Bomalang'ombe Parish 4th Visit- Year One

2010 CVP
Companion Village Project
Visit Report
4th Visit Year One
January 21, 2010


Village Bomalang’ombe Lutheran
Pastor Lutango Tewele and Theofilo Nkwama-Intern student from Tumaini University
Companion Prince of Peace, Roseville
Attendees 17
Weather for the past month Rainy
Reporters Ibrahim and Roger

Purpose of the visit
• Planting bean and fertilizer application demonstrations
• Demonstration on second fertilizers application in corn
• Deliver fertilizer bags, Bean seeds, bottle spray, and insecticides
Topics
1. Greetings
Roger gave greetings from Prince of Peace, Saint Paul Area Synod and US Ag Advisory Committee
2. Went through the handouts
o 4th Visit handout
o Quiz handout
o Rain record sheets.
3. Demonstrations
We demonstrated how to measure inter row spacing (30cm). Using a string and a hand hoe it was demonstrated how to make a trench for planting the bean seeds. One seed was placed after every 10 cm. It was demonstrated how to place one full bottle cap of fertilizer between 2 seeds i.e. Seed-seed-fertilizer-seed-seed-fertilizer etc.

4. Fertilizer and seed delivery
According to the analysis of the soil of this area, the type of fertilizer recommended was NPK (10-18-24) for bean seed planting. The congregation was given 2 bags (50 Kg each) of NPK and 30 Kg of bean seeds, variety of bean seeds delivered is URAFIKI. We also delivered 2 bags (50 Kg each) of CAN for second fertilizer application to corn field.





Comments
 They planted corn on November 16th, 19th and 30th, 2009.We were able to see a significantly difference by looking corn in the field. So we explained the importance of planting at a proper time. After planting they received rain on December 15th, 2009.

 The church elders, talked about how they doubted these improved techniques we were trying to teach them. But, now that the corn is up they see that what they thought was impossible is possible.
 One individual said that he didn’t believe the things we told them would work, but now he believes. Especially minimum tillage and clipping the weeds just below the surface. He says his corn looks real good and wants to know if the same techniques will work for beans too.
 Nobody has practicing the techniques taught, they want to wait to see how it will work out in the demonstration plots.

Questions from audience and answers

 When should they apply second fertilizer?
Second application is supposed to be done at knee high.

 Should they apply fertilizer after weeding or that is not necessary?
We told them they should weed and then apply fertilizer, so they are supposed to weed before corn reach knee high.

 Is the NPK only recommended for planting?
The answer is yes for the time being because the recommendation was based on the soil samples taken from here (Bomalang’ombe).

 Should they reduce the amount of fertilizer when the plant looks deep green?
The answer is no, sometimes we don’t apply fertilizer only to make plant look green or tall, some kind of fertilizer are helping the plants to fill grains.

Conclusions/Recommendations
We emphasized the importance of following instruction because the success of the program depends upon them following what we instructed. They promised to follow all the instructions.