2.6 Pesticides Control
Pests are unwanted and destructive insects or any animals that attack food or
livestock both during the growing and post-harvest seasons. Pesticides are often
used to control pests. Common pests in Uganda include weevils, locusts and
caterpillars while diseases include coffee wilt, banana wilt and cassava mosaic.
41
While pesticides play an important role in sustaining food supply, they may also be
hazardous to human health and the environment if not used as intended.
42 According
to Agro Input Policy Brief (2010), it is estimated that counterfeit and fake agro
chemicals account for about 10% to 15% of the national agrochemicals in the market
valued at USD 6 million per year. The control and regulation of agro chemicals is
vital because the unregulated use of agro chemicals is detrimental for the environment and exposes ecosystems to considerable damage.
There are several policies and laws that regulate application of pesticides in the
agricultural sector.
The National policy for disaster preparedness and management, 2010 notes that
pest numbers increase due to one or a combination of ecological factors including
among others, temperature, monoculture, introduction of new pest species, weak
genetic resistance, poor pesticide management, bad weather patterns, and migration.
Pests lead to damage of plants and harvested crops, consequently leading to food
shortages, famine and economic stress. Risk can be reduced through pest monitoring
and using an integrated pest management approach.
43
Policy Statement 2.1.9 requires all stakeholders to take the following actions:
• Promote research into pest resistant crops;
• Carryout surveillance of crop diseases and monitoring of crop production;
• Ensure spraying of crops; and
• Promote proper post-harvest crop husbandry.
This policy is important because it guides the control of pests and pesticides so as
to boost agricultural productivity while at the same time ensuring that the environment and associated eco-systems, human health and socio-economic development
are protected through the rational use of pesticides.
The Agricultural Chemicals (Control) Act 2006 controls and regulates the manufacture, storage, distribution and trade, use, importation and exportation of agricultural chemicals and for other related matters.
Section 2 of the Act defines “agricultural chemicals” to include plant protection
chemicals, fungicides, insecticides, nematicides, herbicides, matricides, bactericides,
rodenticides, molluscides, avicides, fertilizers, growth regulators, wood preservatives, bio-rationals, bio pesticides, bio-fertilizers or any other chemicals used for
41 Government of the Republic of Uganda, Directorate of Relief, Disaster Preparedness and
Refugees (2010).
42 Uganda Pesticides Control Board (2018).
43 Ludwig et al. (2018).
Legal and Regulatory Framework for the Agriculture Sector in Uganda
73
Pests are unwanted and destructive insects or any animals that attack food or
livestock both during the growing and post-harvest seasons. Pesticides are often
used to control pests. Common pests in Uganda include weevils, locusts and
caterpillars while diseases include coffee wilt, banana wilt and cassava mosaic.
41
While pesticides play an important role in sustaining food supply, they may also be
hazardous to human health and the environment if not used as intended.
42 According
to Agro Input Policy Brief (2010), it is estimated that counterfeit and fake agro
chemicals account for about 10% to 15% of the national agrochemicals in the market
valued at USD 6 million per year. The control and regulation of agro chemicals is
vital because the unregulated use of agro chemicals is detrimental for the environment and exposes ecosystems to considerable damage.
There are several policies and laws that regulate application of pesticides in the
agricultural sector.
The National policy for disaster preparedness and management, 2010 notes that
pest numbers increase due to one or a combination of ecological factors including
among others, temperature, monoculture, introduction of new pest species, weak
genetic resistance, poor pesticide management, bad weather patterns, and migration.
Pests lead to damage of plants and harvested crops, consequently leading to food
shortages, famine and economic stress. Risk can be reduced through pest monitoring
and using an integrated pest management approach.
43
Policy Statement 2.1.9 requires all stakeholders to take the following actions:
• Promote research into pest resistant crops;
• Carryout surveillance of crop diseases and monitoring of crop production;
• Ensure spraying of crops; and
• Promote proper post-harvest crop husbandry.
This policy is important because it guides the control of pests and pesticides so as
to boost agricultural productivity while at the same time ensuring that the environment and associated eco-systems, human health and socio-economic development
are protected through the rational use of pesticides.
The Agricultural Chemicals (Control) Act 2006 controls and regulates the manufacture, storage, distribution and trade, use, importation and exportation of agricultural chemicals and for other related matters.
Section 2 of the Act defines “agricultural chemicals” to include plant protection
chemicals, fungicides, insecticides, nematicides, herbicides, matricides, bactericides,
rodenticides, molluscides, avicides, fertilizers, growth regulators, wood preservatives, bio-rationals, bio pesticides, bio-fertilizers or any other chemicals used for
41 Government of the Republic of Uganda, Directorate of Relief, Disaster Preparedness and
Refugees (2010).
42 Uganda Pesticides Control Board (2018).
43 Ludwig et al. (2018).
Legal and Regulatory Framework for the Agriculture Sector in Uganda
73