Pesticide Use Practices and Effects on the Wetland Biodiversity of Ndop, North West Region of Cameroon

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.