Mwatasi-Trinity,Stillwtr., CVP Report for June 13, 2011

2008 CVP
Companion Village Project
5th Visit Year Three
June 13, 2011
Village Mwatasi
Pastor Pastor
Companion Trinity, Stillwater
Attendees 38
Weather for the past month Rainy
Reporters Gabriel, Don and Karen

Long drive to Mwatasi. We met the parish members in the mass service. It is the day after Pentecost; according to the Lutheran traditions most of the congregations will hold mass service in the morning of this day. At the end of the service, the Pastor introduces us to the Parish members. After the service we started demonstration meeting in the church before we walked to the plot for further demonstration.
Purpose of the visit
• Explain and demonstrate how to take yield measurement
Topics
1. Greetings
Don delivered greetings from Trinity-Stillwater, St. Paul, Saint Paul Area Synod and US Ag Advisory Committee. He spoke about the importance of getting the right yield measurements and explained why they are highly needed.
2. Demonstrations
We demonstrated how to measure the 10 m row (in three different locations within the demonstration plot) for the yield determination, this was demonstrated by using a miter tape, we used spray paint to mark the demarcations within which the measurements should be taken. These measurements are to be taken from both corn and beans.

Plots information
Corn is matured but not yet dried enough to be harvested and stored. The spacing are wide, we told them that this will significantly reduce the high yield we expected them to get. We recommend fertilizers applications and close spacing because that gives the high yield. The bean plants are still green. The plots are in slopes. In both plots the effect of soil erosion is obvious seen. Plants in the upper land are not as good as those in the lower land. Fertilizers might have been washed to the low land. We told them that to prevent soil erosion and fertilizers wastage, they should make terraces after every 3m.
Comments
 They said they hope the corn seed variety we have introduced will perform better because it has not started to rot as that of last year. However they are still observing the performance of the plots.
Conclusions
We told them we will be back in August. They should record the yield as instructed and keep the records. We hoe the yield data and rainfall data will help us to understand the performance of the plot and take necessary corrections.