Itungi CVP Visit Report - May 2, 2012

2008 CVP Companion Village Project 5th Visit Year Four May 2, 2012 Village Itungi Pastor Medson Chengula Companion Como Park, St. Paul Attendees 12 Weather for the past month Dry Reporters Gabriel, Don and Karen Purpose of the visit Demonstrating on how to take yield measurements Topics 1. Greetings Don delivered greetings on behalf of Como Park, Saint Paul Area Synod and US Ag Advisory Committee 2. Review of the handouts • 5th Visit handout • Yield recording sheet 3. Demonstrations We demonstrated how to take the yield measurements in 10 meter rows (3 rows in corn and 3 rows in beans). We gave them the yield recording sheets. The sheets will be collected in July/August. Plots information • The corn demonstration plot is doing great. Plants have been planted according to the instructions. The plot has been well managed. The corn has matured but still green. High yield is expected from these plot • Bean plot is also doing well. The beans are now drying. The plot has been well managed Comments from audience  We have been hearing about US Advisory Committee. What are the functions of this committee? The US Institute of Agriculture Advisory Committee (UIAAC) is the Institute of Agriculture committee made by individuals who are living in US. Some of them have retired and some are still working. All of them have decided to participate to help agricultural development in Iringa (Tanzania) by offering technical advice, manage the administration of the institute, rising funds and planning future activities of the Institute.  We have been told that this program is for three years. It has been extended for the fourth year. What is going to happen next? We have been telling you that the sponsorship of the demonstration plots has to move from your companion congregation to yourselves. Your companion friends might continue sponsor agricultural training, but the plots will be under your sponsorship. Your parish has to start planning on how to make the program sustainable. Practicing the techniques According to the Pastor, up to now 43 people have adopted the techniques in their farms. These farmers are now practices the farming techniques which they have learnt from the demonstration plots. Conclusion We thank them for the good job they have done in the demonstration plots. We told them that we will be back in July/August to pick harvest and rain data. The demonstration plot in this parish has been showing improvement year after year. In this forth year, the performance has been very good.