Am J Clin Microbiol Antimicrob | Volume 2, Issue 3 | Research Article | Open Access

Assessment of Pesticide Use Practice Impact on Honeybee Colony in Selected Districts of East Shoa and West Arsi Zones of Oromia, Ethiopia

Desta Abi, Mekonnen WT Sadik and Taye Beyene

Adami Tulu Agricultural Research Center (ATARC), Oromia Agricultural Research Institute (IQQO), Ethiopia

*Correspondance to: Desta Abi Gemedi 

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Abstract

During 2009/2010, study was carried out to assess agro chemicals use practice and its potential risk
on honeybees and beekeeping activities in selected districts of East Shoa and West Arsi zones of
Oromia. A total of 240 farmer respondents from eight rural peasant associations in four districts
were interviewed using pretested partially structured questionnaires. Focus group discussion was
held in all eight previously surveyed rural peasant associations for substantiation of the collected
data. About 83.3 % of the study participants used different types of agrochemicals (insecticides,
herbicides and fungicides) at different levels 50.8%, 22.2%, 13.3%, 7.9%, 3.8% and 2.1% of the
respondents did use agrochemicals for fungal, insect, weed, quality product, others and other
diseases in decreasing order of importance respectively. Majority of Farmers in the study area have
practiced spray form of agrochemicals application as compared to other forms. Even though, there
was variability, farmers apply agrochemicals mainly at flowering stage of nearly all cultivated crops.
Most of the farmers apply agrochemicals during winter season following irrigation farming in the
study area. The respondent farmers confirmed that agrochemicals had affected beekeeping activities
in several ways. From the respondents view and field observation in the present study, it is evident
to report that agrochemical are recklessly used and do have high risk to beekeeping activities and
honeybees population in the study area. Therefore, all stake takers should cooperate to mitigate
agrochemicals use practice impact on honeybee population in the ecosystem. Frequent training
has to be provided for both beekeepers and crop growers on the sustainable use of agrochemicals
and approaches that will lessen potential harm that might be posed to honeybees due to misuse of
agrochemicals. Further study is needed to examine actual impact of agrochemicals on beekeeping
and honeybees using a rigorous research approach under laboratory and field conditions.

Keywords:

Beekeeping; Pesticides survey; Honeybee colony; Risk assessment

Citation:

Abi D, Sadik MWT, Beyene T. Assessment of Pesticide Use Practice Impact on Honeybee Colony in
Selected Districts of East Shoa and West Arsi Zones of Oromia, Ethiopia. Am J Clin Microbiol Antimicrob. 2019;
2(3): 1043.

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