Pesticide application and water quality in Doho and Kibimba rice irrigation schemes, eastern Uganda

The number and amount of agrochemicals used has increased dramatically world over and their toxic nature has raised concern about environmental impact and effects on human health. Considering that agriculture is a major source of income in most developing countries, crop damage from pest infestati...

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Main Authors: Sulaiman, Abubakar Aminua, Sarah, Nachuha, Zakia, Tebetyoc
Format: Article
Published: Kabale University Interdisciplinary Research Journal (KURJ) 2022
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Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12493/623
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author Sulaiman, Abubakar Aminua
Sarah, Nachuha
Zakia, Tebetyoc
author_facet Sulaiman, Abubakar Aminua
Sarah, Nachuha
Zakia, Tebetyoc
author_sort Sulaiman, Abubakar Aminua
collection KAB-DR
description The number and amount of agrochemicals used has increased dramatically world over and their toxic nature has raised concern about environmental impact and effects on human health. Considering that agriculture is a major source of income in most developing countries, crop damage from pest infestation is of great concern to many farmers. These farmers are therefore motivated to apply pesticides. However, runoff from such farmlands unintendedly contaminates the water sources thereby causing harm to aquatic life and contaminates drinking water. This study was carried out at Doho and Kibimba irrigation schemes, which are the two commercial paddy rice growing areas in Uganda. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of pesticide application on water quality in these two schemes and assess community awareness of the dangers of pesticide application. A cross sectional research design was used to collect data. A total of 60 samples (30 from each site) on physicochemical characteristics were collected in situ using standard equipment. 200 local community members (100 from each scheme) were randomly selected while on the farm and interviewed. Statistical analyses were conducted using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) program, version 20. Results showed that there were significant spatial differences in all the physical chemical properties of water in Doho Rice Scheme (P<0.05), while significant spatial variations were recorded for only pH, temperature at Kibimba rice scheme (P<0.05). Independent t-test results showed that water pH, temperature and turbidity varied significantly between Doho and Kibimba (P<0.05). Herbicides such as rocket, Diazine, Cypermatrine glyphosate were being used by famers with rocket frequently used at Doho while glyphosate was the only one used at Kibimba. Majority of the farm workers at Kibimba (96.9%) reported to have always used protective devices when handling pesticides and the reverse was true for farm workers at Doho despite the training on pesticide usage. The study therefore recommends regular water quality monitoring and sensitization of farmworkers on the dangers of improper pesticide use.
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spelling oai:idr.kab.ac.ug:20.500.12493-6232024-01-17T04:50:23Z Pesticide application and water quality in Doho and Kibimba rice irrigation schemes, eastern Uganda Sulaiman, Abubakar Aminua Sarah, Nachuha Zakia, Tebetyoc Doho and Kibimba rice irrigation schemes, Pesticides - Environmental aspects – Eastern Uganda, Pesticides - Risk mitigation – Eastern Uganda, Agricultural pollution – Eastern Uganda The number and amount of agrochemicals used has increased dramatically world over and their toxic nature has raised concern about environmental impact and effects on human health. Considering that agriculture is a major source of income in most developing countries, crop damage from pest infestation is of great concern to many farmers. These farmers are therefore motivated to apply pesticides. However, runoff from such farmlands unintendedly contaminates the water sources thereby causing harm to aquatic life and contaminates drinking water. This study was carried out at Doho and Kibimba irrigation schemes, which are the two commercial paddy rice growing areas in Uganda. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of pesticide application on water quality in these two schemes and assess community awareness of the dangers of pesticide application. A cross sectional research design was used to collect data. A total of 60 samples (30 from each site) on physicochemical characteristics were collected in situ using standard equipment. 200 local community members (100 from each scheme) were randomly selected while on the farm and interviewed. Statistical analyses were conducted using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) program, version 20. Results showed that there were significant spatial differences in all the physical chemical properties of water in Doho Rice Scheme (P<0.05), while significant spatial variations were recorded for only pH, temperature at Kibimba rice scheme (P<0.05). Independent t-test results showed that water pH, temperature and turbidity varied significantly between Doho and Kibimba (P<0.05). Herbicides such as rocket, Diazine, Cypermatrine glyphosate were being used by famers with rocket frequently used at Doho while glyphosate was the only one used at Kibimba. Majority of the farm workers at Kibimba (96.9%) reported to have always used protective devices when handling pesticides and the reverse was true for farm workers at Doho despite the training on pesticide usage. The study therefore recommends regular water quality monitoring and sensitization of farmworkers on the dangers of improper pesticide use. Kabale University 2022-05-11T08:11:52Z 2022-05-11T08:11:52Z 2022 Article 2790-1394 http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12493/623 Vol 1;Issue 2. application/pdf Kabale University Interdisciplinary Research Journal (KURJ)
spellingShingle Doho and Kibimba rice irrigation schemes, Pesticides - Environmental aspects – Eastern Uganda, Pesticides - Risk mitigation – Eastern Uganda, Agricultural pollution – Eastern Uganda
Sulaiman, Abubakar Aminua
Sarah, Nachuha
Zakia, Tebetyoc
Pesticide application and water quality in Doho and Kibimba rice irrigation schemes, eastern Uganda
title Pesticide application and water quality in Doho and Kibimba rice irrigation schemes, eastern Uganda
title_full Pesticide application and water quality in Doho and Kibimba rice irrigation schemes, eastern Uganda
title_fullStr Pesticide application and water quality in Doho and Kibimba rice irrigation schemes, eastern Uganda
title_full_unstemmed Pesticide application and water quality in Doho and Kibimba rice irrigation schemes, eastern Uganda
title_short Pesticide application and water quality in Doho and Kibimba rice irrigation schemes, eastern Uganda
title_sort pesticide application and water quality in doho and kibimba rice irrigation schemes eastern uganda
topic Doho and Kibimba rice irrigation schemes, Pesticides - Environmental aspects – Eastern Uganda, Pesticides - Risk mitigation – Eastern Uganda, Agricultural pollution – Eastern Uganda
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12493/623
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AT sarahnachuha pesticideapplicationandwaterqualityindohoandkibimbariceirrigationschemeseasternuganda
AT zakiatebetyoc pesticideapplicationandwaterqualityindohoandkibimbariceirrigationschemeseasternuganda