Kivalamo CVP Visit Report - May 23-2012

Companion Village Project Visit Report 5th Visit 5th year May 23, 2012. Village Kivalamo parish Pastor Faus Duma Companion Elim Lutheran Church Attendees 11 Weather Moist and cold Reporters Rev. Mangu’lisa, Venance and Pongolani Purpose of the visit • To explain how to take yield measurement Topics 1. Went through the handouts o 5th Visit handout o Yield recording sheet We went through the handout to make sure the Parishioners could remember the procedures to be followed when taking yield measurements. 2. Demonstrations There was no any demonstration because they had already harvested corn and beans. Corn information Kivalamo Parish is on the mountains characterized by heavy rains for more than eight months in a year. The soil is moist throughout the year. The Parishioners had planted two varieties of corn; the local and the new seed from the institute of agriculture (H. 6303) so that they can compare them for the rotting property. When we visited, we saw the harvested corn placed on the floor of the storeroom. Some of it was badly rotten but some other was better. They could tell easily that the badly rotten was the new seed from the institute of agriculture and the local seed performed better against the rotting problem. The beans were already used up for either food or seed to parishioners. Comments We all agreed that the local corn seed should be used to plant in the CVP next season because it tolerates the rotting problem. It was agreed that the Institute of Agriculture should bring the corn and bean seed at the sixth visit so that they can plant between July and August. Conclusion Kivalamo and Idunda are two parishes which can do better with the CVP only if they can plant in July – August season and use local variety seed which is very different from the other parishes which plant in November – December and use the certified seed. Therefore, inputs have to be sent to Kivalamo and Idunda during the sixth visit.

Kivalamo-Elim Luth - CVP Visit Report-Aug 11-2011

2008 CVP
Companion Village Project
6th Visit (and 1st for the coming year) Year Two
August 11, 2011

Village Kivalamo
Pastor Exaudi Mkeng’e
Companion Elim Lutheran, Scandia
Attendees 10
Weather for the past month Claudy
Institute staff Gabriel, Rev. Mang’ulisa, Nafeti&Pongolani

Purposes of the visit
• To collect the yield measurement
• To deliver corn seeds, bean seeds and fertilizers
• 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
Corn was planted. We tested two seed variety here. Both got rotten at maturity because of the prolonged rainfall. The yield has not been good in the demonstration plots. Beans were not yet planted; they will be planted this coming season which starts this time of the year in Kivalamo. They few corn they got were not yet shelled.
3. Storage
We instructed them on how to store grain for home usage and for selling at the time of high price. We instructed on 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
This area has long rainfall season. Most of the improved corn varieties cannot tolerate this weather and hence start to rot as the season continues. We asked them to try late planting. The corn plot will be divided into two parts. One will be planted improved variety seeds (late planting) and the other part will be planted local variety. All other practices will be the same in the whole plot.
5. Demonstration
Planting and fertilizer applications
We demonstrated on how to plant and how to apply fertilizers. We insisted that they should not place seeds and fertilizers together. There should be at least 5cm apart. The spacing is 60×20cm for corn and 30×10cm for beans. Fertilizers should be applied to both corn and beans
6. Delivery
We delivered corn and bean seeds and fertilizers
Item Corn Beans Fertilizers for corn Fertilizers for beans
Variety H615 Uyole 96 NPK CAN NPK
Amount 4bags 40kg 2 bags 2 bags 2 bags

Comments/questions
 We insisted on not burning the crop residues so that to build the soil fertility profile of their soil. Soil analysis has indicated that the organic matter content is low. Crop residues will help in increasing organic matter in the soil.
 When should second application of fertilizers be done?
Farmers are advised to do second fertilizer application when plants are at knee high or after 60 days after planting. In the areas with excessive rainfall, second application can be split into two parts in which half of the amount been applied in each split.

Conclusion
The yield this year has not been good so as last year. We are trying to find the proper planting time in this area, thus why we have delivered seeds and fertilizers this month. We expect there will be changes in the performance if all recommendations are properly followed.

Kivalamo - CVP Report Oct 4-2010

2008 CVP-Companion Village Project
Visit Report Year Three-October 4, 2010
Village Kivalamo
Pastor Exaud Mkeng’e
Companion Elim, Scandia
Attendees 16
Weather for the past month Sunny
Reporters Gabriel, Don, Nafeti and Pastor Lunodzo

Purpose of the visit
• Delivering seeds and fertilizers
• Demonstrating corn planting and fertilizer applications

We went direct to the plot. Down the steep hill, that is where the plot is. We meet the parish members working in the plot. They told us that they have new plots this year because the plot they have been using for two years have been taken over by the owner. We had to measure the plot, sketch it and ask them to make sure they are not going to move this plot any more.
o Greetings:
Don delivered greetings from St. Paul Area Synod and US Institute of Ag advisory committee
o Plot:
Together with them we measured the plot to get ½ acre plot for corn. We asked them to go and do the same in the bean plot. Since this is not their first time to measure their plots. We are quite sure they can measure it correctly.
o Rain record:
We reminded them that by now they should be taking rain records. We discuss with them about their weather and the appropriate time of planting for their area.
o Seeds
Since this area is difficult to be reached in the mid of rain season, we delivered the beans seeds and fertilizers for the planting corn and beans. The corn seeds were given to their Pastor whom we came to Iringa town with.

Crop Seeds Fertilizer
Varieties Amount Type Amount
Corn H614
DKC 4kg
4kg NPK 100kg (2 bags)
Beans Urafiki 40kg NPK 100kg (2 bags)

In this area, they had serious corn rotting disease when they grow the corn variety H628. We told them to try the two varieties H614 and the new release variety DKC which are long maturity varieties, they yield high and they are a little bit resistant to the rotting disease.


Conclusion
We insisted the importance of maintain the same land for the demonstration plot. We like to have the same land for the demonstration plot for three years because of being able to demonstrate how to build soil fertility in the farm by applying fertilizers and leaving crop residues.

Kivalamo July 23, 2010

2010 CVP
Companion Village Project
Visit Report
6th Visit Year Two
July 23, 2010


Village Kivalamo
Pastor Exaudi Mkeng’e
Companion Elim Lutheran Church, Scandia
Attendees 5
Weather for the past month Rainy
Reporters Ibrahim, Gabriel and Lunodzo

Purposes of the visit
• To collect the yield measurement
• To deliver grain storage chemical “Shumba”
• To do the 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. Yield records
(i) Harvesting
Crop Amounts in bags/ Acre Remarks
Corns 9 tins Poor yield due to mold problem
Beans No beans were planted

NB: They forgotten to record corn and beans yield in 10 meters, we really insisted them it is very important for them to record what we have instructed.

3. Storage
We instruct them how to store grain for home usage and marketing at the time of high price. We instructed how to mix grain storage chemicals “shumba” and the appropriate amount recommended per bottle. We left the pesticides to them to mix with their harvested grains.

4. Discussion about their growing season.

We discussed about problems occurred through their growing season, such as how the seeds given to them behave, in terms of germination, diseases, amount of rainfall received, current corn and beans price with reference to future price after harvesting season.
• Prices
The current corn price is 20,000/= per bag and price goes up to 40,000/= TShs per bag (2 months later), for beans is 40,000/= per bag and goes up to 100,000/= per bag.

NB: They told us they are not happy when the price of corn goes up because they don’t produce enough corn so they are supposed to buy instead of selling.

• Corn
Corn is already harvested however not yet shelled. The corn is highly affected by mold. It is really a huge problem we have to deal with to help them produce good yield.
• Beans
The beans were affected by fungal disease; even though they really like the seeds and wanted to know where they can buy it for their own farms. The yield is not good due to the drought that occurred, but still they said that variety yielded more than what they normally get from their farms.

Comments/questions
 The variety introduced to them is not suitable; because the weather is completely unpredictable they do receive excessively rainfall. In early August we are going to the State fair so we will check on one variety which tolerates moisture during drying. We believe this will be suitable for them.

 They said the program has been helpful to many congregation members. People are adopting the techniques even though they are using their own local seeds which tolerate moisture during maturity stage. There are dramatic increases in yield once they practice techniques taught.

Conclusion
We thanked all people who have been attending and doing a work in the plots. We insisted them to keep good records. When we visited State fair, we will buy seeds and ship fertilizer to them in August so that they plant as soon as possible (They are supposed to plant corn end of August or early September)

Kivalamo CVP Visit of Oct 20-09

2008 CVP
Companion Village Project
Visit Report
1st visit Year Two
October 20, 2009


Village Kivalamo
Pastor Mkeng’e Exaudi
Companion Elim, Scandia
Attendees 16
Weather for the past month Rainy
Reporters Gabriel, Ibrahim, Don & Karen and Alfred


After a long ride we arrived at Kivalamo at 11:10pm. We met the pastor in his house. They were repairing their church so we could not hold the meeting in the church. We went direct to their plot which is down a very steep path.
Purpose of the visit
1. To see the plot
2. To deliver a rain gauge
Topics
1. The plot
Since they have a unique weather condition, corn has been planted since August and by this time plants are expected to be nearly knee high. However, according to them this year has been so dry. We looked at the plot, most of the seed failed to germinate. There was almost nothing. Also they have not done weeding for a while. We told them we are going to give those seeds once more for replanting. The fertilizer is still in the ground from the August planting. Moreover we told them to start weeding immediately. There is a water stream along side of the plot. We instructed them to use that water to irrigate the plot. They had good crop last year that rotten in the field due to continuous rain. We thought about timely planting this year, now the problem has been lucky of enough rain.
2. Rain gauge
We delivered the rain gauge and told them the advantages of knowing the rain trends and how to take the rain measurements using the rain gauge that will be derived to them soon
Comments/questions from audience
 They were wondering whether they should go for Minjingu phosphates instead of NPK since the government has been advocating the use of that type of fertilizer
We told them the fertilizer recommendations which we gave them are based on the soil analysis we conducted. When we find out that they need different type of fertilizer from the next soil analysis we shall recommend that particular fertilizer.
 They asked what are the alternative corn varieties which do not easily rot when there is continuous rain
We told them we shall find out and pass that information to them
 There was confusion about the second ½ acre. Last year they planted only corn. This year they planted corn but no beans. We are expecting to get seed variety from Uyole Ag Research Centre. When asked they said it is too late to plant a bean now since that was supposed to be done on August.
We decided that we shall give them more seeds of corn to plat there. It was suggested that a different corn seed variety should be planted there to test which one does better.

Conclusions/Recommendations
It was decided that corn seed and fertilizer will be send to Kivalamo using a bus to Idete.



NB:
• 4 bags of Seeds and 2 bags of NPK were transported to the village on November 15, 2009. We gave the Pastor who was in town for seminar. We could not get the H 6303, instead we deliver H 628.
• 1 bag of NPK is 50kg and 1 bag of seed is 2kg