IR MAIZE demos were established to verify the effectiveness of the technology in dealing with striga weed which has become very rampant and corrupting of our farmers good harvest. This is one of very many technologies that have been discovered in matters of dealing with striga weed. This would enable our farmers to make well informed information on how to manage this weed in their farms.
INPUTS RECEIVED FOR DEMONSTRATION
IR maize
Ks H 520
156kg
10kg
Seed bean 20kg
Fertilizer DAP 75kg
Soya seed 5kg
All the inputs were got in good condition and distributed well to the respective farmers though farmers were expecting more especially fertilizer and H520 Seed.
The inputs were distributed and the farmers were instructed on preparation of the plots.
This is how the planting was done on the various farms that were identified.
NAME OF
GROUP
Siaya passion fruit farmers association
SIMA
Group
Mungao farmers sustainable agric.
Ugenya farmers group
SIZE OF
THE
PLOT
DATE OF
PLANTING
AMOUNT
OF IR
MAIZE
PLANTED
½ ACRE 19/4/2012 5KGS
20 by
20
METRES
20 by
20
METRES
20 by
20
METRES
16/4/2012 1 KG
12/4/2012 1 KG
12/4/2012 1 KG
AMOUNT
OF H 520
MAIZE
PLANTED
5KG
1 KG
1 KG
1 KG
AMOUNT
OF SEED
BEEN
PLANTED
5KG
AMOUNT
OF
FERTILIZER
USED
25KG
2KG
2KG
2KG
5KG
5KG
5KG
Umoja
S/H/Group
20 by
20
METRES
12/4/2012 1 KG 1 KG 2KG 5KG
GERMINATION
PERCENTAGE
REMARKS
75
97
65
15
65
Well managed
Implementation was done earlier enough
Well managed
Soil was prepared very poorly,
Farmers not committed and poor attendance
Well managed

Umala farmers group
Jachan
Jakinda group
Ugunja farmers group
Riwruok e teko
S/H/Group
Kinda women group
Yath rateng women G.
20 by
20
METRES
20 by
20
METRES
20 by
20
METRES
20 by
20
METRES
20 by
20
METRES
20 by
20
METRES
20/4/2012 1 KG
18/4/2012 1 KG
23/4/2012 1 KG
18/4/2012 1 KG
18/4/2012 1 KG
13/4/2012 1 KG
1 KG
1 KG
1 KG
1 KG
1 KG
1 KG
2KG
2KG
2KG
2KG
2KG
2KG
5KG
5KG
5KG
5KG
5KG
5KG
75
60
60
90
75
80
Well attended
Not attended well
Not attended well
Established well and in time of rain onset
Farmers not committed
Farmers committed to the farm
Some plots were gapped like Yath rateng women group and Mungao farmers sustainable agriculture did gapping but there was poor germination for such added seeds.
GROUP
SIMA Group
Umala farmers group
Yath rateng
W/G
Siaya passion fruit farmers association
Riwruok E teko group
STAGE OF
GROWTH
Two feet high
1 ½ high
CROP
PERFORMANCE
Doing very well
1½ feet high Well growing
1 ½ feet high Doing well
Doing well
FIELD ACTIVITY
CARRIED ON
CROP
Weeding weeding weeding weeding
1 ½ feet high Well performing weeding
DATE OF
THE
ACTIVITY
30/4/2012
15/5/2012
4/5/2012
18/5/2012
17/5/2012
The remaining groups have not weeded but are very soon to do it.
SELLECTED SITES FOR DATA COLLECTION
I.
Mungao farmers sustainable agriculture- Mungao sub location
II.
SIMA Group- Rambula sub location
III.
Umala farmers group-Umala sub location
IV.
Riwruok E teko group- Yiro west sub location
V.
Yath rateng women group -Ugunja sub location

Figure 1: An officer taking notes in one of the demo sites
Figure 2: One of the demo sites well managed
URGENT INPUTS AND SERVICES REQUIRED a.
Top dressing fertilizer for the farms b.
GPS Reading c.
Soil testing
There was delay in germination in most plots as experienced by many groups. This was detected as a result of variation in rainfall that was not regular. Some plot experienced irregular germination especially for the IR Maize which resulted to small germination percentage as compared to the KS 520.
As experienced, this could be the chemical used in coating. In the process of growth, plants were yellowish, but with the progress they gained the full green pigment and now most of the plants are doing well.
BY :SAITOTI GEORGE- DIVADO UGUNJA DIVISION