Exploring knowledge, attitudes and practices of farmers at the edge of Budongo forest on agrochemicals usage

Due to the challenges associated with weeds, pests, and diseases, farmers in Uganda at the edge of wildlife-protected areas are increasingly using agrochemicals to boost production. This study aimed at assessing agrochemical usage at the edge of Budongo Forest and determining farmers' perspectives regarding their use. A cross-sectional study was conducted, and 472 farmers were interviewed about their knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to agrochemical usage. The majority of respondents (96.4%) were knowledgeable about agrochemicals, and 84.1% were actively using them for spraying plants, killing weeds, poisoning rodents, and fertilising soils. The utilised agrochemicals were herbicides (dicamba salt and 2,4-D, glyphosate, glyphosate ammonium, sulfentrazone), pesticides (abamectine, dimethoate-30%, chlorpyrifos, lambda-cyhalothrin 5 % +imidacloprid 15 %), and fertilisers (NPK, NPK + trace elements-Mg, Fe, Zn). Education, readiness to promote agrochemicals, availability of training courses, and abuse of agrochemicals were all characteristics that were found to have a significant correlation (p < 0.05) with the usage of agrochemicals. Most farmers (76.1%) purchased agrochemicals from retailers, and the rest from other sources. Generally, farmers (78.80%) had a favourable attitude towards the use of agrochemicals, since they are tremendously useful for improving productivity, but warned that they also contain the potential to cause major harm to people, animals, and the environment when not handled correctly. They therefore emphasised the safe handling, storage, application, and disposal of agrochemicals.