Ifunda - CVP Report Oct 11-2010

2010 CVP
Companion Village Project
Visit Report Year One
2nd Visit
October 11, 2010

Village Ifunda
Pastors Jenock Mwilafi
Companion House of Prayer, Oakdale
Attendees 18
Weather Dry
Reporters Gabriel and Rev. Lunodzo

We arrive in this Parish late in the afternoon from Kiponzelo. People have been gathering in the church and waiting for us. We started with a short meeting and we did demonstration outside the church.

Purpose of the visit
• Measuring the demonstration plots
• Delivering rain gauge
Topics
1. Review of the handouts
Together with them we went through the handouts
o 2nd Visit Instructions
o DIRA and Institute of Agriculture Village Plot Agreement
o Plot Management FAQs
2. Demonstrations
o Rain gauge
We told them we need to know the annual rainfall of their place. We instructed them on how to record rain using a rain gauge. One set of rain gauge was handed to the pastor.
o Plots
They could not get enough land around their church. They got a land in the farming area about 1km from the church. They said the plot is nearby the road. We could not get there because it was late. We instructed the Pastor to supervise the plot measuring task. We instructed them on how to measure the 1 acre plot using miter tape (instead of pacing). We told them to measure two ½ acres plots, one for corn and another one for beans

Questions/Comments from audience
 They were wondering if the minimum tillage will work since in some of the land they farm has somehow clay soil
We told them minimum tillage will work because we have tried in other villages with the same type of soil and they have got high yields.
 Why they should do second application of fertilizers while they do the first with NPK?
NPK applied at the planting time has higher ration of P and K than N. The nitrogenous fertilizers applied at the knee high (second application) supplied N which is highly needed by the plants for growth at this plant stage.
 Is it okay to apply a fertilizer called SA (Sulphate of Ammonia) instead of?
Their soil pH is very low. We would not recommend fertilizers with suphur component because they have a tendency of lower soil pH. SA will not be suitable to this area.
 They are facing termites’ problem in their farms, by leaving the crop residues are they not going to worsen the problem?
Their soils need addition of Organic matter. Crop residues are one of the best ways to add organic matter in their farms. Terminates can be controlled using pesticides.
 How should they control the fungal disease in corn which occurs almost every farming season?
I. Crop rotation
II. Plant at the appropriate time
III. Use improved seeds

Conclusions/Recommendations
We insisted that it is important for them to go and measure the plot accurately. We are planning to visit their plot next time. We reminded them about the advantages of doing weeding now as the preparation of the coming planting season.