2.1 Lesson notes on tephrosia

This plant was introduced in Mmen as a flower, later used as firewood. People soon saw that it could make the soil fertile. Its rapid spread was a result of the lack of firewood. In order to plant tephrosia one must bear the following in mind:

1. Ways of Propagation: It is propagated by seeds, broadcast on farms when the crops are already one month old. During weeding some of the tephrosia plants are removed to avoid overcrowding.

2. The stem is used for firewood and the seeds preserved for planting.

3. Use of the plant on local farms: People grow it for wood, but they also know that it helps to "soften the soil" and to increase yields. After late planting the plants are cut down and the leaves buried fresh as green manure. People are not aware of the fact that tephrosia helps to prevent erosion and shades the soil.

Lesson

Topic: A brief history of Tephrosia in Mmen. Aim: To make children know about the past.

Objectives
- To know why it came to Mmen.
- To know where it came from.
- To know who introduced it.
- To know how the people have accepted it.

Introduction
Class move to inspect two places: (a) with tephrosia, (b) without tephrosia.

Organisation
Children are divided into two groups with a leader to inspect these places.

Presentation
- Result of the inspection. by the two different groups.
- Presentation of lesson: The teacher and pupils discuss the importance of tephrosia based on their observation and what they already know.

Evaluation and Procedure
- Children give the points they have discussed together.
- Written work - copy the notes in their books.

Presentation
Just as plants need food for growth, so the soil needs certain things to make it rich for the growth of crops. Though we plant tephrosia to enrich the soil, it is worth while knowing its history in Mmen. When Bamenda was still a division in the then Southern Cameroon, the house of a certain Mr. Chia Angole of Mbulom quarter in Mmen village was burnt by his brother. Since they were not on good terms he went and reported the matter to the police in Bamenda where the case was to be tried. A certain Pa Zia Ngoh accompanied him to Bamenda since they were friends. There Pa Zia Ngoh saw tephrosia growing, and he harvested the seeds because he liked the flowers. He planted them around his house as flowers but when they grew the stems got dry, and he cut them down for firewood and stored the seeds. When he saw that this flower had provided him with firewood, he planted more of them. When many people saw that his flowers were doing well, many women came begging for seeds. Later on the women found out that tephrosia helped to make the farms fertile. From then till now tephrosia is indispensable in Mmen. Pa Zia Ngoh who brought the tephrosia is still living.