Itungi CVP Visit Report Aug 1-2012

2012 CVP CompanionVillage Project 6th Visit Year Four August 1st, 2012 Village Itungi Pastor Medson Chengula Companion Como Park Lutheran Church Attendees 09 Weather for the past month Dry Reporters Gabriel, Itiweni, Pongolan and Venance Purposes of the visit • To collect yield measurement • To deliver grain storage chemical “Shumba” • End of season discussion and planning for the next farming season Topics 1. Review of the handouts • 6th Visit instruction handout • Yield record sheet 2. Harvesting Both corn and beans were harvested. Corn yield is good but bean yield somewhat in between the highest and the lowest. The yields were as presented in the table below: Crop Corn Beans Yield per ½ acres 12 bags 2.5 tins 3. Storage We instructed them on how to store grain for home usage and for selling at the time of high price. We instructed how to mix grain storage pesticides “shumba” and the appropriate volume of grain per bottle recommended. We left the pesticides to them to mix with their harvested grains. 4. Discussion about the farming season; The parishioners said corn and bean seeds led to the good yield obtained although the beans were slightly affected by the dry spell that occurred between January and March this year. They were happy with this year’s harvest and wished the program would continue. 5. Adoption Many parishioners have adopted some of the techniques. Many of them plant in rows and use less fertilizer than the demonstration plot for the reason that they can’t afford to buy as much fertilizer as recommended to the CVPs. They don’t burn crop residues and they try to weed at least three times for the cropping season. Comments/questions  We instructed them to weed as many times as the weeds appear in the field and space plants depending on the amount of fertilizer they have using the provided space guide.  We reminded them the CVP program which was ending to their parish; however, we told them that they will continue to receive extension education.  We asked them about bee keeping; they showed great interest and said a few of them were keeping bees locally. Conclusion We congratulated them for the good job they did in the demonstration. We encouraged them to adopt the techniques taught. Pastor and Parish members were very happy with the performance of the corn in the demonstration plot this year.