Bomalang'ombe Secondary School-CVP Visit Report May 22,2012

Companion Village Project Visit Report 5th Visit 4th year May 22, 2012. Village Bomalang’ombe Secondary School Pastor Batista Lyandala Companion Trinity Lutheran Attendees 31 Weather Cloudy and cold Reporters Rev. Mangu’lisa, Venance and Pongolani Purpose of the visit • To explain and demonstrate how to take yield measurement Topics 1. Went through the handouts o 5th Visit handout o Yield recording sheet 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 tape measure, sticks were fixed at the beginning and at the end of the 10m row in order to mark the row in which plants were counted and recorded. Plots information The plot is characterized by shallow red soil without any trace of organic matter. Plants other than corn and beans growing around looked scanty and dwarf except the pine trees which looks well. The soil seems to have no potential for good crop growth and development. The corn was poorly developed; it seemed stunted and some plants with pinkish color on the leaf margin – a sign of nutrient deficiency despite the application of the NPK and CAN provided to the school by the Institute of Agriculture. The plants were widely spaced. Bean plants looked weak and stunted too. Comments Students make an important group which when taught new methods and adopt can have a great impact since they come from different places of the region. Therefore, we continued to teach and encourage them to apply the methods at home. They actively asked many questions which were useful in classroom situation as well because they have agriculture curriculum as part of the subjects they take. Conclusion The CVP program may not meet the target of increasing productivity in this school because the soil is unsuitable for crop cultivation, but it is important to continue to teach students the good farming methods for the purpose of applying the knowledge at home.