Magulilwa July 15, 2010

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


Village Magulilwa
Pastor Upendo Lukosi and Ass. Pastor Barton Wikedzi
Companion Amazing Grace
Attendees 5
Weather for the past month Dry
Reporters Gabriel, Ibrahim and Rev. Lunodzo

It is harvesting time and most of the people in the village are working in their farm.
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
No yield was obtained in the bean plot. Corn has been harvested but not yet threshed.
Amounts in bags/plot
( ½ Acre) Yield in 10m in 3 lines( For further analysis) Remarks
Corn Litres 5.5 6 5.3 Good yield
No. of plants 27 33 25
Beans Litres Germination failure (lack of rain after planting)
No. of plants

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
They said the seeds (H628) we introduced were good in terms of yield; however they go higher than normal and form only a single ear. They suggested that the coming season they should try H614.
• Beans
There was lack of rainfall at the time germination started, the whole crop failed after that. We discussed with them the proper time of planting that the same problem should not occur next year.
Comments/questions
 They said whenever they use the corn which has been mixed with storage pesticides they do not wash instead they do husking.
We told them that before using corn which has been mixed with storage chemicals they should wash to remove the chemicals, husking alone is not enough.

Conclusion
We told them that they should get prepared for the next season. We encouraged them to participate in the demonstrations and take the farming techniques taught in their farms. They were grateful that they have agricultural learning program. They gave thanks to the Institute and their companion congregation.