The use of pesticides in Uganda has been in existence for quite some time, with some natural mixtures such as tobacco+animal urine being used for the protection of some plants such as bananas. However, due to the resistance pest have shown to these, there was a need to involve advanced and more effective substances to protect crops, most of which are chemical.

Pesticide usage is on the increase despite the negative effects due to:

-Their effectiveness in pest control that is insect, plant, fungi and other types of pests they destroy

-Vector disease control for example DDT which is used to kill mosquitoes ( The infected female anopheles mosquitoes spread malaria most especially in the tropical countries)

-Balancing between population increase and sufficient food production. People cultivate their lands to provide food for their families and also to generate income after selling it. If not well catered for, crops may be attacked by pests such as caterpillars, weevils and these would lead to great losses.

Basing on a cross section study conducted by Anna H Oesterlund together with other researchers who were using a standardized questionnaire presented to 317 farmers, a guide whose main emphasis was put on pesticide use, knowledge and attitude, symptoms and intoxication, personal protective equipment and hygiene, it was discovered that WHO Class 11 pesticides were the most used with farmers having poor knowledge about pesticide toxicity and majority not wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) as they used them.

Actually, pesticides account for some of the acute intoxications in human beings and the environment as the poisons can accumulate as residues in our food and the environment. It is actually estimated that 2-3 million people die each year due to acute pesticide poisoning. Furthermore on the side of the environment, pesticides may not only cause air, water and soil pollution but also the loss of some utile insects in the environment like bees. In some way, pesticides account for some health complications like cancers, birth defects and Alzheimer?s disease.

To sum it all up, I believe that pesticides are useful however, a lot of research should be put in the discovery of natural remedies other than the chemical ones so that the world may continue to be a habitable place.

References:

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4196420/

https://trees.org/post/naturalpesticide/