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)

ICIMOD International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) - Nepal

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

iDE Nepal (iDE Nepal) - Nepal

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

When were the data compiled (in the field)?

01/03/2013

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

Ja

1.5 Reference to Questionnaire(s) on SLM Approaches

2.1 Short description of the Technology

Definition of the Technology:

Cleft grafting can be used to produce plants that are resistant to a number of pests and diseases and are often higher yielding than the original. Tomato seedlings can be easily grafted onto resistant root stock of the wild eggplant (Solanum sysimbrifolium) to produce a disease-resistant and commercially viable crop.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

Some of Nepal's most lucrative vegetable cash crops, especially solanaceous crops such as tomato and eggplant, are particularly susceptible to attack by the root knot nematode, Meliodogyne spp, which costs Nepal's farmers millions of rupees in losses annually. In recent years, farmers found that this pest was becoming prevalent and that they could not control it permanently using either cheap or eco-friendly solutions. Researchers and development officers took up the challenge and found that grafting technology could successfully control not only the root knot nematode but also wilting disease. As a bonus, they also found that grafting can increase the yield potential of the plants and improve the overall productivity of the land.

Establishment / maintenance activities and inputs: Loam and silt loam soils with a pH of 6.0–7.0 are the most suitable for this type of cultivation. Grafting technology requires two plants: the scion and the rootstock. The scion is a detached shoot or twig containing buds from the desired woody plant. The rootstock is a plant with an established healthy root system, onto which a cutting or a bud from another plant is grafted. The scion seedlings are grown in raised solarized nursery beds, where care has been taken to see that the soil has been sterilised and all soil pests have been destroyed. Robust rootstock of wild eggplant (Solanum sysimbrifolium) is appropriate for tomato propagation. The rootstock seedlings are grown in multi cell trays and transplanted when they are 20–25 cm high and have a few leaves and a pencil thick stalk. Seeds for the rootstock seedlings are sown in March/April and are ready in 6–8 weeks; scion seeds are sown in April/May and are ready for grafting in 3–4 weeks. Both scion and rootstock plants should have achieved similar stalk thicknesses at the time of grafting. Cleft grafting is carried out and the grafted seedlings kept in polypots in a closed polyhouse for 7–10 days. Then the grafted seedlings are carefully transplanted to their permanent location. The grafted plants are watered the day after they are transplanted; the extent of watering depends on how moist the soil is and on local weather conditions. The field is mulched throughout the cropping period using straw and other farm biomass materials.

2.3 Photos of the Technology

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

2.7 Introduction of the Technology

Specify how the Technology was introduced:

• through projects/ external interventions

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

• improve production

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

Comments:

Major land use problems (compiler’s opinion): Insufficient water for irrigation, the soil is acidic, vegetable crops are attacked by pests and crop production is in decline.

3.3 Further information about land use

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

• rainfed

3.4 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• integrated pest and disease management (incl. organic agriculture)
• improved plant varieties/ animal breeds

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)

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

Comments:

Main causes of degradation: soil management, other human induced causes (specify) (Overuse of chemical Fertilizer), droughts

3.8 Prevention, reduction, or restoration of land degradation

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

• prevent land degradation

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

4.2 Technical specifications/ explanations of technical drawing

Schematic diagram of a tomato scion grafted on to the rootstock of a wild eggplant.

Technical knowledge required for field staff / advisors: high

Main technical functions: Reduce Pest Attack, Improve crop production

4.3 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

other/ national currency (specify):

NPR

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

72.0

4.4 Establishment activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing
1.	Prepare the land	Agronomic
2.	Prepare Scions	Agronomic
3.	Prepare rootstock	Agronomic
4.	Grafting	Agronomic
5.	Transplant grafted Seedling	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	Prepare the land	persons/day	5.0	4.2	21.0	100.0
Equipment	Tools	unit	1.0	22.0	22.0	100.0
Plant material	Seeds	unit	1.0	28.0	28.0	100.0
Fertilizers and biocides	Fertilizer	unit	1.0	17.0	17.0	100.0
Fertilizers and biocides	Compost/manure	unit	1.0	65.0	65.0	100.0
Fertilizers and biocides	Pesticide	unit	1.0	21.0	21.0	100.0
Fertilizers and biocides	Plant tonic	unit	1.0	7.0	7.0	100.0
Construction material	Polypot,grafting chamber etc	unit	1.0	225.0	225.0	100.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology					406.0

4.6 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing/ frequency
1.	Both scion and rootstock seeds are watered after sowing. The seedlings are monitored and watered as needed. (Overall labor: 16 person days)	Agronomic
2.	After transplanting, the grafted seedlings are watered the next day and twice weekly thereafter. As the plantlets mature, they are watered at 10-day intervals and the surface of the soil is mulched. The moisture level in the soil is monitored throughout the cropping period.	Agronomic
3.	Top dressing with biofertilizers (N, P, K, and vesicular arbuscular mycorrhiza VAM) and bio-hume is applied to the root zone.	Agronomic

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	Watering scion and rootstock	persons/day	16.0	4.25	68.0	100.0
Equipment	Electricity and water charger	unit	1.0	8.5	8.5	100.0
Plant material	Seeds	unit	1.0	68.0	68.0	100.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology					144.5

Comments:

Machinery/ tools: spade, scissors, sharp scalpel, multi cell tray, hoe, plough

4.8 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

All costs and amounts are rough estimates by the technicians and authors.

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 high

Soil drainage / infiltration is good

Soil water storage capacity is medium

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:

Population density: 200-500 persons/km2

Annual population growth: 0.5% - 1%

Relative level of wealth: rich, average, poor

20% of the land users are rich.
30% of the land users are average wealthy.
50% of the land users are poor.

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:

• individual

Water use rights:

• communal (organized)

6.1 On-site impacts the Technology has shown

Socio-economic impacts

Production

Income and costs

Socio-cultural impacts

Ecological impacts

Biodiversity: vegetation, animals

Other ecological impacts

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	not well

Climate-related extremes (disasters)

Meteorological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
local rainstorm	well

Other climate-related consequences

Other climate-related consequences

	How does the Technology cope with it?
reduced growing period	not well

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:

There is a strong trend towards spontaneous adoption of the Technology

Comments on adoption trend: Most (90%) of the farmers are implementing the technology voluntarily and there is a spontaneous trend for adoption. In the area studied, about 20–30 households per year are adopting this technology.

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
The technology is highly effective at controlling pests and disease. How can they be sustained / enhanced? The wild eggplant rootstocks are somewhat difficult to graft because they are spiny. Spine-free rootstock seedlings would be easier to graft.
The grafted seedlings themselves are a good source of income for farmers. How can they be sustained / enhanced? Create awareness among farmers and encourage nurseries to provide grafted seedlings. Support farmers during the start-up stage.

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?
Grafting is time consuming and difficult because wild eggplant rootstock plants are spiny.	Need more research to identify other possible rootstock plants.
Grafting can be expensive and requires an initial investment in training; specialized materials are needed. Technically demanding, needs practise. Specialized materials are difficult to get.	Nurseries need to be supported and need to have access to specialized materials on time.