Mlowa-Christus Victor; CVP Report for Nov. 5-2010

2010 CVP
Companion Village Project
Visit Report
3rd Visit 2nd Year
November, 05 2010

Village Mlowa
Pastor Lunogelo Mbwilo
Companion Chritus Victor, Apple Valley
Attendees Male 9 Female 9
Weather Sunny, hot
Reporters Nafeti,Phil, Pongolani

Purpose of the visit
• Delivering seeds and fertilizers
• Demonstrating corn planting and fertilizer applications

Greetings
Before we began the demonstration, Phil delivered greetings from St. Paul Area Synod and US Institute of Ag advisory committee
Review of the handouts
Together with them we went through the handouts
• 3rd Visit Instruction
• Plant population with 60 cm. rows and Fertilizer applications
• Fertilizer needs template

Demonstrations
o Planting and fertilizer applications
We did our demonstration regarding fertilizer and corn planting behind the church building, the demo plot is about 1Km away from the church. We demonstrated on how to place seeds and how to apply fertilizers. We insisted that they should not place seeds and fertilizers together. There should be at least 5cm apart.
o Seeds and fertilizers
We delivered 2 bags of NPK one bag and 2bag of corn seeds (Pioneer 3253) for planting quarter an acre. The remaining bag of fertilizer will be used for planting cowpeas.

Crop Seeds Fertilizer
Varieties Amount Type Amount
Corn Pioneer 3253 4kg (2 bags ) NPK 100kg (2 bags)

Questions from the audience
• We have problems with thorny bushes so how should we handle them?
They should cut them while are green and small so that they can avoid them to grow big and become strong.
• If they leave crop residue on field termites feed on corn residues, how to handle that?
Termites eating crop residues is not a problem they just enhance the decomposition of the residues but if they eat on plants after germinating insecticides should be sprayed.
• What is the appropriate time CAN application as side dressing?
Appropriate time for CAN application is after 60 days after planting or after plants are knee size tall.
• What new things have you learned from the Demo plot? ( Phil)
If we use proper spacing and follow the Ag. Institute recommendation yield is increasing and we are going to start using the techniques in our farms. We learned that you can just farm on small area and end with better yield than what we do harvest from our farms.
• What do we do with the income from our Demo plot?
We don’t take anything from demo plot and the income from the plot can be used in various ways depending on how the pastor and the congregation will agree on. But still you can decide to start a demo plot at another preaching point using seeds and fertilizers bought from that income.

Conclusion

• They asked for rain gauge they lost the one they had
• Pastor not present
• Demonstration plot 1KM from the church
• They have doubled yield of corn
• Mlowa is about one hour drive from Iringa town.