Pesticides from Europe threaten bee populations in East Africa

THE use of pesticides in East Africa, some sold by European firms despite being banned in the EU, is killing off bees in large numbers and threatening whole ecosystems, scientists say.

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Joseph Ruzigana, of Muhanga district in southern Rwanda, woke up one morning to find all the bees in his 20 newly constructed beehives had died.

“Fellow beekeepers have also lost plenty of bees to these dangerous pesticides. It looks like we won't get any honey this season,” he said.

Ruzigana said many beekeepers, who number more than 100 000 in Rwanda according to officials, were giving up.

“The few bees left are very weak and unproductive... I used to get up to 25kg of honey from one beehive in a month-long season, my family was well taken care of, but all that has collapsed.” he said.

Changing climate conditions are part of the problem: longer rains this season were not favourable to beekeeping.

But the main issue is pesticides, say locals and experts.