Kilolo Star Vo Trng-CVP Visit Report for Mar 31-2011

2011 CVP
Companion Village Project
1st Visit, Year One
March 31, 2011

School Kilolo Star Vocational Training Collage
School Manager Edger Elius Njuyui/Castor Sanguya
Sponsor Ron Reed
Attendees About 30 students and 4 teachers
Elevation 1828m
Ag Institute Staff Roger, Gabriel, Nafeti and Rev. Mang’ulisa

In this visit we were accompanied by the Kilolo Parish Pastor, Rev. Yohana Kinganga. We arrived in the school but the students had gone to the area were the demonstration plots were expected to be. After a short delay they gathered in one of the classroom and the demonstration took place.
Purpose of the visit
• Introducing the CV project to the congregation
• Taking the soil samples for soil analysis
• Delivering punching machine, box file and a hand hoe
Topics
1. Introduction
Rev. Lunodzo Mang’ulisa introduced the project. Roger delivered greetings from St.Paul Area Synod. He also talked about the farming practices which will be taught and their benefits in terms of soil fertility increase, moisture retention, addition of organic matter and increase in yields.
2. Handouts
After an introduction, the handouts were distributed to all then together with the participants we went through them.
• CVP Plot record of events
• DIRA – Institute of agriculture agreement
• Chronological Plot Management of Crops Planted in Nov/Dec 2011
• CVP Instruction – 1st Visit
3. Special presentation
Pastor Yohana Kinganga from the Kilolo Lutheran Church gave a very nice presentation about the demonstration plot at his church. He said their plot started in 2008 and it was hard for them to think about doing things in a different way, one that they weren’t used to. That first year, on one half acre where they usually got two bags of corn, by following the CVP techniques they harvested 10 bags. That first year there was drought at the end of the growing season and they were not able to harvest any beans.

The second year they harvested 12 bags of corn and four and a half bags of beans. Usually they harvest two bags of corn and one bag of beans from plots that size. The third year the corn and beans look good and they expect to harvest at least 10 bags of corn and four bags of beans. He said the corn in the demonstration plot is almost two feet higher than the neighbor’s field and looks much healthier. Yohana encouraged the students who were from farming families to take this information home and to use these techniques on their own farm. When Yohana was talking one could see that the students and teachers were paying attention.

4. Soil sampling
After the meeting in the church we went outside. Together with the members of congregation we took soil samples from 4 points around the church. 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
 What is the good fertilizer for bean?
The fertilizers recommended for the bean plot is NPK of 10-18-24. However if it is not available, a famer can use DAP. Usage of cow manure and crop residues is good too because it leads into addition of organic matter in the soil and soil fertility.
 Kilolo Parish Pastor gave his testimony about the Kilolo parish plot and the experience they have concerning the demonstration plot since. He said the plot has enabled them to increase yields in their farms. This year they are expecting good harvest from the plots and from their farms.
Conclusions
We told them that the Kilolo Pastor will be coming to their school to assist them on how to work in the demonstration plots according to the instructions. He will be accompanying us during the demonstration days.