Kampala — A TOTAL of 250 bee-keepers in Kibale are to benefit from a one-year bee keeping project worth sh100m.

The sh100m project funded by Bees Abroad, a UK-based non-governmental organisation (NGO), is to be implemented by Emsco Development Foundation (EDF).

During the inauguration of the project dubbed Family Pride Honey, EDF's executive director, Emely Kugonza, said the farmers would be provided with bee hives, honey buckets, smokers and harvesting veils.

The 250 bee-keepers are organised in 25 farmers' groups.

"All our farmers have capacity to earn sh20m annually as recommended by President Museveni under the Bonna Bagagawale (Prosperity for all) Scheme. These farmers are just lazy. With hard work and regular monitoring, they will be able to benefit from farming," Kugonza said.

Internal affairs state minister, Matia Kasaija, asked the beneficiaries to become model farmers in their areas. "You need to shun non- developmental issues and concentrate on farming as a profitable business. That will enable you address the increasing poverty in your homes."

Kugonza said although they had teamed up to train more farmers in better farming practices, many of them were still sluggish in adoption of better agricultural technologies.

"Our communities are still confronted with abject poverty and squalid living conditions. Although we have tried to reach out to some farmers, we need government support to reach out to more," said Kugonza.

He said the programme had concentrated in Bwikwa and Rutete parishes.