Pommern - CVP Report Mar 23-2010

2010 CVP
Companion Village Project
Visit Report
1st Visit Year One
March 23rd, 2010

Village Pommern
Pastor Jenro Kivamba
Companion GETHSEMANE LUTH. CHURCH
Attendees 18
Weather for the past month Rainy
Reporters Ibrahim, Gabriel, Roger and Pastor Lunodzo

Purpose of the visit
• Introduction of the program
• Deliver a hand hoe and box file
• Taking soil sample for analysis
Topics
1. Greetings
Pastor Lunodzo Mang’ulisa gave greetings from DIRA to the people and introduces staff of Institute of Agriculture. He encouraged people to attend seminars and follow the techniques taught, this will help them move to the next level in terms of farming.

Roger gave greetings from Gethsemane Lutheran, Saint Paul Area Synod and US Ag Advisory Committee.
2. Went through the handouts
o 1st Visit handout- DIRA and Institute of Agriculture Village Plot Agreement.
o CVP- Record of Events handout.
o Chronological Plot management of crops handout.
3. Demonstrations
We explained procedures of taking soil sample and the importance of doing soil analysis, then after we took the soil sample that was labeled and packed in small bags.


Comments

 The population is 2,500-3,000 people. Villagers have been using fertilizer such as Minjingu Phosphate, TSP, DAP for planting. Urea and CAN for second fertilizer application. Also they have been using improved corn seeds (i.e. H625, H628 and H615) and local seeds. Major crops grown in this village are corn, beans and peas. Normally they don’t experience drought, and the rainy season is December through April. Average yield for corn and beans are 5-10 bags and 1-3 bags respectively.

 Fertilizer training concept is good, because in the past they have been receiving and using fertilizers without having enough knowledge about it.

 25% of matured corn are harvested before they dry and sold as roast corn that will be shipped to cities for sell.


Questions from audience and answers
 At what month should they harvest corn in their fields?
We told them we can’t tell the exactly month but it should be harvested when the corn looks dry enough. (NB: Over here the corn are sun dried)
When we explained not to burn crop residues, what can they do when they want to clear new farms/land?
We suggested to burn because it will be tough to work in the farm with thorns, but not to burn the next season.
 They said sometimes the have a problem of little black burgs which eat both corn and beans in the field. (Normally affect farms near homes)
We answered them to use clean seeds and use proper insecticides. Also they should use chemicals for storage of grains after harvest.
 They asked about corn spacing?
We told them the corn spacing we are recommend is 60 cm by 20 cm, but we will discuss and demonstrate more about this in the next visits.
 They asked if it okay to mix CAN and UREA during second fertilizer application.
The answer is No; we are recommending not to mix because soil analysis is guiding us on what kind of fertilizer and amount should be used.
 How often should they weed their farms?
Whenever they see weeds are about 3 cm tall.

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.