Ugesa-Christ Luth., CVP Report Mar 15-2011

2011 CVP
Companion Village Project
1st Visit, Year One
March 15, 2011


Village Ugesa
Pastor John Mhekwa
Companion Christ Lutheran
Attendees 20
Elevation 1965m
Distance from Iringa town 102km
Ag Institute Staff Roger, Gabriel, Nafeti and Rev. Mang’ulisa

In this visit we were with the field officers of the Pyrethrum Company of Tanzania (PCT) and a pyrethrum breeder Dr. Kiwovele who works for the Uyole Research Institute. We drove through forest and rough road for about 40km to reach this village. The village is in high altitudes and experience long rainfall seasons. When we arrived here the rain started. The demonstration meeting was attended by the government extension officer of this village.
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 by encouraging attendees to participate in the project. Roger delivered greetings from St. Paul Area Synod and from Christ Lutheran, at Marine on the St. Croix. He also talked about the farming practices which will be taught. He gave testimonies of the places which have benefited from the demonstration program.
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. Pyrethrum
Dr. Benjamin Kiwovele spoke about pyrethrum. He acknowledged the negative history of the pyrethrum industry. However, he explained that since 2006 a new owner, MGK, has been making investments in the plant and has been guaranteeing the purchase of pyrethrum flowers. There is a seedling nursery in Ugesa, and the farmer that has the pyrethrum nursery was in attendance.
4. Background information of this village
This village has population of 3250 people and 350 families. Farmers here grow corn, beans, potatoes, pyrethrum, what, peas, sweat potatoes and Numbu (tuber crop). Average yield for corn is 3-5 bags/acre and beans are 2-3 bags/acre. The weather conditions are good. They get enough rainfall throughout the rainfall season.
5. 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 minimum tillage?
It is a tillage method that does not turn the soil over. We will show you in the demonstration session
 You said you are going to take the soil samples. Are you going to take it in every part of the village?
No, we are not going to take in every part of the village. We will take in four different sites within one acre. We will mix the soil to get a good representative of these places; we hope the sample we take will represent the whole village

Conclusions
We encouraged them to participate in our coming demonstration meetings and to take good care of the demonstration plot which is going to be established here. We told them that the lessons they will get will help them to increase yields in their farms.