By VOM News Team
The livelihoods of over 1.2 million beekeeping households in Uganda is under threat from farmers who knowingly or unknowingly use unregulated agrochemicals in their farms.
This agricultural practice, coupled with factors such as rapid habitat loss and climate change have been cited as the key cause of a declining bee population in Uganda.
Pollination of crops by insects such as bees contributes up to 75% of the global crop production, according to a report published by the Uganda National Apiculture Development Organization (TUNADO)
Key Stakeholders in Kisoro District recently raised red flags about the declining population of the essential pollinators.
They want Government to crack the whip on those responsible for bringing into the country, unregulated agrochemicals that are adversely affecting bee biodiversity conservation in Uganda.
The Beekeepers, under their Umbrella Cooperative, Kisoro Beekeepers Cooperative Society (KIBEKO) said the increasing use of agrochemicals on Irish potatoes and Onions is increasing affecting the bees negatively which has led to a serious reduction of honey production.
The Launch of Parish Development Model (PDM), a government program aimed at helping low income earning households in Uganda means more people are likely to seek ways of intensifying their farming systems from subsistence to commercial farming.
Agricultural experts predict that food and crop production is expected to increase relying on pollination however the use of agrochemicals is equally predicted to increase countrywide.
Aaron Bomujuni, TUNADO officer says Uganda is one of the African Countries that is reportedly still using banned pesticides.
Bomujuni explained that banned agrochemicals known to be highly toxic to bees are still in circulation within the Ugandan market adding that there is need for continuous monitoring of compounds used in the crops and livestock sectors.
He called for a joint effort between National Drug Authority (NDA) and Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industries and Fisheries (MAAIF) to carry out routine screening for agrochemicals bee products.
Kisoro District LCV Chairperson Abel Bizimana says Uganda is still lucky to be among the few African countries permitted to export bee products to the European Union.
Bizimana said that as more countries become more stringent on products that have been sprayed with agrochemicals, more beekeepers and local farmers interested in organic farming should use the district council to lobby for more support in form of advocacy and accountability from central Government.
24 Highly Hazardous Pesticides are currently approved pesticides in Uganda.
Some of the Pesticides include Atrazine (Herbicide), Butachlor (Herbicide), Carbendazim (Fungicide), Carbofuran (Insecticide), Carbosulfan (Insecticide), Chlorfenvinphos (Acaricide) Chlorothalonil (Fungicide), Chlorpyrifos (Insecticide) Dichlorvos (DDVP) Insecticide, Dimethoate (Insecticide) Fenitrothion (Insecticide), Fenvalerate (Insecticide) Fipronil (insecticide/Acaricide)
The TUNADO report indicates that the use of agrochemicals in Uganda is characterized by farmers handling pesticides without protection, limited knowledge about chemicals and less use of protective gear when applying these compounds on their farms.
Farmers have been reported saying that they are unaware of the risk’s agrochemicals cause to their health. If exposed to agrochemicals, humans tend to suffer from cough, headaches, running eyes, itchy skin and cancer.
Phiona Birungyi, TUNADO Programs Manager says an apiculture business fund has been set up with the support from World of Bees Organization to help build the capacity of beekeepers in the district.
Christine Ryomugabe, proprietor of the Bee Haven in Nyakabande Sub County says she started bee keeping as a side gig because she already had formal employment.
“I always thought bee keeping and farming was for old men who were retiring home, and that no woman could actually succeed in apiary, but I found out that some many women around the world are reaping big from bee keeping”, Ryomugabe said.
Ryomugabe says she formed Jireh Women Bee Keeping Association that has more than 60 women involved in bee keeping.
She admits that sale of honey is where she gets the least of her money because bees help produce a wide range of products including propolis, wax, shoe polish among other marketable items.
Ryomugabe says training the youth to embrace bee keeping can help conserve their existence and also help the older generations learn from the young on better farming practices.
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