VERY DANGEROUS: BUSHENYI FARMERS SPRAYING ANIMALS WITH PESTICIDES

By Wilber Muhwezi Kasibante

www.mknewslink.com

In Bushenyi——

Bushenyi district veterinary officer Dr. Robert Natukunda has revealed that farmers in the district and within the region are using pesticides to spray animals to kill ticks which have become resistant to normal acaricides.

He said that there have been an outcry by farmers since three years ago that acaracides are no longer killing ticks at all and when this persisted, farmers started going astray by using pesticides which are dangerous to animals and human beings.

Dr. Natukunda noted that pesticides affect the animals and Human beings in the following ways;

They penetrate through the skin and accumulate in the body tissues and organs such as bones, liver, lungs, blood and muscle tissues

Pesticides get into milk and meat adding that this is dangerous to human consumers

They cause cancer of the animal skin and other body organs and tissues.

On the other hand the veterinary doctor revealed that they are dangerous to human beings because when human beings consume the products contaminated by pesticides, they get diseases such as cancer, too much headache and other side effects.

Still, the pesticides cause blindness in animals.

He added that any slight over dose can lead to chemical poisoning and death of the animals.

What Bushenyi as a district is doing?

Sensitization of  the community about proper acaricide use and application and the dangers and effects associated with the use of the pesticides to both animals and human beings. These meetings have been held in all the 11 sub-counties and town councils in Bushenyi district.

Dr. Natukunda also added that the district is using every platform such as meetings, farmer trainings to educate the public on pesticides and their effects.

Advice by Dr. Natukunda to farmers;

To stop using pesticides to spray animals because they are dangerous to both animals and human beings.

He also advises farmers to always apply right concentration and arcaricide wash (3-5litres per head of cattle ).

To always keep records of all acaracides used on a farm

To consult veterinary personnels when changing from one acaracide to another.

Finally he advises the farmers report to veterinary authorities whenever tick resistance is noticed

Source: www.mknewslink.com a greater western Uganda news website
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