Mwatasi - Trinity Lutheran, Stillwater CVP Visit Report 1/18/2011

2009 CVP
Companion Village Project
4th Visit Year Three
January 18, 2011

Village Mwatasi
Pastor Elias Kadinde
Companion Trinity, Stillwater, MN
Attendees Male 5 Female 4
Weather for the past month Rainy, Cloudy
Ag Institute staff Gabriel and Pastor Mang’ulisa

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
We demonstrated how to plant beans in the appropriate spacing and how to make the fertilizer application to the beans. It was also demonstrated how to make the second application of fertilizer to the corn.
3. Delivery
Type/Variety Amount
Bean seeds Uyole 96 30kg
Fertilizers NPK 2 bags
CAN 2 bags
Pesticides Thionex ½ Liter

4. Plots
Corn
Corn is about 8 inches tall. The Pastor said they have nematodes problems that destroy plants’ roots. The plot looks good, though the germination was not good due to the unexpected rain delay at planting time. Most of the members here were very happy with the yield they got last year and are determine to work better in their farms this year.
Bean
They said the beans seeds have been brought at the right time this year. They promised to adopt the bean planting techniques

5. Discussion
Pastors stood up and said that the members of his congregation have adopted the techniques and they are now farming according to how we do in the demonstration plot. He asked as to prepare a schedule to visit a few farms to see improvements. He also said that he has been getting questions from other villagers about the bean plots as it was so good last year.


Comments
 Pastor said that their area has nematodes problems that eat and destroy the plants that are in early stages.
We told them that we expect with the crop rotation the problem will be reduced. However, if they see the signs of the pests they should inform us and we will use nemicides to control that.
 People are interested with improved bean seeds we introduced last season. Where can they buy the seeds?
The bean seeds are produced by the Government Research Institute called Uyole and we can help linking them with the institute so that they may be able to purchase seeds from them

Conclusion

The Pastor and members of the congregation are very happy with the program. He has asked us to visits parish members’ farms to see how they adopt the techniques when we do the next visit. We told them we shall see how we can include that in our schedule.