Bomalang'ombe Sec.School --Trinity, Stillwater --CVP Visit Jan 17-2011

2008 CVP
Companion Village Project
4th Visit, Year Three
January 17, 2011

School Bomalang’ombe Secondary School
Headmaster Batista Lyandala
Companion Trinity Lutheran, Stillwater, MN
Attendees Ag Teacher and 30 students
Ag Institute Staff Gabriel and Pastor Mang’ulisa

This is the day when the school is opened here. Most of the students are still in vacation. We met with small group of students and conducted the demonstration with them. They have a new headmaster. The former one has gone to Tumaini University for further studies.

Purpose of the visit
• Bean planting demonstration
• Fertilizer applications demonstration
• Bean seeds and fertilizers delivery

Topics
1. Going through handout with attendees
 4th Visit handout
2. Demonstrations
It was demonstrated on how to plant beans in the appropriate spacing and fertilizer application. It was also demonstrated on how to do fertilizer second application in corn.
3. Delivery
Type/Variety Amount
Bean seeds Urafiki 30kg
Fertilizers NPK 2 bags
CAN 2 bags
Pesticides Thionex ½ Litre

4. Plots
Corn
The plot is about 200m down the hill. We could not get to the plot this time because it started raining. They said the corn is about 1 foot tall and they are doing great. We gave them the pesticides to control pests eating leaves.
Bean
Will be planted in February

Comments
 They asked us how can they improve yield in their families as their parents get low yield in spite of working so hard in the farms
Yield in the farms can be improved by
1. Using improved seeds and planting at the right time in appropriate spacing
2. Using fertilizers (industrial or non-industrial fertilizers) according to the recommendations
3. Proper control of diseases and pests (that include weeding)
 How many times should someone apply pesticides?
We recommend that pesticides should be apply as soon as pests or damages in the field are detected
 How many times should they apply fertilizers in bean farms?
In the bean farms we recommend a single fertilizer application. Beans are leguminous plants hence they are able to fix nitrogen from the atmosphere. A single application is enough for the plant to grow and yield beans.
 In some of the places they have seen their parents mixing the two types of fertilizers (Urea and CAN) for the second fertilizer application. Is this appropriate?
Both Urea and CAN are nitrogenous fertilizers. We do not recommend mixing them because just a single type of this fertilizer can work fine and help plants to grow and yield high.

Conclusion

We delivered seeds and fertilizers and encouraged them to do a better job and learn from the demonstration plots. The Ag teacher promised to supervise them and make sure the techniques are properly followed.