Nyanzwa - CVP Visit Report Nov 22-2012

2012 Companion Village Project 3rd Visit, Year Four November 22, 2012 Village Nyanzwa Pastor Luhwano Mwafute Companion Easter Lutheran Church Attendees 13 Weather for the past month Dry and hot Reporters Location GPS reading Pongolani and Venance Altitude: 585m above sea level 07021.231S O36017.049E Introduction We drove past the dry valley of Nyanzwa to meet a big audience of 13 people both females and males waiting at the church. The audience included a village agricultural officer and a school teacher. The pastor told us that the village was already suffering of hunger. Some families were surviving on porridge made out of a little corn flour and a sweetening agent. Corn grain is scarce and a tin is sold at 15,000/=tshs. Cattle do not do well except goats. The pastor thought the year is much more difficult than the past year. Purpose of the visit • Delivering seeds and fertilizers • Demonstrating planting and fertilizer application Topics covered 1. Review of the handouts - 3rd Visit Instruction - Plant population and Fertilizer applications 2. Demonstrations: Planting and fertilizer applications: The attendees were given an opportunity to demonstrate on how to plant seeds and how to apply fertilizers which they did precisely. However, they were cautioned not to place seeds and fertilizers together. 3. Delivery Seeds and fertilizers The following inputs were delivered:- Item Corn Beans Fertilizers for corn Fertilizers for beans Variety Pioneer Uyole Njano NPK cereal Thionex NPK winner Amount 4bags 40 kg 2bags 1 litre 2 bags Comments/Questions The first comment was about mixed cropping. A member of the gathering wanted to know why we deny mixed cropping; we explained for the reason of optimization but then thought of being flexible under their situation to cover the big risk of zero yields in Nyanzwa. They suggested buying a water pump for the demonstration plot and using it to water at least one acre seriously to rescue the situation Conclusion: It seems the drought situation is discouraging people to the level that they have become desperate, they no longer have any hope of any growing crops.