Ifunda - CVP Visit Report - Aug 27-2012

2010 CVP Companion Village Project 6th Visit Year Two August 27, 2012 Village Ifunda Pastor Irene Msalilwa Companion House of Prayer, Oakdale Attendees 07 Weather for the past month Dry Institute staff Gabriel and Pastor Mang’ulisa We met the new Pastor, Rev. Irene Msalilwa. The other Pastor has been moved to another Parish. We went to the preaching point were the plots are located to see the crops then we came back to the parish. There were 6 evangelists waiting for us. We conducted a meeting in the church office. Purposes • To collect the 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 recording sheet 2. Harvesting Both corn and beans have already been harvested Crop Corn Beans Yield per ½ acres 4 bags* 2 tins 3 tins *1 bag = 7 tins (plastics) 3. Storage: We had short discussion on crop storage and marketing. We trained them on marketing of the food crops. Food crops should be stored for domestic uses and excess can be sold in the month when crop prices are highest. We instructed them how to mix grain storage pesticide “shumba” and the appropriate volume of grain per bottle recommended. 4. The past farming season Both corn and bean plots have not performed well. The hardness of the soil is still a problem in this zone. We discussed with the parish leaders on how to improve the situation. We told them that the deep tillage practices should be done next season. However, cow manures should be added to the plots to add organic matter to the soil. This parish is waiting for the new Pastor to arrive. Pastor Irene is the Pastor working at the Secondary school. Meanwhile the evangelists are planning for the coming farming season Conclusion Next season, the plots will be ploughed. Land preparation and ploughing will be done as earlier as possible. From our two years experience and from the advices from other agronomists, we have come into conclusion that; a minimum tillage practice is not ideal in this area.