Kiponzelo CVP Visit Report-Sept 3-2012

2010 CVP Companion Village Project 6th Visit Year Two September 3, 2012 Village Kiponzelo Pastor Jazbeli Ndendya Companion Gustavas Adolphus Lutheran Attendees 05 Weather Dry Ag Institute staff Gabriel and Pastor Mang’ulisa • 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 were harvested. Corn has not yet shelled. They got one bag of beans from a plot (½acre) 3. Storage: We had short discussion on crop storage and marketing. We trained them on marketing of the food crops. Food crops should be stored for domestic uses and excess can be sold in the month when crop prices are highest. We instructed on how to mix grain storage pesticide “shumba” and the appropriate volume of grain per bottle recommended. 4. The past farming season The demonstration plots seem to lack organic matter especially in the portion were corn were planted. The germination was good and plants look well. The spacing were wide than what was recommended. We told them that this will reduce the yield from the plot. Question/comment  What are we going to do with the unfertile part of the plot? We instructed pastor to go and purchase cow manure from near by livestock’s’ keepers. The money used will be reimbursed to them. The aim is to increase organic matter content of the plots. After applying the plot should be tilled. The crop residues and cow manure will be incorporated in the soil. Cow manure and crop residues will improve soil fertility, increase water retention of that soil.  Pastor said that on behalf of his parish, he thank their friends from Gustavas Adolphus Lutheran, for their continuous support and friendship. May God bless them Conclusion We told Pastor and other parish members that we expect improvement in the demonstration plots. Good looking plots will attract many villagers to participate and adapt the techniques. The land should be added organic matter then ploughed earlier before the planting season. We asked pastor to encourage more people to attend the demonstration meetings.