2009 CVP
Companion Village Project
Visit Report
4th visit Year One
January 18, 2010
Village Mkimbizi
Pastor Ambrosi Mwakikoti,
Martin Haulle, Assistant Pastor
Companion Immanuel Lutheran, Saint Paul
Attendees 12 (5 Men, 7 Women)
Weather for the past month Rainy for one month and dry for the past couple of days
Reporters Gabriel, Alfred
This is a parish which is within Iringa municipality. When we arrived there we met two pastors, one evangelist and one lady. We had to wait for a while because we were told members from their preaching point which is somehow out of the municipality are coming. Later on three ladies arrived. As we started the meeting the audience kept on increasing.
Purpose of the visit
• Bean planting and fertilizer application demonstrations
• Bean seeds, fertilizer and pesticides delivery
Topics
1. Corn plot and Rain Records
Corn Seed variety planted Pioneer
Planting date December 17, 18, 2009
Replanting date Nil
First weeding January 13, 15 and 18, 2010
Pests/Diseases Nil
We checked the rain records in the box file. They have been recording as we instructed however the rain gauge sheets were not yet in the box file. We told Pastors that they should put the sheets in the box file.
2. Review of Handouts
o Bean seeds and fertilizer delivered information was added in the Fertilizer need template in the box file of the congregation
o 4th visit handout was reviewed
3. Demonstrations
I. Beans
It was demonstrated how to measure inter row spacing (30cm) and intra row spacing (10cm). String was used to make trench and in the trench bean seeds were placed 10cm apart. Fertilizer was placed 5cm from the seeds. Both seed and fertilizer were covered.
II. Corn
It was demonstrated how to make second application of fertilizer in the corn. Two holes were made 5cm from the plant and fertilizer was put then covered. We told them to do this when the plants are knee high.
III. Pesticides
We instructed them how to use pesticide called Thionex for controlling plant damaging insects.
4. Fertilizers bean seeds and pesticides
The congregation was given 2 bags of NPK for bean and 2 bags of CAN for corn. The bean seed variety delivered is known as “Uyole 96” (40kg). The variety is suitable for low altitude areas. We left one bottle of Thionex pesticides in case of damaging insects’ outbreak.
Comments/questions from audience
They asked if the pesticide (Thionex) we gave them can be used in both corn and beans.
We told them Thionex can be used in both corn and beans.
Once they have harvested the beans, should they use some of the beans as seeds?
We told them it is important to buy seeds at the beginning of every farming season. Using the beans which they harvest as seeds will not give them good yields like the improved seeds which are sold in the shops and research centers.
One lady asked what she should do to produce improved seeds with the same quality like those sold in the shops and research centers.
It is very difficult to produce improve seeds with the same quality as those sold in the shops and research centers because that requires breeding knowledge and techniques. Moreover unless one is producing seeds as a business enterprise it is time consuming and more expensive than buying the seeds from the shops and research centers.
Conclusions/Recommendations
We told them they should weed their bean plot as soon as possible. We told them if they had been following our instructions about monthly weeding even if there no crops in the farm they would have easy weeding work now. In the meeting, I asked them a few questions as a review of our teaching. Many seemed to remember what we have been teaching them. I asked them how many have started to practice what they see in the demonstration plot, most of them said they have not but they will adapt them in beans. One lady said she has been farming beans, and this year she will take all the techniques we have taught today. Others said they will buy and use the seeds we have introduced. I told them that they should start to adopt even a few techniques. They said they will plant the seeds we have introduced. We went with few members and pastor to visit their corn plot in the preaching point. It looks nice.
NB:
• 1 bag of NPK is 50kg and 1 bag of CAN is 50kg
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