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)

HELVETAS (Swiss Intercooperation)

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

When were the data compiled (in the field)?

10/05/2014

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:

Micro irrigation canal system for supplying water to poplar plantations on sloping lands.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

The Micro Irrigation system technology is documented by SLM Project/HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation with financial support of Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC). The presented micro-irrigation system, a structural SLM technology, was applied in Central Highland’s Province of Bamyan (Afghanistan). The micro-irrigation technology is applied to bring marginal land under cultivation for economic benefits, with the added benefit of rehabilitating degraded sloping land. The main irrigation canal also conveys water to agricultural land. It is a traditional technology applied by a land user without external support. It is also implemented by many other land users with some variations to the technology.
The technology consists of a network of main irrigation canal, secondary canals from which water is conveyed to sloping micro irrigation canals. The water reaches to the roots of each tree through infiltration/seepage.
The main canal has about 2% gradient and the micro-channels from 2-7% gradient. The slope of the site ranges between 20-40%. A micro irrigation canal is 28 m long, 15 cm wide and 10 cm deep. While the cross section remains same, the length can differ according to the land size.
The site was originally a degraded site with gravel soil. According to the land user, the site was not at all suitable for agriculture due to soil degradation and bad water shortage possibilities. Approximately 25 years after the plantation of poplar trees, the site's physical and biological conditions of the slope have improved due to the establishment of poplar trees. The poplar trees can be used for timber for construction and firewood. The poplar timber has good market in Bamyan and can fetch up to 35 USD per tree.
The micro-irrigation systems, which help establishing poplar plantations, contribute to multiple benefits for the land user's family and also the environment. As the poplar plantations are irrigated, their growth increases and their mortality, due to water shortage, is reduced.
As a result of re-vegetating the relatively steep slope, soil erosion from the site has reduced and the fertility of the soil has improved. Improved soil moisture and fertility has also helped in establishment of a good ground canopy. Many birds visit the site for shelter. The plantation has reached its harvesting stage and the land user is planning to cut the trees for sale, expecting an income of about 10,500 USD from the site.

A close look at this technology shows that the system works well and that it is easily managed by the land user. Some minor improvements, such as reducing the slope gradient of the micro-irrigation canals for reducing canal erosion, construction of pits to capture sediments at the drainage points and planting suitable grasses with good roots along the canal bunds could make the system more effective and sustainable. The measures could also help in reducing the sensitivity of the micro-irrigation canals towards intense rainfall.
The farmers are applying this SLM technology without any external financial or technical support and there is growing trend towards spontaneous adoption. According to the land user's estimate, of about 400 families in his village, 80 families have applied the technology

The basic purpose of the micro-irrigation system is to supply irrigation water to the poplar trees for reducing plant mortality and increasing plant growth.

The main establishment activities include layout of the micro canals across the sloping land using shovels and pick axe without use of any alignment equipment. Approximately 150 persons-days/ha were employed for constructing the micro-irrigation canals and 5 person-days/ha sufficed for on-site maintenance works. About 970 USD/ha was spent on the construction and most of the cost for labour was covered by the family of the owner.

The site is owned by a land user with clear land use rights. The water rights are common and organized as there is a traditional social water management institution (Mirab), which ensures an equitable distribution of irrigation water to all the farmers taking water from the main canal. A command area on a turn-by-turn basis exists. Water users pay service fees to the Mirab mostly in kind. The land users mentioned that they give about 14 kg of wheat and/or potato each year to the Mirab for this site. The land user has to also participate in main canal repair works on a voluntary basis. Bamyan Centre receives about 230 mm rainfall per year. Most of the rain falls in the months of April and May. Winters are severe with temperatures falling below minus 20 degrees. The area receives snowfall up to 180 cm per year in normal years. Bamyan center has an arid and temperate climate with one main growing season of about 6 months, which is from April to September. The plantation site is located at an altitude of about 2300 m. It is north-facing slope with a soil depth of about 30-50 cm. The soil is sandy loam with a medium soil fertility.

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:

• 10-50 years ago

2.7 Introduction of the Technology

Specify how the Technology was introduced:

• through land users' innovation

Comments (type of project, etc.):

The technology is being applied on the site since about 25 years.

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

• improve production

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

Comments:

Major land use problems (compiler’s opinion): Gravely site, shortage of water for irrigation, sloping land affected by soil erosion. Heavy shrub harvesting for firewood and overgrazing on common/rangeland leading to land degradation.
Major land use problems (land users’ perception): Sloping land with sandy soil unsuitable for agriculture.

Plantation forestry: Plantation of poplar trees (mono culture)
Problems / comments regarding forest use: Land users do selective felling when they need cash. The trees are lopped for fuel wood.
Future (final) land use (after implementation of SLM Technology): Forests / woodlands: Fp: Plantations, afforestations

3.3 Further information about land use

Number of growing seasons per year:

• 1

Specify:

Longest growing period in days: 170, Longest growing period from month to month: April to September in the valley bottom

3.4 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• irrigation management (incl. water supply, drainage)

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:

• 0.1-1 km2

Comments:

Total area covered by the SLM Technology is 0.16 m2.

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

Comments:

Main causes of degradation: over-exploitation of vegetation for domestic use (Particulary for firewood), overgrazing (Mainly by sheep and goats), population pressure, inputs and infrastructure: (roads, markets, distribution of water points, other, …) (Lack of irrigation water), governance / institutional (Specifically in the case of common lands)
Secondary causes of degradation: droughts

3.8 Prevention, reduction, or restoration of land degradation

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

• reduce land degradation

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

4.2 Technical specifications/ explanations of technical drawing

Technical specifications of micro-irrigation system for poplar plantation. The system comprises main canal, secondary canals and micro irrigation canals which receive water from and drain into secondary canals.
Location: Tape Chauni. Bamyan Centre
Date: 10 May 2014

Technical knowledge required for field staff / advisors: low
Technical knowledge required for land users: low
Main technical functions: water harvesting / increase water supply
Secondary technical functions: increase of biomass (quantity)

Vertical interval between structures (m): 0.22-0.6
Spacing between structures (m): 1.8-2
Depth of ditches/pits/dams (m): 0.1
Width of ditches/pits/dams (m): 0.15
Length of ditches/pits/dams (m): 0.28
Construction material (earth): Soil from the site is used for canal consturction
Slope (which determines the spacing indicated above): 20-40%
Lateral gradient along the structure: 3-7%

4.3 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

other/ national currency (specify):

Afghani

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

57.0

4.4 Establishment activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing
1.	Construction of secondary and micro-irrigation canals	Structural	Spring

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	921.0	921.0	100.0
Equipment	tools	ha	1.0	52.0	52.0	100.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology					973.0

Comments:

Duration of establishment phase: 0.25 month(s)

4.6 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing/ frequency
1.	Maintenance of canals	Structural	Spring/once per year

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	30.0	30.0	100.0
Equipment	tools	ha	1.0	52.0	52.0	100.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology					82.0

Comments:

Machinery/ tools: Pick axe and shovels
The presented costs were calculated on the basis of the exisiting local labour rate and the currency exchange rate which may vary from one year to another. For instance in 2010/11, 1 USD was 50 Afghani.

The cost of payment to the Mirab (Water distributor appointed by the land users) is not included. According to the land user, the Mirabs receive about 700 kg wheat/year from all the land users who use the main canal.

4.8 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

Labour is the most determinate factor affecting the costs. All the work is done manually.

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

5.3 Soils

5.4 Water availability and quality

5.5 Biodiversity

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

Indicate other relevant characteristics of the land users:

Land users applying the Technology are mainly common / average land users
Difference in the involvement of women and men: Women are however involved in other agriculture works but at the plantation site, they are not involved at all. The land user has about 0.4 ha irrigated crop land used for potato and wheat cultivation on a rotation basis.

Population density: 10-50 persons/km2
Annual population growth: 2% - 3%
Off-farm income specification: The land user family is food secure from its own production for up to 6 months only. For food security for 12 months, they have to depend on other sources of off farm income. The agriculture land is not enough to meet all the family needs.

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:

• individual, titled

Land use rights:

• leased

Water use rights:

• communal (organized)

Comments:

For water distribution, there is a traditional system called as Mirab which is applied for the plantations as well. The land user applying the plantation/micro-irrigation technique have to participate in main irrigation canal repair and cleaning works. The land user also has to pay in kind or cash to the Mirab for his services.

5.9 Access to services and infrastructure

6.1 On-site impacts the Technology has shown

Socio-economic impacts

Production

Water availability and quality

Income and costs

Socio-cultural impacts

Ecological impacts

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 well

Climatological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
drought	not well

Hydrological disasters

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

Comments:

Stabilize the technology with grasses and reduce the slope of the channels so that it is less sensitive to increase in rainfall intensities.

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:

The returns in the form of cash start coming after 10-12 years with this poplar variety following a selective felling and replanting approach.

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:

100% of land user families have adopted the Technology without any external material support
80 land user families have adopted the Technology without any external material support
The total area under this plantation in the village is estimated to be 16 ha (80 jerib)
There is a small growing trend towards the adoption of the technology by communities and individuals in the area. Adoption depends on (and is hampered by) the availability of a reliable water source near the sites with potential for plantation and also about the land.

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view
The technology helps successful establishment of poplar trees and also natural grasses on sloping lands.

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
Micro-irrigation technology is important for the establishment and maintenance of poplar plantations. The technology is adapted for afforestation of sloping land.
The technology does not require much maintenance once the plantations are well established. A special attention need to be given to the secondary canals.
No external support for establishing or maintaining the technology.
The technology helps in improving the site's micro climate which leads to more plant and animal (bird) diversity.

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?
There is no information available regarding the land user's view on the weaknesses of this technology.

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view	How can they be overcome?
The canals break at some weak points. Also the slopes of the micro channels is more at many places leading to some soil erosion.	Proper alignment of micro-irrigation canals.
Rill and gully erosion due to rapid and uncontrolled flow of excessive drainage in secondary canals.	Plant grasses with robust root system along the canals. Strengthen points where water spills from the micro-irrigation canals into the secondary canals with vegetative measures and sediment pits.
Due to small sizes of the channels, irrigation needs more time and labour.	Improvements in micro irrigation canals will reduce this problem considering. Interested organisations could carry out action research on how to improve this system by also incorporating efficient water use measures.
The technology can be applied only when there is a reliable source of running water.	Action research on soil and water conservation techniques for plantations in areas where there is no easy access to irrigation water.

7.1 Methods/ sources of information