No abstract

The study was conducted in West and East Gojjam Zones of Amhara Region Ethiopia to determine commonly used agro-chemicals and timing of applications, their effects on honeybee by itself and beekeeper farmers used cultural practices to minimize agro-chemical side effects on honeybee; Questionnaire survey methods, key informants interview and focus group discussion were used for the study. In the questionnaire survey, 384 respondent beekeepers from 4 Woredas, 20 Kebeles (376 male and 8 female) were interviewed. Descriptive, frequency with SPSS version 20 were used. The majority of farmers spray herbicides before blooming in August and insecticides at diseases and pests observed in October, November and December. Surprisingly, almost all respondents interviewed (98.7%) have confirmed that they know the negative effects of agro-chemicals on the health status and life of the honeybee. Apparently pesticides have been causing considerable damage by killing honeybees and causing yield decline due to miss use of agrochemicals. 90.9% of the non-beekeepers who use agro-chemical had no willingness to use non-chemical or alternative mechanisms to control pests and weeds. The main reported reason for the non-beekeepers not informing others about their plan to apply agro-chemicals is their laziness and jealousy; only 8.1% of respondents have willingness to use non-chemical or cultural weed and pest control mechanisms to save honeybee colonies as well as to keep their farmlands as organic. Overall the level of cooperation between beekeepers and non-beekeepers with regard to responsible use of agro-chemicals is very weak and certainly not considerate of mutual benefits and environmental protection. Essential to capacitate beekeepers in terms of technical knowledge and skills to better manage and need concerted action to develop appropriate agrochemical application modalities that minimize side effects on honeybees and economic losses would be recommended.

The study was conducted with the objective of to evaluate the potential effects of widely used agro-chemicals on the health status of Apis mellifera scutllata in Sidama zone, Southern Ethiopia. Seven different agro-chemicals (2, 4-D, Agrothoate 40% Malathion 50%, pyriban48%, Diazinon 60%, Macozeb 80% and Pallas 45 OD) were commonly applied on various crops in the study area. The acute toxicity of these agro-chemicals to honeybees was tested via feeding, contact and fumigation. The mortalities caused by individual agro-chemical were compared with positive control Agro-thoate40% (Diamethoate) and negative control (honey solution and water). Acute toxicity analysis in the laboratory indicated that all tested agro-chemicals were found significantly toxic to A.m. scuttlata compared to negative control via feeding. Agrothoate 40%, Malathion50% EC and Dianznon 60% were highly toxic with 100% of experimental bee mortality, less than an hour. All agro-chemicals were statically significant toxic to honeybee when compared (P<0.01) standard insecticides and control group through all exposure rout. Therefore, proper utilization agro-chemicals are important to minimize poisoning of honeybee.