By Bisola Adeyemo
A conservation researcher, Prof Elias Bizuru in Rwanda has said the use of chemical pesticides in part of the country contribute to the low production of honey, according to a research.
Bizuru, in his recent research, revealed that the use of chemicals mostly used by farmers distracts bee habitats which reduces the quantity of honey production.
While speaking with The New Times, Bizuru said about 17 per cent of households use Cypermethrin pesticide, 19.2 percent use Dithane, 55 percent use Rocket pesticide, 4.6 per cent use Thioda, 2.7 per cent use Ridomil, and 1.6 percent use, Beam.
These pesticides are mainly used for crops such as rice, maize, tomatoes, Irish potatoes, eggplants, beans, and cabbages among others.
“In Nyamasheke district, for instance, the bee population has decreased to such an extent that the productivity of honey has decreased drastically. The production of honey, in one case, shifted from five tonnes per year down to 0.5 tonnes per year corresponding to a loss of 90 percent of honey production,” he said, calling for integrating organic farming in agricultural practices.
He said that more research is needed to find alternatives to chemical pesticides.
“Government should establish and operationalize a National policy and schemes in favour of organic farming,” he said.
“When some pesticides are used on crops, residual amounts spread into the environment via air, soil, and water. Residual pesticide can be found on numerous crops and some such as Rocket pesticide are toxic to mammals, birds, fish, and other aquatic species,” Bizuru said.
“Cypermethrin which is mostly used in rice and maize crops is highly toxic to fish, bees and water insects although it is very low in toxicity to birds,” the researcher explained.
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