Kampala — BEES Abroad, a UK charity organisation has earmarked sh100m, to promote beekeeping among vulnerable households in Kibaale district.

The one-year project expected to benefit about 250 farmers is being implemented by Emesco development foundation, a local Non-Governmental organisation that operates in nine of the 13 sub counties that form Kibaale district.

Emesco provides bee hives, honey buckets, smokers, basic hive management training and harvesting veils to the beneficiary farmers.

Emely Kugonza, Emesco's Executive Director, said Bees Abroad, is dedicated to alleviating poverty in developing countries.

Speaking during a monitoring exercise of the beneficiary farmers in Kagadi Sub-County recently, Kugonza said farmers had been trained on how to make bee hives using improvised local materials like eucalyptus sticks, mud and cow dung.

Mary Kasarubayo, a resident of Nyakabingo village said she had received training from Emesco's staff and also benefited from the bee hives, buckets and the smokers.

Kasarubayo who started the business 5 years ago with minimal guidance from extension workers, believes that bee keeping will earn her more money if she puts in practice what she learnt.

Kasarubayo noted that before training, almost all the honey she harvested was for home consumption. She says only a little was sold to petty traders.