Mwatasi - Ag Inst Extension Report - Apr 24-2013

TUMAINIUNIVERSITY – IRINGAUNIVERSITYCOLLEGE INSTITUTE OF AGRICULTURE 2008 Companion Village Project 5th Year 2nd Ex. Visit April 24, 2013 Village Mwatasi Pastor/Evangelist Elias Kadinda Companion Trinity Lutheran Church Attendees 22 Weather for the past month Cloudy and Wet Reporters Ibrahim, Mang’ulisa, Peter and Venance We had the experience of good attendance when we team up with the Institute of Microfinance; therefore we had Peter from the Microfinance Institute with us when we went to Mwatasi. We met a big audience of 22members of the Parish at the church waiting to begin the meeting. Purpose of the visit • To conduct lesson two of the extension education network and share ideas about the topics taught. Topics covered Lesson two of Extension Education Network: Plant Diseases • The concept of plant diseases • Causes of plant diseases • Disease symptoms • Common methods used to control plant diseases • Some common diseases around Iringa region • Cited examples of common corn and bean diseases, symptoms and ways to control Questions/Comments The Parishioners asked a number of questions and answers were provided through discussion. Question: Potatoes plants wilt before they mature, what causes that problem? Answer: The disease is likely to be verticillium wilt. Verticillium wilt is a fungal disease that lives in the soil. It invades susceptible plants through their roots and spreads through the plant’s vascular system. The disease can’t be cured once it enters the plant. The disease remains in the soil after you remove the plant, so don’t plant another susceptible species in the same area. You can reduce the disease by use tolerant cultivars, fertilizing on schedule, using a low-nitrogen, high-phosphorus fertilizer. Prune off dead and dying branches. Do crop rotation. Question: Some corn plants have white broken lines on the leaves, what disease is that? Answer: The disease may be maize streak virus which is caused by a virus. The viral disease is spread by jumping insects. It has no treatment but can be minimized by use of tolerant varieties, crop rotation and control of leaf hopping insects. Those plants which are white on the whole plant are probably born with genetic disorder. Question: Small black insects are seen clamping on the bean leaves more abundant on the underside of the leaves Answer: The insects are bean aphids and can be removed by insecticides such as thionex 35 EC. Mix 40mls of the chemical with 20l of water and spray on infected leaves. Question: Minjingu Fertilizer does not make plants look good, but we are advised to apply it on our farms Answer: The quantity of nutrients in minjingu is lower than in the NPK and the nutrients are released more slowly, therefore takes a longer time to show an effect on crop plants. After the question – answer session, it was a turn for the Microfinance person to lead a discussion about SACCOS. Mwatasi Parishioners were ready for SACCOS. Conclusion The discussion went on very lively with participants responding actively.