Kilolo CVP Visit Report - Apr 23-2013

2008 CVP Companion Village Project 2nd Visit of Extension Network Program April 23, 2013 Village Kilolo Pastor Yona Kinganga Companion King of Kings, Woodbury Attendees 13 Weather for the past month Dry Ag institute staff Gabriel and Microfinance staff (Itiweni, Peter and Magreth) On this visit, we were accompanied by Micro-finance institute staff. The meeting was organized with the aim of conducting two trainings; Agricultural training and Micro-finance (SACCOS) training. The trainings were conducted in the church. Purpose of the visit • Extension education: Plant diseases Topic • Review of the handout We went through the extension network handout about plant diseases • Discussion We discussed about plant diseases on both corn and beans. The discussion focused on the causes of plant diseases, disease symptoms and plant disease control. Common plant diseases found in Iringa region were addressed. Farmers were advised on how to control these diseases using resistant varieties, chemical control and agronomic practices Questions/Comments  There are problems that improved seeds from other countries are not performing eg seeds from Kenya. What should we do? Most of the improved seeds are certified by the government before being distributed to farmers. Sometimes, some unfaithful people will produce face seeds and pack in the bags and sell to farmers. You might have bought one of those bags hence experience poor performance. I would like to advise you to buy seeds from reliable dealers  Is it true that local seeds are not performing? This is not true. Local varieties are good varieties; they have good characteristics that suit the given areas. Improved varieties have been developed from local varieties where by some new additional characteristics are added. If you do not have enough money to buy improved seeds, select good corn years from a local variety of the previous season and plant in your shamba  The problem of maize virus in Kenya what precaution measure should we take in Tanzania? The disease is called Maize lethal necrosis and Maize chlorotic mottle – a combination of two viruses. It Kills the plants and there is no control at this point. The symptoms are twisting and discoloration of leaves. Plants frequently die before tasseling- no grain production. The disease presents up to 2100 meters altitude, especially in areas where maize was grown continuously in one region. The disease is like an outbreak where by the virus spreads very fast. The government has taken precautions to protect the farmers here by prohibiting the maize seeds and maize crops from entering into the country from Kenya. However farmers are advised to immediately report to the extension agents once they see the symptoms of the diseases in their farms.  What is the vision of the institute in the future? Is it only research or seeds productions and fertilizer productions? Our vision is to be the leading research and extension institutions in southern highland of Tanzania. The aim of the institute is to increase agricultural production in the region through research and extension. Currently, we do not have plans to enter into seed production or fertilizer manufacturing business Conclusion This has been a good village with very well managed plots for all four years. The extension program adds addition knowledge and skills to the farmers. We told them that the next extension meeting will be in August/September.