Ihemi - CVP Visit Report - Apr 30-2013

2008 CVP Companion Village Project, PCT and YARA 2nd Visit of Extension of Extension program April 30, 2013 Village Ihemi Pastors Anania Kadege Companion Christiania Lutheran, Lakeville Attendees 30 Weather for the past month Dry Reporters Gabriel and Microfinace staff (Peter, Itiweni and Magreth) On this visit, we were accompanied by Micro-finance institute staff. The meeting was organized with the aim of conducting two trainings; Agricultural training and Micro-finance (SACCOS) training. The trainings were conducted in the church. Purpose of the visit • Extension education: Plant diseases Topics • Review of the handout We went through the extension network handout about plant diseases • Discussion We discussed about plant diseases on both corn and beans. The discussion focused on the causes of plant diseases, disease symptoms and plant disease control. Common plant diseases found in Iringa region were addressed. Farmers were advised on how to control these diseases using resistant varieties, chemical control and agronomic practices Questions/Comments  What is the control of diseases whose symptoms are accompanied by drying and leaf spots? This might be a disease caused by fungus. When you observe it in your farm, you may go to the extension agent ask him the type of the disease and appropriate pesticides to use. If the disease is a fungal disease which in this case I will suspect more, buy and use fungicides that treat the disease.  Why do you advise us not to repeat improved seeds? Hybrid seeds cannot be repeated because if you do that their high yield and disease resistance characteristics gradually disappear. It is advised to use the new seeds for best performance  We have problems of potatoes rotting. What is the cause and what is the cure for that problem? Potatoes like other plants can be attacked by fungus. In most of the places in Iringa region fungus in potatoes is the big problem. You can control the fungus in potatoes by planting the disease resistant varieties. Another method to reduce the incidence of the disease is to practice crop rotation. If your farm has the history of the disease, you can use fungicides to control the disease  What is the cure for ear rotting? Ear rooting is a disease problem that is common in high altitude areas. Places that are at high elevations do tend to have a long duration of rainfall. Long duration of rainfall make the air humidly which is a favourable condition for ear rotting diseases. You can control the disease by planting resistant corn varieties Conclusion The meeting was good. Also farmers received micro-finance training for the staff of the institute of micro-finance of Tumaini University. Farmers were instructed on how to join the saving cooperatives, fill the contract forms and develop business plans.