Kivalamo CVP Visit of Oct 20-09

2008 CVP
Companion Village Project
Visit Report
1st visit Year Two
October 20, 2009


Village Kivalamo
Pastor Mkeng’e Exaudi
Companion Elim, Scandia
Attendees 16
Weather for the past month Rainy
Reporters Gabriel, Ibrahim, Don & Karen and Alfred


After a long ride we arrived at Kivalamo at 11:10pm. We met the pastor in his house. They were repairing their church so we could not hold the meeting in the church. We went direct to their plot which is down a very steep path.
Purpose of the visit
1. To see the plot
2. To deliver a rain gauge
Topics
1. The plot
Since they have a unique weather condition, corn has been planted since August and by this time plants are expected to be nearly knee high. However, according to them this year has been so dry. We looked at the plot, most of the seed failed to germinate. There was almost nothing. Also they have not done weeding for a while. We told them we are going to give those seeds once more for replanting. The fertilizer is still in the ground from the August planting. Moreover we told them to start weeding immediately. There is a water stream along side of the plot. We instructed them to use that water to irrigate the plot. They had good crop last year that rotten in the field due to continuous rain. We thought about timely planting this year, now the problem has been lucky of enough rain.
2. Rain gauge
We delivered the rain gauge and told them the advantages of knowing the rain trends and how to take the rain measurements using the rain gauge that will be derived to them soon
Comments/questions from audience
 They were wondering whether they should go for Minjingu phosphates instead of NPK since the government has been advocating the use of that type of fertilizer
We told them the fertilizer recommendations which we gave them are based on the soil analysis we conducted. When we find out that they need different type of fertilizer from the next soil analysis we shall recommend that particular fertilizer.
 They asked what are the alternative corn varieties which do not easily rot when there is continuous rain
We told them we shall find out and pass that information to them
 There was confusion about the second ½ acre. Last year they planted only corn. This year they planted corn but no beans. We are expecting to get seed variety from Uyole Ag Research Centre. When asked they said it is too late to plant a bean now since that was supposed to be done on August.
We decided that we shall give them more seeds of corn to plat there. It was suggested that a different corn seed variety should be planted there to test which one does better.

Conclusions/Recommendations
It was decided that corn seed and fertilizer will be send to Kivalamo using a bus to Idete.



NB:
• 4 bags of Seeds and 2 bags of NPK were transported to the village on November 15, 2009. We gave the Pastor who was in town for seminar. We could not get the H 6303, instead we deliver H 628.
• 1 bag of NPK is 50kg and 1 bag of seed is 2kg