Pesticide Use Practices and Effects on the Wetland Biodiversity of Ndop, North West Region of Cameroon
Nkwatoh Therese Ncheuveu *
College of Technology, University of Bamenda, Cameroon and Catholic University of Cameroon (CATUC), Bamenda, Cameroon.
Patricia Bi Asanga Fai
Department of Animal Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Dschang, Cameroon and College of Technology, University of Bamenda, Cameroon.
Martin Ngankam Tchamba
Department of Forestry, Faculty of Agronomy and Agricultural Science, University of Dschang, Cameroon.
Francis Ngealekeloeh
Department of Animal Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Dschang, Cameroon.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Aims: The aim of this study was to evaluate farmer’s pesticide use practices and their effects in the wetland of Ndop.
Study Design: A cross sectional study was carried out from January to August 2019 in Ndop, North West Region of Cameroon.
Methodology: Questionnaires were administered separately to 382 rice and 100 vegetable farmers, and descriptive statistics was used in analyzing the results. Specifically, the Chi-squared statistic was used to determine the nature of the relationship between the variables.
Results: The results showed that most of the crop fields (95.6%) lack a buffer zone since most farms were adjacent to water bodies (0 ≥farm ≥1 m). Farmers (100%) washed and rinsed knapsack sprayers in nearby water bodies. A majority of the farmers (71.3%) burnt or threw empty pesticide containers in open fields, water bodies, or nearby bushes. Both rice farmers (83.5%) and vegetable farmers (100%) reported that pesticides kill non-target organisms (fish, frogs, toad, snakes, birds, etc.) resulting into a drastic population decline in the wetland. A majority of the farmers (85.2%) no longer do fishing in the paddy fields because of the frequent fish decline caused by pesticide usage. Clarias gariepinus constituted 56% of the fish species harvested from the paddy fields and a drastic population decline was observed by the farmers. The average fish catch per month was low (12.22 kg ± 7.47 SD) relative to the past when pesticides were not used during cultivation. There was a significant difference between training and environmental awareness of pesticides (X2 = 28.98, p = 0.001).
Conclusion: These results indicate an urgent need for a post-pesticide registration management strategy to ensure a sustainable management and conservation of the wetland resources of Ndop.
Keywords: Wetland, pesticides, fish catch, ecosystem conservation