Why agrochemical misuse could cost West Nile its honey market
Ramadhan Aniku, a honey processor at Honey Pride in Arua City, said the reduction in bee populations is affecting not only honey production but also the livelihoods of many rural families.
Dr Patrice Kasangaki, an entomologist and principal research officer at NARO, said Uganda has experienced a significant decline in bee populations. (Photos by Jonathan Driliga)
By Jonathan Driliga
Journalists @New Vision
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Albert Einstein, the German-born theoretical physicist, once said: “If the bee disappeared off the surface of the globe, then man would have only four years of life left.”
In line with this assertion, billions of lives could be at risk of lost livelihoods because of the interdependence between bees, plants, animals, and, most importantly, humans.
Agricultural experts, including entomologists, believe that bee colony populations continue to dwindle in Uganda and globally due to human activities such as indiscriminate spraying of crops and livestock with highly hazardous pesticides.
Some small-scale honey dealers in the West Nile sub-region also worry that agricultural practices, such as spraying crop fields to combat pests and weeds, could pose a serious threat to the lives of bees attempting to colonise beehives.
Zainabu Abulu, who owns Zainabu Honey Bee Products in the sub-region, says it can sometimes take up to three months for the hives to be colonised.
She believes the overspraying of crop fields with pesticides or herbicides could be one reason for this delay.
“The excessive and frequent use of pesticides in gardens sometimes scares off the bees from occupying the hives, and they may take a long period to do so. I think some of the pesticides are not friendly for the bees because of their smell, and sometimes they are dangerous to the existence of the bees,” said Abulu.
Alice Okunia, a resident of Robu village in Maracha district, has been dealing in honey retail for several years. She buys her honey from DR Congo after crossing via Odramacaku trading centre in Arua city.
Honey and other products on display.
She says some beekeepers have raised concerns about pesticide use causing bees to abandon hives.
“I buy a 20-litre jerrycan of honey at between sh220,000 and sh240,000 from Congo. This is because the beekeepers say some of the hives are not occupied as the bees get scared by some of the practices like spraying crop fields with pesticides that may not be friendly for them,” Okunia said.
According to her, more beekeepers are shifting focus to agriculture using improved scientific methods that result in higher yields.
Matata Muse, a honey supplier from DR Congo, says honey is becoming scarce and expensive, forcing them to source deeper inland, unlike in the past when products could be easily purchased from Ariwara town.
“The reduction in the population of bees has compelled us to look further inside DR-Congo for honey. I don’t know why, but I also believe that some practices like the use of pesticides in gardens could be responsible for the decrease in the number of bees and hives colonised,” Muse said.
The impact of climate change
Apiary farmers in Arua attribute the declining bee population to climate change, agrochemical use, and the spread of fake honey in the market.
Ramadhan Aniku, a honey processor at Honey Pride in Arua City, said the reduction in bee populations is affecting not only honey production but also the livelihoods of many rural families.
“If the bees die, we have no honey and that means no income for school fees or food at home,” Aniku stressed.
Experts cite various causes, including widespread use of unregulated pesticides and bush burning, which destroys bee habitats.
Eric Ocima, the head of the value addition chain at Honey Pride Uganda, said unpredictable weather caused by climate change has reduced flower blooming, leaving bees with less forage.
“Bush burning and harsh chemicals are killing the bees. The changing climate isn’t helping either. We are seeing fewer bees each year,” Ocima noted.
With fewer bees, the risk extends beyond honey production to crop yields and food security, as bees are critical to pollination.
Decline in bee populations
Dr Patrice Kasangaki, an entomologist and principal research officer at NARO, said Uganda has experienced a significant decline in bee populations.
To support Einstein’s assertion, he explained that bees pollinate flowers, animals feed on flowers and seeds, and humans consume the mature products. If bees disappear, human survival could be threatened.
An apiary farm in West Nile.
Dr Kasangaki said prevailing environmental changes have created ideal conditions for pests like wax moths and hive beetles, which destroy bee colonies.
He added that urban expansion is destroying bee habitats in anthills, tree hollows, and underground spaces, further destabilising colonies.
Agricultural land clearing is also disrupting colonies, while pesticide use, particularly during flowering seasons, directly harms foraging bees.
He confirmed that honey from farms with high agrochemical use, such as cattle ranches and horticultural farms, often contains pesticide residues.
Dr Kasangaki urged beekeepers to plant multipurpose trees to ensure sustainable forage and reduce contamination risks.
Advice to farmers and extension workers
He advised crop farmers to avoid spraying during flowering, and livestock farmers not to move animals near hives after spraying.
He also called on agricultural extension workers to use local radio stations to educate farmers about the dangers of agrochemicals to bees.
“The good thing is that the Ministry of Agriculture is already compiling a list of all agrochemicals in use to ensure that HHPs in the market are removed,” he added.
Multiplying bee colonies
To address the falling colonisation rates, NARO is investing in bee colony multiplication.
“Many people have invested in hives, but most remain uncolonised because of the reduced bee population in the wild,” Dr Kasangaki said.
Contamination from tobacco farms
Ali Acidri, a honey production expert at Honey Pride Uganda, warned that bees can travel over 200 metres and easily come into contact with chemicals from nearby tobacco plantations, contaminating honey and wax.
He estimated that 30% of beeswax from West Nile is contaminated, damaging its reputation in global markets.
“I believe when you are practising beekeeping, desist from the application of synthetic chemicals because they are a danger to human and plant life,” Acidri said.
The case for agroecology
Acidri urged farmers to adopt agroecological methods and plant disease-resistant seeds to reduce reliance on chemicals.
He called on NARO and the Ministry of Agriculture to address the harmful impact of agrochemicals.
Support for quality testing
Sam Aderubo, director of Honey Pride Uganda, said most farmers lack the tools to test for agrochemical residues. He appealed to the government to provide quality testing equipment.
“The equipment we have only tests moisture content,” Aderubo said, calling on organisations like TUNADO and NARO to build farmers’ capacity.
Aderubo also advised regular hive inspection and the use of bee-attracting bait and timber to improve colonisation.
Expert warnings on misuse
Dr Moses Chemurot of Makerere University, writing in the TUNADO API News (Jan-Apr 2023), warned of widespread misuse of agrochemicals by farmers lacking proper equipment and knowledge.
He said poor disposal, such as dumping pesticide residues into rivers, affects aquatic life and bees.
Colonisation rates drop by 50%
According to Allon Bomujuni of TUNADO West Nile, colonisation has declined by over 50% in five years due to uncontrolled agrochemical use.
He urged the government to ban Highly Hazardous Pesticides.
Chlorpyrifos use in Karamoja
TUNADO executive director Dickson Biryomumaisho warned that Chlorpyrifos, used in Karamoja during locust invasions, also kills bees and could jeopardise Uganda’s access to EU honey markets.
What life without bees would mean
Dr Robert Opoke, an entomologist at Muni University, said the disappearance of bees would affect the entire ecosystem and lead to food insecurity, price hikes, and economic hardship.
“The pesticides should be banned completely from the Ugandan market,” Opoke urged.
Habitat destruction and forage loss
Prof Robert Kajobe, chair of TUNADO and an academic at Muni University, confirmed rising chemical traces in honey, especially in southwestern Uganda.
He warned that habitat destruction and insufficient forage are further contributing to the bee population decline.
High demand and economic potential
West Nile’s honey is in high demand globally, thanks to its medicinal and food value. Uganda has the potential to produce over 500 metric tonnes of honey annually, with West Nile contributing a significant share.
Factories like Honey Pride and Bee Natural Products are working with over 1,700 farmers, but their survival is threatened by agrochemical misuse.
The global demand for honey stands at 1.8 million metric tonnes, worth $7.8 billion. With the right support, Uganda’s honey sector could tap into this opportunity.