1.2 Contact details of resource persons and institutions involved in the assessment and documentation of the Technology

Name of the institution(s) which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Technology (if relevant)

Natural Resources Development (MNRD) - Ethiopia

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

When were the data compiled (in the field)?

29/05/2011

The compiler and key resource person(s) accept the conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT:

Ja

2.1 Short description of the Technology

Definition of the Technology:

an embankment of soil constructed along the contour to reduce runoff and maintain soil moisture.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

Soil bund is an earth embankment constructed along the contour inorder to avoid runoff down slope and shorten the slope length. Ditch/basin is dig at the upper side of the bund.

Purpose of the Technology: To obtain the maximum sustainable level of production from a given area of land by reducing soil loss below a thrushold level and maintaining soil moisture.

Establishment / maintenance activities and inputs: During establishment and maintenance the materials needed are graduated poles, pegs, plastic string and water level and other materials related to the work.

2.5 Country/ region/ locations where the Technology has been applied and which are covered by this assessment

2.6 Date of implementation

If precise year is not known, indicate approximate date:

• more than 50 years ago (traditional)

2.7 Introduction of the Technology

Specify how the Technology was introduced:

• through projects/ external interventions

Comments (type of project, etc.):

through the extension programme

3.2 Current land use type(s) where the Technology is applied

Comments:

Major land use problems (compiler’s opinion): low productivity, gully formation

Major land use problems (land users’ perception): erosion, low soil fertility, high runoff, low production

Type of cropping system and major crops comments: in the case of intercropping maize is sown in rows and between the rows harcot bean is sown

3.3 Further information about land use

Water supply for the land on which the Technology is applied:

• rainfed

Number of growing seasons per year:

• 1

Specify:

Longest growing period in days: 120 Longest growing period from month to month: Mar - Jul

3.4 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• cross-slope measure

3.5 Spread of the Technology

Comments:

Total area covered by the SLM Technology is 1.68 m2.

the SWC technology area is defined by sub-watershed. It is implemented by programmee

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

Comments:

Main type of degradation addressed: Wt: loss of topsoil / surface erosion

Secondary types of degradation addressed: Wg: gully erosion / gullying, Ha: aridification

Main causes of degradation: other human induced causes (specify) (agricultural causes), education, access to knowledge and support services (lack of knowledge)

Secondary causes of degradation: deforestation / removal of natural vegetation (incl. forest fires), over-exploitation of vegetation for domestic use, poverty / wealth (lack of captial), land subdivision

3.8 Prevention, reduction, or restoration of land degradation

Specify the goal of the Technology with regard to land degradation:

• prevent land degradation
• reduce land degradation

Comments:

Main goals: mitigation / reduction of land degradation

Secondary goals: prevention of land degradation

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

4.2 Technical specifications/ explanations of technical drawing

Oromia

Technical knowledge required for field staff / advisors: high

Technical knowledge required for land users: high

Main technical functions: control of dispersed runoff: retain / trap

Secondary technical functions: reduction of slope angle, reduction of slope length, increase / maintain water stored in soil

Relay cropping
Material/ species: maize, teff and chick pea

Mixed cropping / intercropping
Material/ species: haricot bean and maize

Bund/ bank: level
Vertical interval between structures (m): 1m
Spacing between structures (m): 10m
Depth of ditches/pits/dams (m): 0.5m
Width of ditches/pits/dams (m): 0.5m
Height of bunds/banks/others (m): 0.5m
Width of bunds/banks/others (m): 0.5m

Slope (which determines the spacing indicated above): 12%

Lateral gradient along the structure: 0%

4.3 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

other/ national currency (specify):

Birr

Indicate exchange rate from USD to local currency (if relevant): 1 USD =:

8.5

4.4 Establishment activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing
1.	surveying and layout	Structural	dry season
2.	excavation work	Structural	onset of rain

4.5 Costs and inputs needed for establishment

	Specify input	Unit	Quantity	Costs per Unit	Total costs per input	% of costs borne by land users
Labour	Labour	ha	1.0	89.0	89.0	100.0
Equipment	Animal traction	ha	1.0	67.0	67.0
Equipment	Tools	ha	1.0	23.5	23.5	100.0
Plant material	Seeds	ha	1.0	18.8	18.8
Fertilizers and biocides	Fertilizer	Ha	1.0	35.3	35.3
Other	cultivation cost	ha	1.0	36.5	36.5
Total costs for establishment of the Technology					270.1

Comments:

Duration of establishment phase: 12 month(s)

4.6 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing/ frequency
1.	ploughing along the contour	Agronomic	dry season / 4 times
2.	Sowing	Agronomic	onset of rain / each cropping season
3.	Digging the ditch/basin	Structural	dry season/two times
4.	maintain the height of the bund	Structural	dry season/two times

4.7 Costs and inputs needed for maintenance/ recurrent activities (per year)

	Specify input	Unit	Quantity	Costs per Unit	Total costs per input	% of costs borne by land users
Labour	Labour	ha	1.0	11.75	11.75	100.0
Equipment	Animal traction	ha	1.0	56.0	56.0	100.0
Equipment	Tools	ha	1.0	2.3	2.3	100.0
Other	cultivation cost	ha	1.0	109.4	109.4
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology					179.45

Comments:

Machinery/ tools: 5 shovel, 5 hoe

the cost is culculated based on the spesification of structures (length, width and height), tools required. For the cost given above we assumed 1 km of soil bund per hectar of cultivated land

4.8 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

excavation work requires more labour and it affects the cost of construction and maintenance

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

5.3 Soils

If available, attach full soil description or specify the available information, e.g. soil type, soil PH/ acidity, Cation Exchange Capacity, nitrogen, salinity etc.

Soil fertility is medium-low
Soil drainage/infiltration is good
Soil water storage capacity is low-medium

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

Indicate other relevant characteristics of the land users:

Population density: 100-200 persons/km2

Annual population growth: 2% - 3%

1% of the land users are very rich and own 5% of the land.
60% of the land users are average wealthy and own 70% of the land.
30% of the land users are poor and own 20% of the land.
9% of the land users are poor and own 5% of the land.

Off-farm income specification: no other forms of income generating means

5.7 Average area of land owned or leased by land users applying the Technology

6.1 On-site impacts the Technology has shown

Socio-economic impacts

Production

Income and costs

Ecological impacts

Water cycle/ runoff

Soil

Other ecological impacts

6.2 Off-site impacts the Technology has shown

6.4 Cost-benefit analysis

How do the benefits compare with the establishment costs (from land users’ perspective)?

How do the benefits compare with the maintenance/ recurrent costs (from land users' perspective)?

6.5 Adoption of the Technology

Of all those who have adopted the Technology, how many have did so spontaneously, i.e. without receiving any material incentives/ payments?

• 90-100%

Comments:

625 land user families have adopted the Technology without any external material support

Comments on spontaneous adoption: survey results

There is a little trend towards spontaneous adoption of the Technology

Comments on adoption trend: the majority of the farming communities are poor and they are not able to pay for SWC activities and incentive is required in some cases

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view
reduce soil erosion How can they be sustained / enhanced? frequent maintenance of the structure
maintain soil moisture How can they be sustained / enhanced? upgrading of ditches and embankment
increase production How can they be sustained / enhanced? increasing the productivity of land per unit area

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
erosion control How can they be sustained / enhanced? frequent maintenance of the structure
moisture maintenance How can they be sustained / enhanced? frequent maintenance of the ditches
reduction of slope length
increasing of infltration rate