Bomalang’ombe Secondary School July 16, 2010

2010 CVP
Companion Village Project
Visit Report
6th Visit Year two
July 16, 2010

School Bomalang’ombe Secondary School
Headmaster Michael Mkinga
Companion Trinity Lutheran, Still water
Attendees The Ag Teacher and about 200 students
Weather Dry and cold
Reporter Gabriel, Ibrahim, Rev. Mang’ulisa
Purposes of the visit
• To collect the yield measurement
• To deliver grain storage pesticides “Shumba”
• End of season discussion and planning for the next farming season
Topics
1. Review of the handouts
• 6th Visit instruction handout
• Yield recording sheet
2. Harvesting
Corn has not been harvested yet. They have harvested beans plot only. Beans were harvested very early before even the 5th visit. They said they did that to prevent pods being damaged by rain.
Amounts in bags/plot
( ½ Acre) Yield in 10m in 3 lines( For further analysis) Remarks
Corn Litres 5 2.3 2.5 Corn rotting,
No. of plants 27 14 15 Poor spacing, birds
Beans 1 bag 1tin Litres 0.75 0.5 1 Good seed
No. of plants 40 25 70

3. Storage
We instructed them on how to store grain for home usage and for selling at the time of high price. We instructed how to mix grain storage pesticides “shumba” and the appropriate volume of grain per bottle recommended. We left the pesticides to them to mix with their harvested grains.

4. Discussion about the farming seasons
Corn plot
There were poor germination and delay of replanting. The spacing was not properly followed. We demonstrate to the students how these have dramatically reduced the yield of their demonstration plot. Failure to control birds (Crows) has also reduced the crops harvested.

Lessons
• Corn and beans: The improved and certified seeds planted were good. They have learned the importance of following spacing and how to use pesticides to control leaf eating insects and how to apply fertilizers. The techniques taught on how to control birds were interesting. They promised to follow the instructions next farming season.

Conclusion
We visited their corn plot and insisted that they should remember to follow the instructions and to plant on time. We insisted that what we are doing now in the demonstration plot should be considered as a lesson to them and knowledge which should be passed to their parents.