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)

Missenyi District Council (Missenyi District Council) - Tanzania, United Republic of

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

Bukoba district council (Bukoba district council) - Tanzania, United Republic of

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

Ngara District Council (Ngara District Council) - Tanzania, United Republic of

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

When were the data compiled (in the field)?

02/08/2014

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

Ja

1.4 Declaration on sustainability of the described Technology

Is the Technology described here problematic with regard to land degradation, so that it cannot be declared a sustainable land management technology?

Nee

2.1 Short description of the Technology

Definition of the Technology:

Use of compost basket pits, farm yard manure application, nutrient tapping sub soil agro-forestry, mulching application and productive vegetative stabilized cross slope barriers to improve soil health in Kibanja farming system.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

The technology was documented based on experiences of field SLM specialist and from the perspectives of land users (especially FFS group members) supported by the Trans boundary Agro Ecosystem Management project. The dominant crop in the technology area is banana. In this technology banana is widely spacing to 4m x 4m for the purpose of providing enough space for annual or recurrent soil nutrient feeding using compost ditches or baskets. Compost basket pits of 0.6 m depth and 3x3m width are dug between 4 banana plants. Baskets pits are dug recurrently and filled with farm manure, compost (crop residuals), leguminous green manure (tithonia) and ash and later covered with soil to activate nutrient release though microbial disintegration and avoid volatilization of greenhouse gas through direct sunlight. The size of a hole dug for the purpose of planting banana is 0.6 m depth and 0.6 m height. During digging top soil is separated from subsoil. In initial manure application, 2 tin of manure are mixed with the top soil and the mixture is put in the bottom of the hole. The center of the hole is marked with a stick and waiting is done for 1 or 2 before planting. During planting of banana, only two third 0.24m cubic of the hole is filling with soil and one third 0.12m cubic of the hole is left to form a water retention/harvest pit. Tithonia diversifolia (leguminous shrubs) are planted within the Kibanja farm purposefully for improving soil nutrient recycling though nitrogen fixing and at the same time is incorporate in compost to improve its quality. Infiltration ditches of 0.6 m depth and 0.6 m width and varying lengths are constructed for the purpose of impeding, trapping and harvesting water runoff. Fruit trees are planted in sub soil zone within the water infiltration ditches. The aim is to control nutrient competition between trees and annual/ biennial in the top soil or annual root zone and at the same time fruit tree roots in the subsoil zone is used as nutrient pump i.e. return nutrient lost through leaching to the top soil in form of mulching and litter. Improved banana varieties (FIAH 23) and certified endogenous germ plasma, de-trashing and de-suckering to maintain optimal plant geometry is part and per se of recommended husbandry practice

Purpose of the Technology: Improved food productivity, improved soil moisture content and water holding capacity. Improve nutrient recycling, organic matter content and biomass cycle. Prevent unproductive evaporation of green water and improving soil micro-climate. Combating land degradation through soil erosion caused by water runoff, chemical degradation due to nutrient leaching, biological degradation due the deadly BXW and other diseases and water degradation due to unproductive evaporation of the green water. And also plays significant role in adaptation and mitigation to drought climate. Improved economic returns accrued from surplus food production. Improve year round accessibility of food, shock resistance availability of food and varied food utilization and hence poverty reduction and improved health.

Establishment / maintenance activities and inputs: Establishment activities: land tilling, harrowing, demarcation and spacing of holes for planting banana, digging holes, manure application before banana planting, planting bananas, to demarcate, level and space Fanya chini/infiltration ditches/trenches using A-frame and arm outstretched level, ditch/trench digging, vegetative stabilization of Fanya chini/infiltration ditches, planting of fruit trees within ditches. Maintenance activities: weeding to destroy noxious weeds, in between planting of maize, de-suckering to maintain optimal plant geometry, de-trashing, maintenance and replenishment of banana pits, harvest beans and maize, sediment removal and repairing of infiltration ditches/trenches.

Natural / human environment: Natural (bio-physical) environment: The technology area land use type is cropland with annual crops (maize and beans), perennial crops (banana and pineapples) and fruit tree (avocados and jackfruit “Artocarpus heterophyllus”). The technology involves a combination of the following measures: agronomic, vegetative and structural. Climatic zone is sub-humid with an average of 210 length of growing period (LGP). Average slope category is gentle lying between 2-5%. Soil texture classes range from combination of top loam to a red clayey subsoil with medium soil depth categories. Main criteria for a human (socioeconomic) environment: the level of mechanization is hand tools. Production system is mixed (both subsistence and market oriented or commercial). The average costs of inputs required is 1472,62 USD. Land ownership is largely individual not titled and partly communal.

2.3 Photos of the Technology

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:

• less than 10 years ago (recently)

2.7 Introduction of the Technology

Specify how the Technology was introduced:

• through projects/ external interventions

Comments (type of project, etc.):

Supported by the Trans Boundary Agro Ecosystem Management Project (Kagera TAMP) in year 2012, a group of 25 members of ENDELEVU Farmer Filed School (FFS) started to learn and test out application of the technology.

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

• improve production
• reduce, prevent, restore land degradation
• conserve ecosystem
• create beneficial economic impact

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

Comments:

Major land use problems (compiler’s opinion): Poor soil moisture (moisture stress), poor soil fertility, loss of vegetative cover and unproductive loss of green water, erosion and washout of the top soil by rainfall runoff.

Major land use problems (land users’ perception): Low banana productivity, unbearable persistence of the deadly BXW and other diseases, drought intolerance, food insecurity and a poverty stricken community.

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:

• 2

Specify:

Longest growing period in days: 120, Longest growing period from month to month: September to December Second longest growing period in days: 90 Second longest growing period from month to month: March to May

3.4 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• agroforestry
• improved ground/ vegetation cover
• integrated soil fertility management

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:

• < 0.1 km2 (10 ha)

Comments:

The technology is documented from the perspectives of group of land users (SLM FFS) supported by the Trans Boundary Agro-Ecosystem Management Project.

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

Comments:

Type of agronomic measures: mulching, manure / compost / residues, pits
Type of vegetative measures: aligned: -linear, scattered / dispersed

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

Comments:

Main causes of degradation: soil management (Flat cultivation along the slope, no use of slope cross barriers), crop management (annual, perennial, tree/shrub) (Use of unimproved local varieties susceptible to diseases and pests), change of seasonal rainfall (Unforeseen changes in rainfall), droughts (Long dry spell season), population pressure (Exessive use of land without fertility replenishment), poverty / wealth (incapacity to invest in sustainable land canservation measures.), education, access to knowledge and support services (Lack of SLM knoledge.), governance / institutional (Weak institutions with lack of operational capacities)

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

4.2 Technical specifications/ explanations of technical drawing

Technical knowledge required for field staff / advisors: low (The principles governing use of SLM were taught before in colleges to field staff and agricultural advisers and therefore simple retraining courses and learning by doing on the job on the suffice)
Technical knowledge required for land users: moderate (Need training on construction of slope cross barriers e.g. on application of A-frame and arm outstretched methods and the principle behind BXW control and use of certified/improved banana varieties.)
Technical knowledge required for Sub national level (Regional and District): moderate (SLM participatory training techniques/skills.)

Main technical functions: control of raindrop splash, control of dispersed runoff: retain / trap, control of dispersed runoff: impede / retard, improvement of ground cover, increase in organic matter, increase in nutrient availability (supply, recycling,…), increase of infiltration, increase / maintain water stored in soil, increase of biomass (quantity)

Secondary technical functions: stabilisation of soil (eg by tree roots against land slides)

Mulching
Material/ species: Hyparrhenia spps
Quantity/ density: 1500bu/ha
Remarks: Layed accross the slope at e reccommended depth of 15 cm.

Manure / compost / residues
Material/ species: Farm Yard Manure, banana debris, tithonia
Quantity/ density: 15 ton/ha
Remarks: Applied during planting and in routine fertility replenishment.

Pits
Material/ species: Compost basket pits
Quantity/ density: 156
Remarks: Pits of 5.3m cubic dig between each 4 banana stools used annually for composting the banana field.

Aligned: -linear
Vegetative material: C : perennial crops
Number of plants per (ha): 625
Spacing between rows / strips / blocks (m): 4m
Width within rows / strips / blocks (m): 4m

Scattered / dispersed
Vegetative material: O : other

Trees/ shrubs species: Mangoes
Fruit trees / shrubs species: Mangoes
Perennial crops species: Banana
Other species: Pineapples, Cassava and Yarms.

Retention/infiltration ditch/pit, sediment/sand trap
Spacing between structures (m): 5
Depth of ditches/pits/dams (m): 0.6
Width of ditches/pits/dams (m): 0.6
Length of ditches/pits/dams (m): 15

Structural measure: Fanya chini bund
Spacing between structures (m): 5
Depth of ditches/pits/dams (m): 0.6
Width of ditches/pits/dams (m): 0.6
Length of ditches/pits/dams (m): 15
Height of bunds/banks/others (m): 0.3
Width of bunds/banks/others (m): 0.6
Length of bunds/banks/others (m): 15

Structural measure: Banana water infiltration pits
Spacing between structures (m): 4
Depth of ditches/pits/dams (m): 0.2
Width of ditches/pits/dams (m): 0.6
Length of ditches/pits/dams (m): 0.6

Construction material (earth): Soil dug to form trenches is thrown down slope to form embankment of fanya chini bund.
Slope (which determines the spacing indicated above): 2 - 5%
Vegetation is used for stabilisation of structures.

4.3 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

other/ national currency (specify):

Tanzanian shillings

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

1700.0

4.4 Establishment activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing
1.	Land tilling (starting a new banana farm)	Vegetative	March
2.	Harrowing	Vegetative	April
3.	a) Demarcation and spacing of holes for planting banana. b) Digging of holes.	Vegetative	April
4.	Applying manure during banana planting	Vegetative	May
5.	Planting banana	Vegetative	May
6.	Planting fruit trees (jack fruits and avocados)	Vegetative	May
7.	a) Planting pineapples on Fanya chini bund. b) Selective boundary planting of Tithonia	Vegetative	September
8.	a) To demarcate contour line using A-FRAME and arm stretched level method. b) Digging and construction of water retention ditches and fanya chini bund.	Structural	September
9.	Tools (hand hoe, forked hole, machetes, sickles, spade, mattock, forked wooden poles and A-frame)	Agronomic

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	713.15	713.15	100.0
Equipment	tools	ha	1.0	87.65	87.65	100.0
Plant material	seeds	ha	1.0	0.29	0.29
Plant material	seedlings	ha	1.0	65.0	65.0
Plant material	mulching materials	ha	1.0	22.06	22.06
Fertilizers and biocides	compost/manure	ha	1.0	44.12	44.12
Total costs for establishment of the Technology					932.27

Comments:

Duration of establishment phase: 4 month(s)

4.6 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing/ frequency
1.	Weeding to control and destroy noxious weeds.	Agronomic	February and October
2.	In between planting of maize and beans.	Agronomic	February and October
3.	De-suckering to maintain mother and two baby plants.	Agronomic
4.	De-trashing and trimming of unwanted leaves.	Agronomic
5.	Maintenance and replenishment of banana pits.	Agronomic
6.	Applying manure using banana compost basket pits	Agronomic	January
7.	Harvesting of beans and maize.	Agronomic
8.	Mulching application	Agronomic	After harvest of maize and beans
9.	Gap filling and trimming of unwanted leaves/branches (Avocados, Jack fruits and Pineapples)	Vegetative	within rain period
10.	Maintenance by removing soil sediments.	Structural	During and after rainfall

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		1499.72			100.0
Equipment	Seeds beans (20 kg/ha)	ha	1.0	8.24	8.24	100.0
Plant material	Seeds Maize (2 kg/ha)	ha	1.0	0.77	0.77	100.0
Plant material	Mulching materials (75 bundles)	ha	1.0	22.06	22.06	100.0
Fertilizers and biocides	Compost/manure (325 kg)	ha	1.0	9.56	9.56	100.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology					40.63

Comments:

Machinery/ tools: hand hoe, forked hole, machetes and sickles, hand hoe, forked hole, machetes and spade, hand hoe, forked hole, spade, mattock and A-frame
The costs were calculated based on per unity entity of land plot (quarter an acre plot) where the technology was demonstrated/tested .

4.8 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

Labour is the most determinant factor.

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

Indicate if the Technology is specifically applied in:

• convex situations

Comments and further specifications on topography:

Landforms: Mountain slopes (ranked 1, the area is largely a convex mountanous land slope), plateau/plains (ranked 2) and ridges (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 texture: Medium (ranked 1, range from combination of top loam to a red clayey subsoil) and coarse/light (ranked 2)
Soil fertility: Medium (due to washout of the top soil by rainfall water runoff and excessive nutrient mining/uptake without replenishment)
Topsoil organic matter: Low (due to washout of the top soil by rainfall water runoff and poor mismanagement of crop residuals)
Soil drainage/infiltration: Poor (the slope nature of the landscape does not give water enough time to infiltrate instead water is lost downstream through runoff)
Soil water storage capacity: Medium (soil textural class range from combination of top loam to a red clayey subsoil)

5.4 Water availability and quality

Comments and further specifications on water quality and quantity:

Ground water table: >50m (ranked 1, water can be accessed in down the river valleys streams) and 5-50m (ranked 2)
Availability of surface water: Water is available in natural flowing downstream rivers
Water quality untreated: Poor drinking water (treatment required, water in river stream untreated is poor because is contaminated by runoff pollutants)

5.5 Biodiversity

Comments and further specifications on biodiversity:

Species diversity is reduced by human induced activities e.g. farm opening and expansion, starting of new human settlements, uncontrolled fire burning e.t.c.

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%
5% of the land users are rich and own 15% of the land (owning 1-2 ha, moden house, motorcycles).
75% of the land users are average wealthy and own 80% of the land (owning 0.5-1 ha, average house, bicycles).
20% of the land users are poor and own 5% of the land (owning < 0.5 ha, poor house, no transport).

Off-farm income specification: In general most of the village community are average farmers who largely rely on on farm income.
Market orientation: Mixed (ranked 1, Production is both for domestic food production and commercial use) and subsistence (ranked 2)
Level of mechanization: Manual work (Largely manual by using hand tools)

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

5.8 Land ownership, land use rights, and water use rights

Land ownership:

• state
• individual, not titled

Water use rights:

• open access (unorganized)

Comments:

The land is a state property, use right is largely individual not titled. water resources and grazing range lands are owned communally and are free for all.

5.9 Access to services and infrastructure

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

Biodiversity: vegetation, animals

Climate and disaster risk reduction

6.2 Off-site impacts the Technology has shown

6.3 Exposure and sensitivity of the Technology to gradual climate change and climate-related extremes/ disasters (as perceived by land users)

Gradual climate change

Gradual climate change

	Season	Type of climatic change/ extreme	How does the Technology cope with it?
annual temperature		increase	well

Climate-related extremes (disasters)

Meteorological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
local rainstorm	not known
local windstorm	not well

Climatological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
drought	well

Hydrological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
general (river) flood	not well

Other climate-related consequences

Other climate-related consequences

	How does the Technology cope with it?
reduced growing period	well

Comments:

The technology could be made to be more tolerant to flood by modifying retention ditches to drainage ditches and by introduction of wind breakers.

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)?

Comments:

Heavy investment and recurrent costs at the beginning but costs are surpassed by rewards in the long run.

6.5 Adoption of the Technology

• 1-10%

If available, quantify (no. of households and/ or area covered):

46 families and 100% of the area covered

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

• 50-90%

Comments:

Comments on acceptance with external material support: External material support was used on area used for FFS.
80% of land user families have adopted the Technology without any external material support

23 land user families have adopted the Technology without any external material support
4% of land user families have adopted the Technology with external material support 23 land user families have adopted the Technology with external material support
Comments on spontaneous adoption: 80% farmers have adopted the technology partially without any material support.

There is a moderate trend towards spontaneous adoption of the Technology
Comments on adoption trend: the technology increasingly adopted are mulching, spacing and compost basket feeding

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view
The technology is easy to learn and understand by a common peasant farmer
The technology open a room for availability of improved varieties and diversification of income sources
Observable rewards in terms of increased production and environmental conservation.
Change of attitudinal and behavioral change (mind set) towards environmental conservation.

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
The technology has provided options for farmers to blend their vast experience and innovations in managing their often-limited resources with new methods and advice from outside.
The promotion of the technology through FFS has strengthened partnership between farmers, extension providers, private sector and researchers.
The FFS programme has created unity in the people at grass root level

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

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the land user’s view	How can they be overcome?
High initial investment capital needed due to high costs of farm inputs.	Farmer support by financial institutions
Technology promotion need closeness of extension services but there is no reliable plan for facilitators motivation.	Find reliable means and ways of motivating both field extension officers and grassroots facilitators (paraprofessionals).

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view	How can they be overcome?
Finances for scaling up technology use in the future is questionable.	Link farmers with rural financial institutions and put more efforts in commercial and market oriented SLM activities.

7.1 Methods/ sources of information