Farmers Urged to Spray Crops in Evening to Protect Bees in Kisoro

By Vangirista Turanyomwe

Farmers in Kisoro District have been advised to spray their crops during evening hours as a way of protecting bees and boosting agricultural productivity.

The guidance was shared this Wednesday, during a training workshop for agricultural officials from across the district, held at the Kisoro District headquarters main hall.

Speaking at the workshop, District Entomologist Jonas Mbeine urged farmers to apply agrochemicals in the evening when bees are returning to their hives. He explained that this practice reduces the risk of bees being exposed to harmful chemicals, especially when sprayed on flowering crops.

Meanwhile, beekeepers expressed concerns about the modern beehives distributed to them, noting that they do not easily attract bees. They argued that the hives are too cold and fail to retain bee colonies compared to traditional local hives.

However, District Agricultural Officer Harriet Nyiramutuzo dismissed these claims, emphasizing that the issue lies in hive management rather than the design or climate conditions of Kisoro.

She advised beekeepers to properly maintain the modern hives, including covering them to minimize noise during rainfall, which can disturb the bees and affect their settlement.