Kipanga - CVP Visit Report-July 23, 2012

2012 CVP Companion Village Project 6th Visit Year Two July 23, 2012 Village Kipanga Pastor Winled Fwimi Companion Lake Park Lutheran Church Attendees 10 Weather for the past month Dry & Cold Reporters Rev. Mang’ulisa,Pongolani and Venance Purposes of the visit: • To collect the yield measurement • To deliver Fertilizers and seeds for the next planting season • End of season discussion and planning for the next farming season Topics 1. Review of the handouts • 6th Visit instruction handout • Yield recording sheet • To review 3rd and 4th visit combined and plant population at different levels of fertilizer handouts 2. Harvesting Both corn and beans have been harvested. Corn is not yet threshed, therefore, its yield not exactly known until after threshing. We saw threshed beans stored in plastic bags. Bean harvest was quite little. The yield was as presented in the table below: Crop Corn Beans Yield per ½ acres Not yet threshed 4 tins 3. Delivery We delivered Fertilizers and bean seeds for the next planting season. We also delivered a spray pump for spraying chemicals against insects and diseases. Fertilizers Seed Equipment Type Quantity Variety Quantity Type Quantity NPK 10:18:24 2 Bags Beans Uyole 96 30 kg Spray pump (16L) 1 CAN 27:0:0 2 Bags NB. Two more bags of NPK to be sent to Kipanga in August before the end of planting season 4. Discussion about the farming season: The corn plot looked very good when we last visited the village in April; however, after maturity, ears started to rot. The rotting problem is severe to the variety of seed delivered by the Institute. Therefore, we decided to deliver only half the amount of seed required for half an acre and asked the parishioners to plant the other quarter of the corn plot with the local variety of corn the next planting season. Beans did not do very well. The parishioners were not sure of the planting season, therefore, planted beans in two seasons; November and March. Through this trial, they learned that beans can grow well in Ihimbo village which is part of the parish if planted in November, but can do well in the other village of Kipanga if planted in March. The two villages in the same parish seem to have different climates. Also, they believe the Hybrid seed can do well in Ihimbo but not in Kipanga. Comments/questions  We advised the parishioners to sort out the rotten corn and dispose it away from the good crop which can be threshed and mixed well with ‘shumba’ chemical for storage.  We took a lot of time discussing with the parishioners who were interested with the farming methods. They wanted to know more and more of the farming methods that the Institute teaches. They asked many questions which were answered accordingly.  We asked them about bee keeping and they said they have plenty of land and good environment for producing high quality honey. A few members of the parish said they keep bees locally in clay pots and they harvest honey for sale and domestic consumption. Conclusion We encouraged them to continue with the hard working spirit they have shown for the coming season so that they can harvest more of quality corn and beans. We also reminded them to prepare a pyrethrum nursery and prepare pyrethrum plot in time so that they can have a good crop.