Mgama CVP Visit Report - Aug 29-2012

2011 CVP Companion Village Project 6th Visit Year Two August 29, 2012 Village Mgama Pastor/Evangelist Edward Mgeyekwa Companion St. Paul Lutheran Church Attendees 07 Weather for the past month Dry Reporters Pongolan and Venance Purposes of the visit: • 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 were harvested and threshed. The yield was as recorded in the table below:- Crop Corn Beans Yield per ½ acres 6 bags(42 tins) 1.2 bag (8 tins and 3 litres) They expected to harvest more corn than the 6 bags recorded above, however, some corn was stolen by thieves. They reported the case to the village government and hope to take measures to protect their produce in the coming season. 3. Storage: We instructed the parishioners on how to store grain for home usage and for selling at the time of high price. We instructed how to mix grain storage pesticide “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 corn grain grown in this season looked small. Two possibilities were thought for the small size of the seed; varietal characteristics or the bad weather which occurred this year. The Parishioners thought of changing the corn variety from H 614 to H 625 or H 628 and” Uyole Njano” beans for the next planting season. The beans suffered a wilting problem at flowering stage. We thought the problem was caused by bean flies and advised them to make sure they spray “thionex” pesticide at the right time and use correct dose. 5. Adoption: According to the Pastor of this parish and the members who attended the meeting, a few members are adopting some techniques taught by the institute. They plant in rows and space plants wider than the spacing adopted in the demonstration plots because they can’t afford to buy as much fertilizer as applied in the demonstration plot. Comments/questions:  We agreed to look for H 625 or H 628 and give to them for the next planting season if we succeed to get those varieties.  We insisted they should apply “thionex” pesticide 3 – 5 days after seed emergence against bean flies  They said they have land for bee keeping and a few people keep bees already using the local methods, therefore, they are ready for bee keeping program. Conclusion We hope they will do better in the coming farming season and cooperate with the village government to stop theft of their produce.