Lundamatwe - CVP Report Mar 28-2010

2010 CVP
1st Visit, March 19, 2010


Village Lundamatwe
Evangelist Prisca Ramadhani
Companion Augustana, St. Paul
Attendees 10
Weather The area have normal rainfall seasons
Reporters Gabriel, Ibrahim, Roger and Rev. Lunodzo

In this visit, we were accompanied by Dean of Theology at Tumaini University, Rev. Peter Fue and the Pastor of Ipogoro Parish Rev. Nixon Mwitula. This village has very scattered houses. The only house close to the church is the Evangelist’s house. When we arrived at this preaching point we met only two people, Evangelist Prisca and one member of this church. We had a little discussion about the situation. It seemed that the information about the meeting was delayed. We decided that we will come back here on the Sunday March 28, 2010 to conduct demonstrations. However we decided to have just a short meeting those members who were present. We started a meeting with three members. As we continued the crowd gradually increased. At the end the number was 10 people. In this group there was a village chairman and a pastor from the church called “Church of Grace”. The rest were members of the church and guests from nearby Catholic Church.
Purpose of the visit
• Introducing the CV project to the congregation
• Taking the soil samples for soil analysis
• To deliver box file and a hand hoe
Topics
1. Introduction
Roger gave the greetings from St.Paul Area Synod and Agustana Lutheran.
Rev. Nixon Mwitula introduced us, Rev. Peter Fue greeted the participants and Rev. Lunodzo Mang’ulisa introduced the project.
2. Handouts
The handouts were distributed to all then reviewed
• CVP Plot record of events
• DIRA – Institute of agriculture agreement
• Chronological Plot Management of Crops Planted in November/December 2010
• CVP Instruction – 1st Visit
3. Agricultural background of this area
The village has a population of about 6,000 and 1,400 families. They farm corn, bean and sunflower (recently introduced in the area). Most of the farmers here do not use improved varieties, instead they use local varieties. In average, they said they get 3 bags of corn/ acre.

4. Soil sampling
After the meeting in the church we went outside. Together with the members of congregations we took soil samples from 4 points around the church, places where the demonstration plot is expected to be. Two types of samples were taken, from 6 inches depth and 12 inches depth. The samples will be taken to the laboratory for soil analysis
Comments/questions from audience
 Since we are just taking samples from one area (near by the church) and since the village has different types of soil, will the soil analysis results be representative of the whole village?
We told them that we cannot take soil samples from every farm. However we believe that soils of the same village do not differ much. We believe that the soil analysis results will represent the entire area.
 Many people in the village do not go for hybrids because hybrids weigh less that local varieties hence they are not good for the market. Moreover, they get damaged easily while stored after harvesting.
We told them there hybrid varieties have the same weight with the local varieties. Also good agronomic practices in hybrids will lead into good kernel filling. Moreover, the main determinants of the length at which the corn can stay in the storage without get damaged is the moisture content of the corn and storage facility. Corn should be well dried corn before stored and stored in good facilities with storage chemicals and it will not be damaged. We said together with them, we shall determine which hybrid variety is suitable to their area
 Hybrids seeds are expensive and they require farmers to buy new seeds every year. Local varieties are less expensive. Why shouldn’t they keep on using local varieties?
We told them that hybrids are expensive but they yield high. If they want to get high yields they have to go and buy improved seed varieties
 How can a farmer produce improved corn varieties i.e. hybrid by him/herself?
Producing of improved seeds require breeding knowledge and techniques. Big companies spend years and money to come up with desired improved varieties. It is more expensive for individual farmer to produce improved seed varieties than buying them.
 Leaving of crop residues will lead into termites’ problem.
Termites can be controlled by using appropriate pesticides. The advantages of leaving crop residues on the soil are many and will reduce the cost of buying fertilizers in the long run. Cost of buying termites controlling pesticides is far less than the cost of burning crop residues.
Conclusions
We had poor attendance in this place. We have planned to go back on the Sunday 28, 2010. Evangelist asked as to do so. Since this is the introductory visit, we told her we shall use that Sunday for the meeting (Only one time). The rests of the visits will be done in the week days.

2010 CVP
1st Visit, March 28, 2010

Village Lundamatwe
Evangelist Prisca Ramadhani
Companion Augustana, St. Paul
Attendees 30 adults with kids
Reporters Gabriel, Ibrahim and Rev. Lunodzo

As we planned before, we came back in the Sunday. We had poor attendance in the first time we came here. On Sunday, we did not meet the Evangelist, she was sick and she went to town for treatments. There was another lady conduct a service on behalf of her. We did the demonstration soon after the Sunday service. Rev. Lunodzo Mang’ulisa introduced the project to the members of the congregation. We distributed handouts and Ibrahim discussed with them what we talked about the first time we came here. We told them that we will be coming for the demonstration but we won’t use Sundays as we have done today. We are going to use week days. Most of the questions asked were the same with those asked in our previous visit.