Kivalamo-Elim Luth - CVP Visit Report-Aug 11-2011

2008 CVP
Companion Village Project
6th Visit (and 1st for the coming year) Year Two
August 11, 2011

Village Kivalamo
Pastor Exaudi Mkeng’e
Companion Elim Lutheran, Scandia
Attendees 10
Weather for the past month Claudy
Institute staff Gabriel, Rev. Mang’ulisa, Nafeti&Pongolani

Purposes of the visit
• To collect the yield measurement
• To deliver corn seeds, bean seeds and fertilizers
• 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
Corn was planted. We tested two seed variety here. Both got rotten at maturity because of the prolonged rainfall. The yield has not been good in the demonstration plots. Beans were not yet planted; they will be planted this coming season which starts this time of the year in Kivalamo. They few corn they got were not yet shelled.
3. Storage
We instructed them on how to store grain for home usage and for selling at the time of high price. We instructed on 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
This area has long rainfall season. Most of the improved corn varieties cannot tolerate this weather and hence start to rot as the season continues. We asked them to try late planting. The corn plot will be divided into two parts. One will be planted improved variety seeds (late planting) and the other part will be planted local variety. All other practices will be the same in the whole plot.
5. Demonstration
Planting and fertilizer applications
We demonstrated on how to plant and how to apply fertilizers. We insisted that they should not place seeds and fertilizers together. There should be at least 5cm apart. The spacing is 60×20cm for corn and 30×10cm for beans. Fertilizers should be applied to both corn and beans
6. Delivery
We delivered corn and bean seeds and fertilizers
Item Corn Beans Fertilizers for corn Fertilizers for beans
Variety H615 Uyole 96 NPK CAN NPK
Amount 4bags 40kg 2 bags 2 bags 2 bags

Comments/questions
 We insisted on not burning the crop residues so that to build the soil fertility profile of their soil. Soil analysis has indicated that the organic matter content is low. Crop residues will help in increasing organic matter in the soil.
 When should second application of fertilizers be done?
Farmers are advised to do second fertilizer application when plants are at knee high or after 60 days after planting. In the areas with excessive rainfall, second application can be split into two parts in which half of the amount been applied in each split.

Conclusion
The yield this year has not been good so as last year. We are trying to find the proper planting time in this area, thus why we have delivered seeds and fertilizers this month. We expect there will be changes in the performance if all recommendations are properly followed.