African Journal of
Agricultural Research

  • Abbreviation: Afr. J. Agric. Res.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 1991-637X
  • DOI: 10.5897/AJAR
  • Start Year: 2006
  • Published Articles: 6863

Article in Press

Assessment of Insecticidal Chemical Effect on Foraging Honeybees on Onion Flowers at Admi Tull District, Ethiopia

Aychluhem Dawit Melisie

  •  Received: 10 October 2014
  •  Accepted: 18 March 2016
The survey was conducted in Adami Tullu Jido Kombolcha District to assess farmers’ perception of insecticide negative-effects on honeybees. It was conducted in six peasant associations (PAs) and ten farmers were interviewed from each selected PA. On one hand, the results revealed that almost all (96.7%) of onion producers were aware of the negative-effects of insecticides on honeybees. On the other hand, the majority (96.7%) of the interviewed farmers applied insecticides (profenofos, endosulfan, diazinon, malathion, lambda-cyhalothrin, delteramethrin, dimethoate and DDT) at any stage of onion development whenever incidence of insect pests was occurred. It was found that 48.3% of the beekeepers abandoned beekeeping and bee colony loss due to pesticide application was the major driving force for abandoning beekeeping. About 53.3% of the interviewed farmers knew about the importance of honeybees in pollinating onion plants. However, farmers in the study area did not pay due attentions to honeybees and to honeybees’ role in onion seed production. As a result, farmers were spraying their onions at any developmental stages, including flowering. This eventually leads to loss of honeybee colonies and abandoning beekeeping in the area.