THE REORT FOR JANUARY AND FEBRUARY 2012
INTRODUCTION
Zikomo projects are located in Traditional Authority Malemia in Zomba District and Kawinga Traditional Authority in Machinga District. This report covers the activities planned and the achievement made during the period of January and February in these two projects areas of Zomba and Machinga. The overall objective is to improve the living standard of farm families of these two project areas, and the specific objectives are as follows;
Increase and diversify crop production and productivity. Improve access to agricultural inputs. Promote development of co-operative and Rural Youth in the working areas. Promote livestock production /productivity. Promote Gender Mainstreaming into program activities. Enhance literacy and numerical capability of adult illiterates. Reduce population growth rate and HIV/AIDS incidences. Strengthen the capacity of local institutions, beneficiaries and staff.
This report highlights the progress achieved against plans, issues and challenges encountered during the implementation of the project activities in these two project areas during this period of January and February 2012.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This is a summary of the project activities made during the period of January and February 2012 in these two projects areas.
1. CROP PRODUCTION
On this program, the project planned to carry out the following activities on this program, apply fertilizers and weeding in all the maize fields of both project areas and monitor crop performance. So far all these planned activities were achieved. Crop performance at kawinga area is quite good unlike here in Zomba as the area was experienced dry spell for over a month.
2. WOMEN PROGRAMME /CO-OPERATIVE DEVELOPMENT AND IGAs
On this program, the project planned to monitor the repayment of loan by the club members, monitor collection from other IGA activities that are taking place at Matande center. So far all these planned activities were done as planned. On loan collection, a total of K97,050.00 was collected, and 4 memberS have finished paying their second loan. And on tailoring, a total of k1,690.00 was collected. On phone charging, a total of k1,650.00 was collected. On hall hiring, a total of k4,100.00was collected.
3. LIVESTOCK PROGRAM
On this program, the project planned to monitor livestock performance in both project areas of Zomba and Machinga (Matande and Kawinga projects). So far the program was done as planned. At Matande center, a total of 6 male goat kids were kidded out of which 2 were reported dead during the period. At Nakutepa, 1 female kid was also kidded. At Likwanya, a total of 16 kids (7males and 9fememales) were also kidded, hence in total there are 23 goat kids born during the period.
4. BEE KEEPING/ APICULTURE PROGRAM
On this program, the project planned to monitor beehives performance at Nsadi village, and encourage the farmer to take serious on the program as it brings a lot of money for the group. So far the program was done as planned, and the program is going on very well.
5. ADULT LITERACY PROGRAM
On this program, the project planned to monitor class performance in both centers of kawinga and zomba areas. So far all these centers were visited during the period as follows, At Matande center, only few learners are coming for classes as most of them are busy with garden work. At Nsadi center, the class was stopped as its adult instructor was passed away in December2011. At Likwanya center, the class was started but only few learners are coming for classes as most of them are also busy with garden work.
6. VOCATIONAL SCHOOL ON TAILORING
On this program, the project planned to monitor the performance of the program at Matande center during the period, So far the committee sucked off all the students who did not pay the agreed fee for the program, as only four out of ten had paid their first K500.00 for their first month of their course, hence there are only 4 members left.
7. POTABLE WATER PROGRAM
On this program, the project planned to monitor the performance of shallow well at Nakutepa center. So far we managed to visit the center and we found out that the well is not working as the water table has gone down due to drought that we are experiencing in some parts of Malawi.
8. ORPHAN &VULNERABLE CHILDREN CARE CENTERS /NURSERY SCHOOLS
On this program, the project planned to monitor classes in all the centers, procure sugar, charcoal, G/nuts and pay the teachers for matande center. So far all these planned activities were achieved. 4 bales of sugar were procured and distributed to all the four centers. Charcoal and groundnuts was also procured for Matande center. And the classes are going on very well in all the centers.
9. FISH FARMING PROGRAM
On this program, the project planned to procure and install fingerings in all the fishponds during the period, monitor the performance of the program and to train the committee on fish management. So far all these planned activities were not done as planned for some reasons beyond our control. The one
who was to teach our fish farming committee was out of our country for six months. On procurement of fingerings, in all the ponds there is not enough water due to insufficient rain fall this year. So the project has decided to carry out the program (install fingerings) in one pond as we do not have enough water for two ponds.
DETAILED REPORT
1) CROP PRODUCTION PROGRAM
This is to ensure an increase and diversification of crop production and productivity in all the areas we are working with.
During the period of January and February, the project planned to monitor the following activities on this program, weeding in all maize fields, apply fertilizers, banking and monitor crop performance. So far all these planned activities were accomplished as planned. During the period, we visited all the centers of Kawinga project. Nsadi center will produce enough maize for the whole period but number of bags (produce) will be lower than of last year. At Nakutepa and Likwanya they will produce more maize than they realized last year. At Matande, the crop stand was quite good during its early stage, but due to dry spell that hit the area for almost one month had affected the performance of the crop, hence will produce lower than expected.
Below are pictures of crop stand in all the centers
(A) NAKUTEPA CENTRE (B) NSADI CENTRE
(C)LIKWANYA CENTRE
2) WOMEN PROGRAM (CO-OPERATIVE DEVELOPMENT)
This is to promote development of producers marketing, savings and credit co-operative in order to empower rural communities socially and economically by providing them with support to actively participating in development activities and to start up small scale business.
During the period, the project was planned to monitor the repayment of loan by the loan club, monitor collection from other IGA activities that are taking place at Matande center. We also planned to monitor business performances of some members of the loan club. So far all these planned activities were achieved as planned. On loan payment, a total of K97,050.00 was collected during the period and cumulatively, we have collected a total of k291,900.00, and we are at 68%. On collection from other IGA activities the collections were as follows, on tailoring, a total of k1,690.00 was collected. On phone charging, a total of k1,650.00 was collected and on Hall hiring, a total of k4,100.00 was also collected during the period.
The program is going on very well even though some have huge amount to be paid back but we will finish it very soon. And this time around more people will join the program. And below is a summary of money collected from various IGA program at Matande center during the period.
TOTAL AMOUNT COLLECTED DURING THE PERIOD =K104,490.00 IMPACT OF WOMEN PROGRAM (LOAN PROGRAM)
Improved income of the members of club through sales of various products, hence used the cash realized in paying for household needs. Improved group cohesion amongst the group members. Improved purchasing power and power to pay for casual laborers who helped them in garden work, hence good harvest and food security at household level.
3) LIVESTOCK PROGRAM
This is to ensure improved household protein intake and providing alternative source of income by facilitating access to small ruminants production in the area of operation.
On this program, the project planned to monitor livestock performance in all the four centers, facilitate the distribution (pass-on) of off-springs to new beneficiaries. So far all the planned activities were done as planned. All the centers were visited and the results are as follows, at Nsadi, no goat kids were born. At Nakutepa, 1 female kid was born. At Likwanya, a total of 16 kids (7 males and 9 females) were born. And at Matande, a total of 6 male kids were also born out of which 2 were report dead during the period. And on pass on program, only 1 goat was passed on to 1 beneficiary at Likwanya center.
SUMMARY
A total of 59 goats were distributed to 54 farmers in four centers, and as of now they are a total of 127 goats and a total of 72 beneficiaries have benefited from the program in all the centers.
IMPACT OF LIVESTOCK PROGRAM
v There will de an increased number of boar goats in the area, hence more farmers will access them through the program in the long run.
v Reduction in malnutrition cases as protein intake of the beneficiaries had improved in the area through meat.
v Improved purchase of power through sales of livestock, hence the money realized is used for buying clothes, food stuff and other household need.
v Khora manure is used as fertilizer, hence reducing the money to be used on buying fertilizer as a result the money is used for other household need (purposes).
v There will be an improved meat production through cross
