Ng'ang'ange CVP Visit of Nov 3-09

2009 CVP
Companion Village Project
Visit Report
3rd visit Year One
November 03, 2009


Village Ng’ang’ange
Pastor Simon Msula
Companion Roseville Lutheran, Roseville
Attendees 16
Weather for the past month Sunny and dry
Reporters Gabriel Malima and Phil Larsen


We did not deliver the seed (H 6303) today. We placed an order at the shop in Iringa but they have been unable to deliver despite repeated promises. The shopkeeper told us we will get the this morning, then she told us she lost communication with the truck shipping the seeds from Mbeya. We had to move on with our visits and send the seed by bus to the villages later after it arrives.

Purpose of the visit
• Planting and fertilizer application demonstrations
• To deliver seed and fertilizer
Topics
1. Greetings
Phil delivered greetings from Roseville Lutheran, the 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 placed every 20 cm and by using a bottle cap, fertilizer was applied 5cm from the seed on each side.
4. Fertilizer and seed delivery
According to the soil analysis of the soil of this area, the type of fertilizers recommended are NPK (10-18-24) and CAN (27-0-0). The congregation was given 2 bags of NPK. CAN will be delivered later.


Comments/questions from audience
 They told us they have been planting corn in rows with 3 ft spacing between rows and 1 ft from between plants and they were wondering if the spacing of 60cm and 20cm works.
We emphasized that we are asking them to do things differently from the past and ask that they follow our instructions closely. The methods we are recommending have been tested and have worked in the past.
 They asked us, since the government has recommended Minjingu phosphates and DAP. These types of fertilizers have been subsidized by the government hence they are cheap and readily available. Why do we tell them to go for NPK?
We told them that we have given them a fertilizer recommendation in accordance with the soil analysis of the soil samples taken from their area. We advised them to buy the recommended fertilizer to get good yields and to conserve their soil fertility.

Conclusions/Recommendations
Their plot is new cleared land. Most of the plot has been burnt because it had big chucks of thorn bushes and “itch” grasses. We told them next year they should not burn the crop residues and dried weeds. They said they usually get 3-4bags/acre with no fertilizers. We told them that they will be able to get more if they follow our recommendations.

NB:
• 1 bag of NPK is 50kg and 1 bag of seed is 2kg
• Seed and other 4 bags of NPK were transported to the village on November 15, 2009. We gave the seed to the Pastor who was in town for seminar. We could not get the H 6303, instead we gave them H 628.