern.
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Since we live within the tropics the warm climate of the region is quite conducive to the eruption and multiplication of pests that are a major hindrance to crop production.
Pests and crop diseases are said to multiply much more rapidly in this part of the world than in cooler countries. The Ugandan farmer is therefore constantly fighting an extremely costly war against pests and crop diseases.