Itungi-Como Park Luth.; CVP Report for Sept 8-2011

2008 CVP
Companion Village Project
6th Visit Year Three
September 8, 2011
Village Itungi
Pastor Damian Ngandango and Ass. Pastor Barton Wikedzi
Companion Como Park, St. Paul
Attendees 14
Weather for the past month Dry
Reporters Gabriel, Don and Karen

Purposes of the visit
• To collect the yield measurement
• To deliver grain storage chemical “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
Both corn and beans have been harvested. This year the yield has been higher than those of the last year, spacing were good and plot management was as recommended. The plot performance has improved in this Parish.
Crop Corn Beans
Yield per ½ acres 14 bags 2 bags 2 tins
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 season
The corn and beans has performed better this season. The varieties are good and they yield high.
5. Adaptation
3 attendees said they have been practicing some of the techniques we have been teaching them. Pastor said he has practices the techniques and has been emphasized the parish members to do the same. All who have tried said they have experience increase of yields especially in corn

Comments/questions
 Some plants were very thin, is this due to close planting?
Close planting is good because increases yield in the farm. However the close spacing requires sufficient application of fertilizers. If there were thing plants in some part of the farm that might be due to insufficient application of fertilizers or soil erosion that lead to fertilizers been taken away. Crop residues and minimum tillage helps to reduce soil erosion.

Conclusion
We congratulate them for the good job they did in taking care of the demonstration plot. We encouraged them to utilize the knowledge they get from the whole training program.