Civil society warns against the use of chemicals on food

The civil society activists have warned against the use of chemicals to preserve fruits saying it is dangerous to the health of human beings.


Smallholder farmers who are engaged in small scale trade were singled out. 

"There are farmers who are spraying chemicals on tomatoes for purposes of preservation not knowing that the substance is toxic and dangerous to the health of persons," Joshua Kaijuka, an official with Participatory Ecological Land Use Management (PELUM) Uganda said.

He warned consumers to be on the lookout for tomatoes which have white substances.

"Don't eat them because they contain chemicals," Kaijuka warned.

Kaijuka was supported by Daisy Yossa regional advocacy manager at Hivos who said indigenous food should not be tempered with any chemicals.

"The use of agrochemicals on indigenous food is dangerous to the health of persons," Yossa stated.

The activists under the umbrella PELUM Association made remarks during a press conference to announce the national natural food fair scheduled for this Friday at Uganda Manufacturers Association (UMA) grounds in Lugogo, Kampala.

According to Robert Kizito, an official from PELUM Uganda, the natural food fair is aimed at giving Ugandans especially smaller holder farmers an opportunity to share and exchange information on indigenous food, technological advances and marketing techniques.

He emphasised that the main objective of the food fair is to showcase the actual and potential contribution of farmer-managed seed systems on conservation of agricultural biodiversity, food security and food sovereignty of smallholder farming communities.

He also said the traditional food fair will also lead to farmers forming cohesive groups who can seek empowerment in agricultural techniques, innovation, farmer extension and farm field schools. 

Marilyn Kabalere, advocacy officer of PELUM Uganda told reporters that the national food fair comes after regional food fairs were held in the districts of Gulu, Soroti, and Kabarole.

She said that during the food fair, exhibitors will showcase a variety of natural food and share knowledge and technologies on value addition and sharing of traditional seeds.