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)

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) - Italy

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

Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Ethiopia (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development) - Ethiopia

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

When were the data compiled (in the field)?

30/05/2011

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:

It is a structural measure constructed across the slope to control erosion and increase soil moisture.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

Sorghum terrace of Diredawa locally called as Daga is constructed by placing stone walls across a slope following contour lines. The development of Sorghum terrace involves activities of creating an embankment at a given spacing, which depends on slope. Cultivation in the terrace is done by the use of Dengora (local name for spade like hand tool) if the land is sloping and by oxen if land slope is gentle (<8%). The purpose of developing Sorghum Terrace of Diredawa (STD) is to collect as much rainwater as possible for growing sorghum, which is planted by broad casting. Sorghum is the staple food in the area. Since rainfall is erratic, the STD allows more water to be stored in the soil. STD is maintained every year and also upgraded while performing different farm activities (Ploughing, Weeding, etc.,). Every time maintenance is made breaks in the terrace are repaired and additional height given to the terrace until it forms bench. STD is very suitable to areas with erratic rainfalls, sloping cultivated fields and land having abandant stones for construction. It is suitable to areas with semi-arid to arid climatic conditions and soils ranging from shallow depth to moderately deep.

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

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

• improve production
• reduce, prevent, restore land degradation

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

Comments:

Major land use problems (compiler’s opinion): The major land use problems in the areas with out SWC are overgrazing/overbrowsing by livestock specially by the small stock. Goats over browse shrubs in hill slope letting it to be bare and hence enhance erosion. Cutting of trees/shrub for fire wood denudes hillsides.

Major land use problems (land users’ perception): Declining status of the vegetative cover led to lack of wood for construction and fire wood.

Semi-nomadism / pastoralism: Yes

Grazingland comments: A substantial area has been closed around the technology area. Livestock owners are given the opportunity to cut grass from enclosures and carry it home to stall feed the animals. Most farmers like to stallfeed their animals. Number of livestock in the area is small and is limited to 1 or 2 of large stock and 2-3 of small stocks.

Problems / comments regarding forest use: Individual households plant agroforestry trees (fruits, shade trees, hedgerows) in the homestreads and on field boundaries. Trees naturally grown are maintained in scattered manner in crop fields. These are primarily used as shelter for animals that are tethered and also used as fodder and fuelwood.

Forest products and services: timber, fuelwood, grazing / browsing

Type of cropping system and major crops comments: Sorghum-beans

3.3 Further information about land use

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

• rainfed

Comments:

Water supply: Also post-flooding

Number of growing seasons per year:

• 1

Specify:

Longest growing period in days: 180 Longest growing period from month to month: Apr - Oct

3.4 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• improved ground/ vegetation cover
• cross-slope measure

3.5 Spread of the Technology

Specify the spread of the Technology:

• evenly spread over an area

If the Technology is evenly spread over an area, indicate approximate area covered:

• 100-1,000 km2

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

3.8 Prevention, reduction, or restoration of land degradation

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

• reduce land degradation
• restore/ rehabilitate severely degraded land

Comments:

Main goals: mitigation / reduction of land degradation

Secondary goals: rehabilitation / reclamation of denuded land

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

4.2 Technical specifications/ explanations of technical drawing

DireDawa

Technical knowledge required for field staff / advisors: moderate

Technical knowledge required for land users: moderate

Main technical functions: reduction of slope angle, increase of infiltration, increase / maintain water stored in soil

Secondary technical functions: water harvesting / increase water supply, sediment retention / trapping, sediment harvesting

Early planting
Material/ species: Sorghum + Chat
Quantity/ density: 17500 +400

Mixed cropping / intercropping
Material/ species: Sorghum + Potato

Contour planting / strip cropping
Material/ species: Sorghum + Chat

Mulching
Material/ species: Sorghu Stalk/residue

Green manure
Material/ species: Sorghum/Chat-beans

Manure / compost / residues
Material/ species: Sorghum/Chat

Contour tillage
Remarks: Ploughing along the contour

Aligned: -contour
Vegetative material: O : other
Number of plants per (ha): 17500-2000
Spacing between rows / strips / blocks (m): 0.2
Vertical interval within rows / strips / blocks (m): 0.2-0.3

Perennial crops species: Chat

Slope (which determines the spacing indicated above): 10.00%

If the original slope has changed as a result of the Technology, the slope today is (see figure below): 3.00%

Gradient along the rows / strips: 0.00%

Terrace: backward sloping
Vertical interval between structures (m): 1-2
Spacing between structures (m): 4-6
Height of bunds/banks/others (m): 1
Width of bunds/banks/others (m): 0.5-2
Length of bunds/banks/others (m): 50-300

Bund/ bank: level
Vertical interval between structures (m): 1-2
Height of bunds/banks/others (m): 1
Width of bunds/banks/others (m): 0.3-0.5
Length of bunds/banks/others (m): 50-300

Construction material (earth): earth is placed upslope of the stone wall to provide reinforcement

Construction material (stone): stone is used for the embankment

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

If the original slope has changed as a result of the Technology, the slope today is: 4%

Lateral gradient along the structure: 0%

Vegetation is used for stabilisation of structures.

Change of land use type: from grazing to cultivated land

Control / change of species composition: from mono-cropping to mixed cropping

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 =:

8.6

4.4 Establishment activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing
1.	Chat planting by cutting	Vegetative	early rains
2.	Sorghum planting	Vegetative	early rains
3.	Sowing	Vegetative	with rains & withdrawal of rains
4.	Contour marking & layout	Structural	dry period/after harvest
5.	Digging foundation	Structural	after light rains/moist soil
6.	Stone collection	Structural	dry season
7.	Stone wall placement	Structural	after light rains/moist soil
8.	Earth support upslope	Structural	after light rains/moist soil
9.	Clear vegetation	Management	dry period
10.	Construct Daga	Management	dry season
11.	Land preparation	Management	after the 1st rains

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	272.0	272.0	50.0
Equipment	Animal traction	ha	1.0	20.0	20.0	100.0
Equipment	Tools	ha	1.0	4.0	4.0	100.0
Plant material	Seeds	ha	1.0	5.0	5.0	100.0
Fertilizers and biocides	Compost manure	ha	1.0			100.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology					301.0

Comments:

Duration of establishment phase: 12 month(s)

4.6 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing/ frequency
1.	Tillage	Agronomic	dry season / 2-3
2.	Sowing	Agronomic	dry season / each cropping season
3.	Cultivation	Agronomic	early rains, after sawing, before flowering / each cropping season
4.	Weeding	Agronomic	after flowrinf / each cropping season
5.	Harvest	Agronomic	dry season, after crop matures / each cropping season
6.	Cultivation	Vegetative	during rains /2
7.	Weeding	Vegetative	withdrawal of rains /1
8.	Stone collection	Structural	dry season/1
9.	Repairing breaks	Structural	before planting/1
10.	Add stone wall height/upgrading	Structural	before planting/1
11.	Plant stablizing/ trees/shrubs	Structural	after rains/1
12.	Planting of useful trees & fruit trees	Management	after rains / annual
13.	Cultivation and weeding	Management	during rains / 2

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	40.7	40.7	100.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology					40.7

Comments:

Machinery/ tools: hand tools for digging earth and breaking stone

The cost is mainly for construction and maintenance of the structural measures and cost of production.

4.8 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

Slope:- As the slope increases cost of construction increases, Soil depth:- when the soil depth is shallow digging the foundation becomes more costly.

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

Comments and further specifications on topography:

Landforms: Also hill slopes (ranked 2) and valley floors (ranked 3)
Slopes on average: Also hilly (ranked 2) and moderate as well as gentle (both ranked 3)

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 low (ranked 1), medium (ranked 2) and very low (ranked 3)
Soil drainage/infiltration is good
Soil water storage capacity is low (ranked 1), medium (ranked 2) and very low (ranked 3)

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

Indicate other relevant characteristics of the land users:

Population density: 50-100 persons/km2
Annual population growth: 2% - 3%
40% of the land users are average wealthy and own 60% of the land.
60% of the land users are poor and own 40% of the land.
Off-farm income specification: Land users who have SWC on their land spend more time in agricultural activities compared to those who have not applied SWC measures.
Level of mechanization: Manual work (ranked 1, on steeper slopes where terraces are closer manual labour is used) and animal traction (ranked 2, on gentle slopes animal traction is used for tillage and cultivation)
Market orientation of cropland production system: Subsistence ( They do not produce enough for their own consumption in case of sorghum/cereal crops but chat is produced more for market, ranked 1) and mixed (ranked 2)
Market orientation of forest production system: Subsistence (Chat is planted for consumption as well as market, ranked 1) and mixed (Farmers sell part of the grain they have produced)
Market orientation of production system: mixed (subsistence and commercial) (Farmers sell part of the grain they have produced.)

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

Socio-cultural impacts

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?

• 10-50%

Comments:

30% of land user families have adopted the Technology with external material support

20% of land user families have adopted the Technology without any external material support

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view
Production increased How can they be sustained / enhanced? external support with incentives such as tools, material for constructing structures for flood and runoff diversion.
more soil moisture How can they be sustained / enhanced? integration of measures that reduces evapotranspiration
Soil erosion controlled How can they be sustained / enhanced? exercise effective maintenance

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
have higher efficiency for retaining water in the soil How can they be sustained / enhanced? Strengthening maintenance, avoid livestock,exercise stall feeding, enhancing runoff and flood farming
mantenance is simple because material is available
Forms bench terrace easily
Soil loss is remarkably reduced
Production doubled and even increased by 150-200%

6.8 Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks of the Technology and ways of overcoming them

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view	How can they be overcome?
hindering movement	provide path way for humans and oxen during farm operation