Lusinga CVP Visit Report - May 24, 2012

Companion Village Project Visit Report 5th Visit 1st year May 24, 2012. Village Lusinga Parish Pastor Galosi Kwamba Evan/ Mama Philipo Companion The Pyrethrum Company of Tanzania (PCT) Attendees 07 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, tassels from plants within the 10m were removed to mark them for easy identification at the time of harvesting. Plots information This is one of the two CVPs which suffered from total failure of corn seed germination when parishioners planted the first time. They replanted and the plot was performing well. The plot looked nice with corn plants at maturing stage. The rows were well spaced and the plot was well weeded. The beans were at the beginning of the flowering stage; the germination percentage was well and the plants were well spaced. The parish grows pyrethrum as well. The pyrethrum was growing well and beginning to flower; it was well spaced and weeded. Comments The parishioners seem to be hard workers and committed to follow the teaching done at the demonstration plot. They were encouraged to continue weeding the corn until near harvesting. They were also reminded to do gap filling in the pyrethrum plot by splitting the wide stems when the weather becomes appropriate. Conclusion The parishioners are hard workers and follow the methods taught at the demonstration plot. A few of them acknowledged using the methods in their own plots although the major challenge is the quantity of fertilizer which they can’t afford to purchase because the price is high. We encouraged them to practice all the other methods taught such as weeding, leaving crop residue etc. and altering the spacing depending on the amount fertilizer available following the chart provided to them by the Institute of Agriculture.