IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v19y2022i3p1350-d734092.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Pesticide Residue Trends in Fruits and Vegetables from Farm to Fork in Kampala Metropolitan Area, Uganda—A Mixed Methods Study

Author

Listed:
  • Charles Ssemugabo

    (Department of Disease Control and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala P.O. Box 7072, Uganda)

  • David Guwatudde

    (Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala P.O. Box 7072, Uganda)

  • John C. Ssempebwa

    (Department of Disease Control and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala P.O. Box 7072, Uganda)

  • Asa Bradman

    (Department of Public Health, School of Social Sciences, Humanities and Arts, University of California Merced, Merced, CA 95343, USA
    Center for Children’s Environmental Health Research, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94704, USA)

Abstract

This mixed methods study used laboratory measurements of pesticide residues in produce, semi-structured questionnaires, and in-depth interview data to describe trends in pesticide residue in produce and handling and processing practices for fruits (watermelon and passion fruit) and vegetables (tomato, cabbage, and eggplant) along the farm to fork chain. Of the 50 farmers visited, 34 (68.0%) sold their fruits and vegetables to transporters, 11 (22.0%) to market vendors, and 4 (8.0%) directly to homes and restaurants. The majority 42 (93.3%) of the consumers (home/restaurant) purchased their fruits and vegetables from market vendors and transporters. Washing with water or vinegar, wiping with a cloth, peeling the outer layer, and blending and cooking were the most common post-harvesting processing methods used by stakeholders along the supply chain. Some farmers and market vendors reported spraying fruits and vegetables with pesticides either prior- or post-harvest to increase shelf life. Statistically significant decreasing pesticide residue trends along the farm to fork chain were observed for dioxacarb, likely due to degradation or washing, peeling, cooking, blending, or wiping by consumers. Increasing trends were observed for methidathion and quinalphos possibly due to pesticide applications. There is a need in Uganda to promote practices that minimize pesticide use and exposure through diet, while maintaining food integrity.

Suggested Citation

  • Charles Ssemugabo & David Guwatudde & John C. Ssempebwa & Asa Bradman, 2022. "Pesticide Residue Trends in Fruits and Vegetables from Farm to Fork in Kampala Metropolitan Area, Uganda—A Mixed Methods Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(3), pages 1-14, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:3:p:1350-:d:734092
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/3/1350/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/3/1350/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Prince Antwi-Agyei & Sandy Cairncross & Anne Peasey & Vivien Price & Jane Bruce & Kelly Baker & Christine Moe & Joseph Ampofo & George Armah & Jeroen Ensink, 2015. "A Farm to Fork Risk Assessment for the Use of Wastewater in Agriculture in Accra, Ghana," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 10(11), pages 1-19, November.
    2. Sara Kaweesa & Saidi Mkomwa & Willibald Loiskandl, 2018. "Adoption of Conservation Agriculture in Uganda: A Case Study of the Lango Subregion," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(10), pages 1-13, September.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Sara Helen Kaweesa & Hamid El Bilali & Willibald Loiskandl, 2021. "Analysing the socio-technical transition to conservation agriculture in Uganda through the lens of the multi-level perspective," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 23(5), pages 7606-7626, May.
    2. Drechsel, Pay & Qadir, M. & Galibourg, D., 2022. "The WHO guidelines for safe wastewater use in agriculture: a review of implementation challenges and possible solutions in the global south," Papers published in Journals (Open Access), International Water Management Institute, pages 1-14(6):864.
    3. Maurice Osewe & Chris Miyinzi Mwungu & Aijun Liu, 2020. "Does Minimum Tillage Improve Smallholder Farmers’ Welfare? Evidence from Southern Tanzania," Land, MDPI, vol. 9(12), pages 1-12, December.
    4. Prince Antwi-Agyei & Anne Peasey & Adam Biran & Jane Bruce & Jeroen Ensink, 2016. "Risk Perceptions of Wastewater Use for Urban Agriculture in Accra, Ghana," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 11(3), pages 1-18, March.
    5. Ricart, Sandra & Rico, Antonio M., 2019. "Assessing technical and social driving factors of water reuse in agriculture: A review on risks, regulation and the yuck factor," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 217(C), pages 426-439.
    6. Lindumusa Myeni & Mokhele Moeletsi & Mulalo Thavhana & Mulalo Randela & Lebohang Mokoena, 2019. "Barriers Affecting Sustainable Agricultural Productivity of Smallholder Farmers in the Eastern Free State of South Africa," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(11), pages 1-18, May.
    7. Gerard Quarcoo & Lady A. Boamah Adomako & Arpine Abrahamyan & Samuel Armoo & Augustina A. Sylverken & Matthew Glover Addo & Sevak Alaverdyan & Nasreen S. Jessani & Anthony D. Harries & Hawa Ahmed & Re, 2022. "What Is in the Salad? Escherichia coli and Antibiotic Resistance in Lettuce Irrigated with Various Water Sources in Ghana," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-12, October.
    8. Dickson N. Khainga & Paswel P. Marenya & Maria Luz Quinhentos, 2021. "How much is enough? How multi-season exposure to demonstrations affects the use of conservation farming practices in Mozambique," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 23(7), pages 11067-11089, July.
    9. Selya, Noel Yared & Dimoso, Provident & Mgale, Yohana James, 2023. "Exploring the Adoption and Impact of Conservation Agriculture among Smallholder Farmers in Semi-Arid Areas: Evidence from Chamwino District, Tanzania," Research on World Agricultural Economy, Nan Yang Academy of Sciences Pte Ltd (NASS), vol. 4(2), June.
    10. Dorothy Birungi Namuyiga & Till Stellmacher & Christian Borgemeister & Jeroen C. J. Groot, 2022. "A Typology and Preferences for Pigeon Pea in Smallholder Mixed Farming Systems in Uganda," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 12(8), pages 1-15, August.
    11. Awais Jabbar & Qun Wu & Jianchao Peng & Jian Zhang & Asma Imran & Luo Yao, 2020. "Synergies and Determinants of Sustainable Intensification Practices in Pakistani Agriculture," Land, MDPI, vol. 9(4), pages 1-16, April.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:3:p:1350-:d:734092. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.