Isimani - CVP Report Sept 30-2010

2010 CVP
Companion Village Project
Visit Report Year One
2nd Visit
September 30, 2010
Village ISIMANI
Pastor Naboth Chaula
Companion Holy Trinity, New Hampshire
Attendees 18
Weather for the past month Dry
Reporters Gabriel, Don, Nafeti and Pastor Lunodzo

Purpose of the visit
• Introducing the drought resistant crops (Shorghum&Cowpeas)
• Measuring the demonstration plots
• Delivering rain gauge

Topics
1. Greetings
Don delivered greetings from St. Paul Area Synod and US Ag Institute Advisory Committee
2. Review of the handouts
o 2nd Visit Instructions
o DIRA and Institute of Agriculture Village Plot Agreement
o Plot Management FAQs
3. Drought resistant crops
Since their area is getting drier and drier, they need to starting growing drought resistant crops. They said they have started growing sunflower and groundnuts. We told them that we are going to demonstrate sorghum and cowpeas. Cowpeas crop was received better than sorghum. However they were willing to try both.
4. Demonstrations
o Rain gauge
They were instructed how to record rain using a rain gauge. One set of rain gauge was handed to the pastor.
o Plots
They have a flat land about 80m from the church. They were instructed how to measure the 1 acre plot using miter tape. Together with them we measured two ½ acres plots, one for corn and another one for beans.


Comments
 They asked us how do we come up with fertilizers’ recommendations of their area
We told them that the soil analysis of the soil samples we took from their areas determine type of fertilizers we recommend.
 They discussed about the livestock eating crop residues- Problem. They agreed that they will speak with village leaders to try to resolve the issue.

Conclusions/Recommendations
We told them that we will go back in November to deliver seeds and fertilizers. We instructed them to start preparations of the plot as soon as possible.