Rwabwogo calls on agrochemical firms to embrace indigenous pest control solutions

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Manufacturers of agricultural chemicals have been urged to explore local innovations based on indigenous knowledge to manage pests and diseases, improve soil health and boost yields. The move, stakeholders say, would reduce Uganda's dependency on imported products in the agricultural sector.

The call was made by the chairperson of the Presidential Advisory Committee on Exports and Industrial Development (PACEID), Odrek Rwabwogo.

He made the remarks on May 20, 2026, while delivering a keynote address to participants at the CropLife Symposium held at the Sheraton Kampala Hotel.

The two-day symposium, organised by CropLife Uganda, is running under the theme “Emerging trends in seeds, crop protection and fertiliser industry: Embracing change and sustainability to ensure food security, health and safety”.

Rwabwogo gave an example of how liver flukes among livestock were managed by farmers in the past using a plant locally known as kiwoko (African soapberry) to clear liver flukes from livestock.

“When I was growing up, there was a plant called kiwoko that would be dried and crushed into a powder. The powder would be at the watering point for cows to drink and get healed of liver flukes,” he explained.

He added that, to date, there is limited innovation using indigenous knowledge to manage challenges in the crop subsector.

"It kills many liver flukes, but I don't see anyone innovating around kiwoko, and that's local knowledge, and it's the same with millet, it's the same,” he said.

Rwabwogo also challenged players in agrochemicals to invest in training users on the proper use and disposal of unused chemicals and their containers, in addition to promoting the importance of protective gear, among other measures.

Dr Agnes Mbabazi, the chairperson of CropLife Uganda, explained that the symposium aimed to bring stakeholders together to discuss and agree on what should be delivered to farmers in the safest way possible.

CropLife Uganda is an industry association that represents manufacturers, importers and distributors of agrochemicals in Uganda. Also in attendance were representatives from CropLife International and CropLife Africa Middle East.

She explained that the farmer is central to the conversation because farmers apply fertilisers to the soil, use crop protection products and provide food for the population, among other responsibilities.

“What brings us together in this room is to have non-political conversations. To talk about science and science-driven data. Not emotional topics, not political topics, not any sweeping statements, but to talk about science-driven,” she said.

Dr Paul Mwambu, commissioner for crop inspection and certification, added that for farmers to achieve maximum yields after acquiring seed, they need protection from pests and diseases. He said crops should also be high-yielding, which is why the issues under discussion at the symposium should be embraced by all stakeholders.

He, however, said that for farmers to access quality inputs, sector players, including importers and manufacturers of agricultural chemicals, should become members of CropLife in order to regulate one another.

“Now, within CropLife, you will monitor yourself better. When you monitor yourself better, you make my work easier to weed out those selling unauthorised agro chemicals and counterfeiting, for the good of the farmers and the gains we have achieved so far,” Mwambu added.

The symposium is being attended by fertiliser manufacturers and importers such as Bayer, Syngenta, Yara and ETG, as well as financiers including Stanbic Bank, among others.