Ipogoro July 15, 2010

2010 CVP
Companion Village Project
Visit Report
6th Visit Year Two
July 15, 2010


Village Ipogoro
Pastor Nixon Mwitula
Companion Augustana
Attendees 14
Weather for the past month Dry
Reporters Ibrahim, Gabriel and Rev. Lunodzo

Purposes of the visit
• To collect the yield measurement
• To deliver grain storage chemical “Shumba”
• End of season discussion and planning for the next farming season
Topics
1. Review of the handsouts
• 6th Visit instruction handout
• Yield recording sheet
2. Harvesting
Here we failed to get the yield records in 10m because they harvested earlier than the time we instructed them.
Amounts in bags/ ¼ acre Remarks
Corns 3 bags 4 tins Yield higher than local varieties
Proper planting time
Beans 1 bag 4 tins Drought reduced the expected yield and affected the grains

3. Storage
We instructed them on how to store grain for home usage and for selling at the time of high price. We instructed how to mix grain storage pesticides “shumba” and the appropriate volume of grain per bottle recommended. We left the pesticides to them to mix with their harvested grains.

4. Discussion about the farming seasons
Corn and bean plots
Their demonstration has big trees which have been forming shadow to parts of the farm hence some of the plants did not perform well. There were birds (Crows) eating grains. Moreover unexpected drought affected plants.
Lessons
• Corn: They said they have witnessed how close planting and use of fertilizer can give higher yield that what the used to get in their farms. They said they like the type of seeds introduced in their area
• Beans: The seed type is good. It has high yield and tolerate drought
Comments
 In spite of drought occurrence the demonstration plots gave higher yield than other farms. Pastor said people have been asking him questions about the type of seeds and fertilizers used. He said he believes the techniques like leaving crop residues and minimum tillage has also contributed to better results of these plots.

Conclusion
The Pastor on behalf of his parish members and evangelists express his gratitude to the Institute of Agriculture for the program and to their companion congregation Augustana for supporting the demonstration plot in their congregation and for agreed to support another demonstration plot at Lundamatwe which will be established this year.