Image Secondary School - CVP Report Oct 12-2010

2010 CVP
Companion Village Project
Visit Report Year One
2nd Visit
October 12, 2010

School Image Secondary
Headmaster Pastor Andendekisye Ngogo
Companion AUGUSTANA LUTH. CHURCH
Attendees 3 teachers and About 50 students
Dry Rainy
Reporters Gabriel and Pastor Lunodzo


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 how to record rain. One set of rain gauge was handed to the Ag teacher.
o Plots
We instructed them on how to measure the 1acre plot using miter tape (instead of using pacing). Together with the students we measured two ½ acres plots, one for corn and another one for beans.
o Soil
We discuss with the about their soil. We told them that their soil has low pH therefore it is acidic. We would not recommend the use of the fertilizers with has tendency of lower the pH of the soil. They should also increase the Organic matter of their soil, ie. by leaving the crop residues.
Comments
 They asked what is appropriate time to plant, before the rain season or after the rain season starts
We told them that appropriate time of planting depends with the rainfall pattern of the particular area. As the institute we encourage people to plant right at the beginning of the rainy season because we want farmers to utilize all the rain they get during the season.
 They asked whether it is appropriate to use herbicides to control weeds
We told them that herbicides usage is another good method of control weeds however. Mixing and spraying of herbicides must be done carefully and in accordance with the instructions of a particular type of herbicides. In the demonstration plot we will not use herbicides instead we will do normal weeding.
 How many kinds of herbicides are there?
There are two kinds of herbicides, those we call selective herbicides and the Non-selective herbicides ones. The selective herbicides kill certain types of plants and are usually applied when crops are already in the farm. Non-selective herbicides kill all kinds of plants and they are usually applied before planting.

Conclusions/Recommendations
We insisted that they should start weeding now. Their plot is should be clean at the time of planting. We will go back in November to deliver seeds and fertilizers.