Mlowa-CVP Visit May 20-2010

2010 CVP
Companion Village Project
Visit Report
5th Visit Year One
May 20, 2010


Village Mlowa
Pastor Lunogelo Mbwilo
Companion Christus Victor, MN
Attendees 7
Weather for the past month Rainy
Reporters Ibrahim, Gabriel and Lunodzo

Purpose of the visit
• Explain and demonstrate how to take yield measurement.
• Deliver two containers (20 liters and 1 liter size) and a 10 m string.
Topics
1. Greetings
Pastor Lunodzo gave greetings on behalf of the DIRA, Christus Victor, Saint Paul Area Synod and US Ag Advisory Committee for volunteering to provide fund and to implement of Ag training program
2. Went through the handouts
o 5th Visit handout
o Yield recording sheet
o Rain record sheets to know the amount of rain received during this season
3. Demonstrations
We demonstrated how to measure the 10 m row (in three different locations within the demonstration plot and neighbors farm) for the yield determination, this was demonstrated by using a 10 m string, how to measure and count the number of corn plants and ears. After shelling they are supposed to measure the amount of grain by using one liter container that was given to them by the institute of Ag. These measurements are done to both corn and beans.

Plots information
Beans plot is a little bit good; however this is due to shortage of water for irrigation. They are interested with bean variety introduced to them. Beans are still in the field, not yet harvested although they are matured enough and about to start drying.
Corn are already harvested and piled at pastor’s house.



Comments
 The drought affected the corn and beans besides using irrigation, the amount of water for irrigation depends to the amount of rain received in the catchment areas(where the river flow starts)
 We had few people who attended the meeting, because they are busy harvesting their crops. The last three days Elephants came to attack /eat their crops so they spend nights to scar the animals by making noise through beating iron sheets or metal containers.

Questions from audience and answers

 They asked how to control pests such as birds eating matured corn (kernels)
We told them, to use string around the corn field, they said they did it. But when we went there we found out they only kept string around the plot, so we told them they should also put in the middle as well. This will prevent the birds to fly directly in the plot.
Ø They were wondering why we are teaching them to measure yield from 10 m within the rows in three different locations.
This will give them an ability to estimate their yield for the whole plot.

Conclusions/Recommendations
We appreciated them for working on the plots and encouraged them to practice what we are teaching them for their life improvement.