Magulilwa - CVP Report Jan 20-2010

2010 CVP
Companion Village Project
Visit Report
4th Visit Year One
January 20, 2010


Village Magulilwa
Pastor Tulla Lukosi and Assistant Pastor Barton Wikedzi
Companion Amazing Grace
Attendees 7
Weather for the past month Rainy
Reporters Ibrahim and Roger

Purpose of the visit
• Planting bean and fertilizer application demonstrations
• Demonstration on second fertilizers application in corn
• Deliver fertilizer bags, Bean seeds, bottle spray, and insecticides
Topics
1. Greetings
Roger gave greetings from Amazing Grace, Saint Paul Area Synod and US Ag Advisory Committee
2. Went through the handouts
o 4th Visit handout
o Quiz handout
o Rain record sheets.
3. Demonstrations
We demonstrated how to measure inter row spacing (30cm). Using a string and a hand hoe it was demonstrated how to make a trench for planting the bean seeds. One seed was placed after every 10 cm. It was demonstrated how to place one full bottle cap of fertilizer between 2 seeds i.e. Seed-seed-fertilizer-seed-seed-fertilizer etc.

4. Fertilizer and seed delivery
According to the analysis of the soil of this area, the type of fertilizer recommended was NPK (10-18-24) for bean seed planting. The congregation was given 2 NPK bags and 30 Kg of bean seeds, variety of bean seeds delivered is URAFIKI. We also delivered 2 bags (50 Kg) of CAN for second fertilizer application to corn field.





Comments
 They planted corn on December 17th, 2009 and some portion was planted on December 30th, 2009. We were able to see a significantly difference by looking corn in the field. So we explained the importance of planting at proper time.

 After observing the bean seed we delivered, they were happy to see the seeds were in the good condition as compared to the local seeds they have been using.

 Two people have already started practiced some of the techniques taught and have an experience of seeing benefits such as zero tillage saved the money used to hire oxen to cultivate, spacing and planting in rows makes it easy to weed and apply insecticides.

Questions from audience and answers

 They asked when they should plant their beans seeds.
We recommend planting the end of January, so after this training they should arrange dates to come and plant their plot.

 They asked the amount and type of fertilizers that is recommended for them.
We told them it is 4 bags of NPK and 4 bags of CAN (second fertilizer application at knee high) for a spacing of 60 cm by 20 cm and if they can only afford to buy lesser amounts of fertilizer they can plant with the spacing of 60 cm by 30 cm or 40 cm.

 When should they apply insecticides to their crops?
Whenever, they see some damage in their field.

 Amount of rainfall required from planting corn to harvest?
About 1500 mm, (Blanket recommended amount) but since we gave them rain gauge they should make sure they record properly so that we will see the specific amount for Magulilwa is required.

Conclusions/Recommendations
We emphasized the importance of following instruction because the success of the program depends upon them following what we instructed. They promised to follow all the instructions.