Exploring knowledge, attitudes and practices of farmers at the edge of Budongo forest on agrochemicals usage

ABSTRACT

Due to the challenges associated with weeds, pests, and diseases, farmers in Uganda at the edge of wildlife-protected areas are increasingly using agrochemicals to boost production. This study aimed at assessing agrochemical usage at the edge of Budongo Forest and determining farmers’ perspectives regarding their use. A cross-sectional study was conducted, and 472 farmers were interviewed about their knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to agrochemical usage. The majority of respondents (96.4%) were knowledgeable about agrochemicals, and 84.1% were actively using them for spraying plants, killing weeds, poisoning rodents, and fertilising soils. The utilised agrochemicals were herbicides (dicamba salt and 2,4-D, glyphosate, glyphosate ammonium, sulfentrazone), pesticides (abamectine, dimethoate-30%, chlorpyrifos, lambda-cyhalothrin 5 % +imidacloprid 15 %), and fertilisers (NPK, NPK + trace elements-Mg, Fe, Zn). Education, readiness to promote agrochemicals, availability of training courses, and abuse of agrochemicals were all characteristics that were found to have a significant correlation (p < 0.05) with the usage of agrochemicals. Most farmers (76.1%) purchased agrochemicals from retailers, and the rest from other sources. Generally, farmers (78.80%) had a favourable attitude towards the use of agrochemicals, since they are tremendously useful for improving productivity, but warned that they also contain the potential to cause major harm to people, animals, and the environment when not handled correctly. They therefore emphasised the safe handling, storage, application, and disposal of agrochemicals.

KEYWORDS:

• Knowledge
• attitudes
• practices
• farmers
• Budongo Forest
• agrochemicals

Public interest statement

Farmers in Uganda on the outskirts of wildlife-protected areas are increasingly adopting agrochemicals to enhance productivity due to the obstacles connected with weeds, pests, and diseases. We interacted with 472 farmers on the outskirts of Budongo Forest to learn about the nature of their pesticide use and the risks associated with indiscriminate use. Herbicides, pesticides, and fertilisers were the most frequently used agrochemicals. The majority of farmers thought that pesticide misuse posed an imminent threat to humans and wildlife. Understanding the most appropriate use of agrochemicals to prevent environmental pollution could only be accomplished through farmer training programmes, effective usage education, and the promotion of the right agrochemical brands. When used appropriately, agrochemicals are tremendously beneficial to increase productivity; nevertheless, when used incorrectly, they have the potential to cause catastrophic harm to people, animals, and the environment.

Acknowledgements

The authors owe a significant amount of gratitude to BCFS because the organisation funded this study with a modest grant. Many thanks are also extended to Mr. David Eryenyu, the Director of BCFS, for granting the researcher permission to conduct their work at BCFS and for covering the costs associated with their stay there. The authors would also like to express their gratitude to all of the respondents who took part in this study.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Author contribution

E.O., D.S. and C.M.B. collected field data from the respondents. A.T. and E.O. performed data analysis and interpretation. Projected administration was done by A.O.R. C.S. and BM supervised the research project. Project visualisation was by A.R.O., B.M. and C.S. C.S. and E.O. drafted the original manuscript. G.D. drew the maps. All authors indicated contributed to the article and approved the submitted version of the manuscript.

Ethics approval and consent to participate

The work was presented before a research panel for approval at the College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources, and Biosecurity. The purpose of the research and the content of the questionnaires were explained to each respondent to obtain their consent before the interview was carried out.

Availability of data and materials

The majority of the information created or analysed during this retrospective study is presented in this article. The associated authors will provide the remaining data upon reasonable request.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Budongo Conservation Field Station.

Notes on contributors

Elizabeth Owemigisha

Elizabeth Owemigisha is a graduate veterinarian from Makerere University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources, and Biosecurity (COVAB). Elizabeth and a team from COVAB, Makerere University, and Budongo Conservation Field Station observed a chronic problem of indiscriminate pesticide use in agriculture, but the degree of understanding among end users, particularly farmers, remained unknown. In general, our team is involved in identifying agrochemical hotspots and potential dangers to domestic animals, wild animals, and the environment in and near protected areas. Our current work is unique, and it is likely to pique the interest of other researchers.

Elizabeth Owemigisha is a graduate of veterinary medicine at the College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources, and Biosecurity (COVAB) at Makerere University.

Andrew Omara Rwot

Andrew Omara Rwot (BVM) is a government veterinarian (Ibanda District Local Government) and graduate student pursuing a Master of International Animal Health at the University of Edinburgh.

Daniel Sempebwa

Daniel Sempebwa (BBLT) is a laboratory technologist at Budongo Conservation Field Station and a graduate student of wildlife and livestock production, management, and conservation at the Czech University of Life Sciences, Prague.

Christine Mary Birungi

Christine Mary ;Birungi is a graduate of Wildlife Health and Management (WHM).

Andrew Tamale

Andrew Tamale (BVM, MSc., PhD) is a lecturer, veterinarian, statistician, and public health specialist.

Gilbert Drileyo

Gilbert Drileyo (Bsc) is a biostatistician and GIS specialist.

Bob Mali

Bob Mali (BVM, Msc, Ph.D.) is a lecturer, veterinarian, environmental/ecosystem health specialist, and conservation medicine specialist. He has a keen interest in biosurveillance and One Health.

Celsus Sente

Celsus Sente (BVM, MSc., Ph.D.) is a lecturer, veterinarian, environmental/ecosystem health specialist, and conservation medicine specialist. He has a keen interest in biosurveillance and One Health.