Michael Houbraken1, Valens Habimana2, David Senaeve2, Edelbis López-Dávila2, Pieter Spanoghe2. 1. Ghent University, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Department of Crop Protection, Laboratory of Crop Protection Chemistry, Ghent, Belgium. Electronic address: Michael.houbraken@ugent.be. 2. Ghent University, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Department of Crop Protection, Laboratory of Crop Protection Chemistry, Ghent, Belgium.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: To boost agricultural productivity for both domestic and export purposes, agricultural inputs such as pesticides are being promoted in Rwanda. Even though the use of pesticides is important for agriculture, their residues eventually end up in different environmental compartments and may negatively affect the environment. The purpose of this study was to determine the level of knowledge and awareness of the smallholder farmers towards the use of pesticides in Rwanda and to evaluate the ecological risks of pesticides in the surface water and in the vertical profile of Lake Kivu. RESULTS: Based on the collected data, a method to monitor 33 currently used pesticides was developed. No contamination of the lower water layer was found, indicating that the groundwater that flows into Lake Kivu has not been polluted. Of the pesticides in the surface water, malathion exceeded the risk thresholds and posed a risk towards arthropods. CONCLUSION: The results of this study show that there is a lack of farmer's awareness towards the hazards of pesticides when working with these compounds. Farmers in Rwanda are in need of specialised stewardship for pesticide application training and guiding services. Surface water has been contaminated with malathion, metalaxyl and carbendazim which were the most used pesticides by the farmers in the environment.
BACKGROUND: To boost agricultural productivity for both domestic and export purposes, agricultural inputs such as pesticides are being promoted in Rwanda. Even though the use of pesticides is important for agriculture, their residues eventually end up in different environmental compartments and may negatively affect the environment. The purpose of this study was to determine the level of knowledge and awareness of the smallholder farmers towards the use of pesticides in Rwanda and to evaluate the ecological risks of pesticides in the surface water and in the vertical profile of Lake Kivu. RESULTS: Based on the collected data, a method to monitor 33 currently used pesticides was developed. No contamination of the lower water layer was found, indicating that the groundwater that flows into Lake Kivu has not been polluted. Of the pesticides in the surface water, malathion exceeded the risk thresholds and posed a risk towards arthropods. CONCLUSION: The results of this study show that there is a lack of farmer's awareness towards the hazards of pesticides when working with these compounds. Farmers in Rwanda are in need of specialised stewardship for pesticide application training and guiding services. Surface water has been contaminated with malathion, metalaxyl and carbendazim which were the most used pesticides by the farmers in the environment.
Authors: Samuel Fuhrimann; Chenjie Wan; Elodie Blouzard; Adriana Veludo; Zelda Holtman; Shala Chetty-Mhlanga; Mohamed Aqiel Dalvie; Aggrey Atuhaire; Hans Kromhout; Martin Röösli; Hanna-Andrea Rother Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2021-12-27 Impact factor: 3.390
Authors: Joshua Sikhu Okonya; Athanasios Petsakos; Victor Suarez; Anastase Nduwayezu; Déo Kantungeko; Guy Blomme; James Peter Legg; Jürgen Kroschel Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2019-01-31 Impact factor: 3.390
Authors: Lou Curchod; Christelle Oltramare; Marion Junghans; Christian Stamm; Mohamed Aqiel Dalvie; Martin Röösli; Samuel Fuhrimann Journal: Water Res X Date: 2019-12-03