Activist warn against use of chemicals to preserve fruits

AGRI-BUSINESS    FRUITS  

KAMPALA - The civil society activists have warned against the use of chemicals to preserve fruits. They say the chemicals are dangerous to the health of human beings.

They singled out smallholder farmers who are engaged in small scale trade.

"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 that have white substance.

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

In agreement with Kaijuka, Daisy Yossa the regional advocacy manager of Hivos said chemicals should not be used on indigenous food.

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

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

According to Robert Kizito 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 emphasized 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 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.