Mkimbizi CVP Visit of Nov 16-09

2009 CVP
Companion Village Project
Visit Report
3rd visit Year One
November 16, 2009

Village Mkimbizi
Pastor Ambrosi Mwakikoti
Companion Immanuel Lutheran, Saint Paul
Attendees 5 (3 Men, 2 Women)
Weather for the past month Sunny and dry
Reporters Gabriel Malima, Phil Larsen, Alfred Somela

We planned to carry out the demonstration in the preaching point. We drove to the preaching point with a Pastor and Treasurer of the Parish.
Purpose of the visit
• Planting and fertilizer application demonstrations
• To deliver seed and fertilizer
Topics
1. Greetings
Phil derived greetings from Immanuel Lutheran (Saint Paul), Saint Paul Area Synod and US Advisory Committee
2. Going through the handouts
o Fertilizer need template
o Plant population handout
o Fertilizer application handout
3. Demonstrations
It was demonstrated how to measure inter row spacing (60cm) and intra row spacing (20cm). Using a string and a hand hoe, it was demonstrated how to plant and apply fertilizer. One seed was put after every 20 cm and by using a bottle cap, fertilizer was applied 5cm from the seed in each side.
4. Fertilizer and seed delivery
According to the soil analysis of the soil of this area, the type of fertilizer recommended for planting is NPK (10-18-24). The congregation was given 2 bags of fertilizer (NPK) and 4 bags of Pioneer 3253 maize seed. The seed variety Pioneer 3253 is drought resistant and, hence, is suitable in this area.
5. Rain gauge
We had to repeat the instructions on how to take the readings from the Rain gauge after finding out that they have not started to record rainfall in spite of having rains for couple of days last week.

Comments/questions from audience
 They said that they have been planting without using specific inter and intra row spacing.
We told them using specific inter and intra row spacing will improve their yield because specific spaces reduce competition among the plants.
 They ask with the minimum tillage, they see the possibility of having shallow roots, therefore, questioned how the plant is going to support itself on the ground in case of the wind blowing.
We told them, the roots of the plant will be deep enough to support the plant. We have done this in the last year and the plants were not blown over by the wind.

Conclusions/Recommendations
We had very small audience. This is a parish which is in the Iringa Municipality. Parish members are farmers and also workers in the offices. Monday being a working day, most of them have gone to the offices. However we hope these few members of the parish we met they will pass the instructions to others
NB:
• 1 bag of NPK is 50kg and 1 bag of seed is 2kg