Daily Monitor Saturday April 03 2021 Agricultural chemical dealers must explain to the farmers how to handle the chemicals. PHOTO/MICHEAL J SSALI Summary The battle against pests and diseases involves use of agricultural chemicals which has become a public health concern. Advertisement Since we live within the tropics the warm climate of the region is quite conducive to the eruption and multiplication of pests that are a major hindrance to crop production. Pests and crop diseases are said to multiply much more rapidly in this part of the world than in cooler countries. The Ugandan farmer is therefore constantly fighting an extremely costly war against pests and crop diseases.