Image Secondary School - CVP Report Mar 24-2010

2010 CVP
Companion Village Project
Visit Report
1st Visit Year One
March 24th, 2010

School Image Secondary
Headmaster Pastor Andendekisye Ngogo
Companion AUGUSTANA LUTH. CHURCH
Attendees Almost all students (about 800 students)
Weather for the past month Rainy
Reporters Ibrahim, Gabriel, Roger and Pastor Lunodzo

Purpose of the visit
• Introduction of the program
• Deliver a hand hoe and box file
• Taking soil sample for analysis
Topics
1. Greetings
Pastor Lunodzo Mang’ulisa gave greetings from DIRA to the people and introduces staff of Institute of Agriculture. He encouraged people to attend seminars and follow the techniques taught, this will help them move to the next level in terms of farming.

Roger gave greetings from Augustana Lutheran, Saint Paul Area Synod and US Ag Advisory Committee.
2. Went through the handouts
o 1st Visit handout- DIRA and Institute of Agriculture Village Plot Agreement.
o CVP- Record of Events handout.
o Chronological Plot management of crops handout.
3. Demonstrations
We explained procedures of taking soil sample and the importance of doing soil analysis, and then after we took the soil sample it was labeled and packed in small bags.


Comments
 The total number of students is 800, and the school has Form one up to Form six. These students came from various villages of Iringa region, and some from outside the region. They explained to us how their parents farm. They told us that they do use fertilizer such as Minjingu Phosphate, TSP, and DAP for planting, and Urea and CAN for second fertilizer application but with no education about what kind, amount or how it should be applied. Also they admitted that mostly they use local seeds, that gives them little yield. Image area receives rain starting in December through April. Crops grown are corn, beans, sunflower and cowpeas. Average yield for corn is 3-5 bags per acre.

Questions from Students and answers
 They asked whether the use of good seeds or the soil fertility level will increase yield?
We told them both play a major role to increase yield. So both have to be taken into consideration during the process of plant growth that is why the CVP programs took soil samples for analysis, we also discussed the use of improved seeds.
What type of seeds is required for Iringa Region?
We told them, there are several seed varieties that are suitable for Iringa region. We mentioned several CVP sites and the seed variety suitable for them.
 They mentioned the Army worms outbreak that happened around Iringa in February 2010. How to control?
We told them to report to the government officers as soon as possible, because in the department of Agriculture they have division responsible for army worms or birds outbreak.
 They asked why corn hybrid seeds given by the government didn’t perform better. It was delivered late in growing season, and is that a reason for poor germination?
We told them it might be a reason for poor performance, proper timing is important for better seed germination as well as better yield.
 They asked if it okay to mix CAN and UREA during second fertilizer application.
The answer is No; we are recommending them not to mix because soil analysis is guiding us on what kind of fertilizer and amount that should be applied.
 How often should they weed their farms?
Whenever they see weeds are about 3 cm tall.

Conclusions/Recommendations
We emphasized the importance of following instruction because the success of the program depends upon them following what we instructed. Also we told them they should learn and take the knowledge back to their parents at home, and if they follow what we instructed they will increase the family income.