Mkimbizi CVP Visit Report - May 25-2012

Companion Village Project Visit Report 5th Visit 3rdnd year May 28, 2012. Village Mkimbizi Parish Pastor Ambrose Mwakikoti Companion Immanuel Lutheran Church Attendees 03 Weather Warm and clear 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 Members of this parish are in the 3rd year of practicing the CVP; therefore, we asked them to demonstrate how to carry out yield measurement. They demonstrated precisely by measuring a 10m row at three different locations, counting the number of plants and ears and recording the numbers in the yield record form. They marked the measured rows by fixing sticks. Plots information The corn was completely dry; the plot was weedy and rows had big gaps between plants. According to the pastor, many plants died during the dry spell in February – March. They had harvested beans and used it already. According to the pastor, they took yield measurement before harvesting the beans. Comments The Pastor and the few members of the church, who attended the demonstration, agreed to work hard to follow the farming practices taught at the demonstration plot; weeding was cited as typical example of farming practices which they have to follow closely. Conclusion The parishioners do not expect to harvest much this year because of the dry spell which hit the region in February – March stressed the crop leading to decreased production. Probably they will harvest less than the 8 bags harvested last year in their half acre plot. The important part though, is that they acknowledge that the farming methods they learn at the CVP had improved their crop productivity in their own plots.