Effect of Farming Practices on Honey Production in Boundary of Gishwati Forest National Park

Nsabimana Prince Alexandre,Maniragaba Abias,Segatashya Alexis,Ngirinshuti Henri Jacques,Uwayo Pacifique,Nsanzumukiza Martin Vincent,Mukasekuru Francoise

doi:10.4236/gep.2020.85007

Abstract

Pesticides and inorganic fertilizers applied in agriculture are key factors which affect biodiversity, especially bees, butterfly and other pollinators. Therefore, this study assessed the effects of farming practices on honey production in boundary of Gishwati Forest National Park in Rwanda. Survey was conducted to collect data from 2000 year to 2018 year from 51 members grouped in UNICOAPIGI beekeeping and 73 members of JYAMBERE agricultural cooperatives to establish the impact of agriculture practice on honey production. The results showed that the change in agricultural inputs from 2000 to 2018 (R2 = 0.901) resulted in high corn yield and consequently induced honey reduction (R2 = 0.75). The correlation coefficients for pesticides and inorganic fertilizers used in corn production had strong negative effects on honey production {γ3 = -0.06 for chemical fertilizers (X3) and γ4 = -0.42 for pesticides (X4)}. JYAMBERE Agricultural cooperative with 75.78% of farmers reported that they used pesticides and inorganic fertilizers in corn production. However, 51 beekeepers grouped in UNICOAPIGI cooperative reported a serious decline of honey production from 27 Kg to 6 Kg of honey per hive after the 2008 year, which is suspected to be mainly the effect from applications of pesticides and fertilizers in corn production. The findings illustrated that the roles of honeybees as pollinator exposed them to toxic, especially pesticides applied in agriculture in boundary of Gishwati national forest reserve, therefore, beekeepers proposed that protection of forests and park is not only sufficient to reach sustainable conservation of bee biodiversity but also requires determining the land use pattern and socio-political factors around the Gishwati forest reserve.

Highlights

The concept of farming practices should focus on honey production (Madhusudan & Raman, 2003; Kotschi, 2007)
Effects of Farming Practices on Honey Production In Village of Gakeli, Kavumu Cell in Ruhango Sector, about 51 respondents were beekeepers formed UNICOAPIGI cooperative and 73 were farmers grouped in Njyambere agricultural cooperative who use great amount of pesticides, such as Lambdabex, Rocket and inorganic fertilizers, Diamonium Phosphate and Urea to raise corn crops, which affect honey productivity and the findings of Gary (Gary & Lorenzen, 1989), illustrated the effect of applying the methamidophos in agriculture at rate of 14 g/ha (0.75l b/acre) in alfalfa field caused honey reduction
The 73 farmers identified depended on the farming activities with application of pesticides and inorganic fertilizers to raise the corn yields through JYAMBERE cooperative in Kagondero Village, Rukaragata Cell in Kigeyo and the plot size owned by household farmers was less than 0.5 hectares

Summary

Introduction

The concept of farming practices should focus on honey production (Madhusudan & Raman, 2003; Kotschi, 2007). Previous research concentrated on crop yields with qualitative analysis and tried to show the major causes for the loss of honey bee colony such as diseases, pesticides and no single pesticide alone has been shown to cause honey bee colony collapse disorder (SanchezBayo & Goka, 2016) and farming practices on honey production with participatory assessment were unclear and inadequate. Data related to the new pesticides and inorganic fertilizers that cause bee colony mortality and honey reduction are insufficient, some report showed a decline of 45% of bee colony over the past 60 years in United States of America attributed to organochlorine, carbamate, organophosphorus, and pyrethroid pesticide exposure (Johnson et al, 2010). This study assessed the effects of farming practices on honey production in boundary of Gishwati Forest National Park in Rwanda, by assessing the effects of pesticides, inorganic fertilizers and organic farming on honey production with intention to restructure strategies to encompass gaps in the matter of increasing honey productivity with respect to the pesticides and inorganic fertilizers application in agriculture

Methods

Results

Conclusion