Ihemi-Christiania CVP Visit Report January 20, 2011

2008 CVP
Companion Village Project
4th Visit, Year Three
January 20, 2011

Village Ihemi
Pastor Anania Kadege
Companion CHRISTIANIA, LAKEVILLE
Attendees Male 5, Female 6 (1st time attendee: None)
Weather for the past month Dry for the last three weeks
Ag Institute Staff Gabriel and Pastor Mang’ulisa

Before we conducted a meeting here, we went to another Parish called Kiponzelo to deliver bean seeds and fertilizers. When we arrived in Ihemi, we found parish members already in the church ready for the demonstration.

Purpose of the visit
• Bean planting demonstration
• Fertilizer applications demonstration
• Bean seeds and fertilizers delivery

Topics
1. Going through handout with attendees
 4th Visit handout
2. Demonstrations
We demonstrated how to plant beans in the appropriate spacing and how to make fertilizer application to the beans. We also demonstrated how to make the second application of fertilizer to the corn.
3. Delivery
Type/Variety Amount
Bean seeds Uyole 98 27kg
Fertilizers NPK 2 bags
CAN 2 bags
Pesticides Thionex ½ Litre

4. Plots
Corn
The plants look very good, the spacing has been followed properly and the weeding has been done. One spot of the plot has yellowish corn; we told them that that might be the nitrogen deficiency symptom because of either soil erosion or removal of the top soil by human activities i.e. making bricks. However the second fertilizer application will add the nitrogen in that area too.
Bean
Bean plot will be planted next week


5. Discussion
Attendees who are using/ adopting the techniques this season are 4 out of the 9 attending today. When asked what was there experience so far compare with the way they use to farm before they said,
The minimum tillage has enabled them to save money from hiring a tractor or oxen to plough their farms
Minimum tillage has increase the water retention in their farms as their plants are not drying faster as they used to be when the rain stops
Some of them have been farming in the slopes and they have seen reduction of soil erosion as they practice the close spacing and minimum tillage
They have also experience the increase of yields in their farm


Comments/Questions
 They asked us what type of pesticides is good in controlling the leaf eating insects
We told them that the good pesticides depend on the type of the pests in the field. We recommend thionex because we have been using it in other plots and it has shown good results. However using pesticides for long time can lead those pests to forming immunity and hence they become resistant. We encourage crop rotation as another way to deal with pests and diseases.
 One member said that he has been using leaves of certain type of trees to control pests in his farm by grinding them and mix with water
We told him that we are interested to know that type of tree so he can teach others about that method. We encourage the use of locally available materials in controlling pests and disease.
 They asked if we can start a demonstration plot for cash crops
We told them that currently we are dealing with the food crops to improve food output and fight against hunger. Later on we might deal with cash crops as well.

Conclusion

We left Ihemi and drove back to Iringa. We did not meet the Pastor as he was in Iringa Town for other responsibilities. The meeting was organized and supervised by the Parish Secretary. We told them that we will be back in May for the yield data collection instructions.