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

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

Book project: where the land is greener - Case Studies and Analysis of Soil and Water Conservation Initiatives Worldwide (where the land is greener)

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

When were the data compiled (in the field)?

08/09/2003

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:

Terraces supporting rainfed paddy rice on steep mountain slopes: these have been in existence for more than a thousand years.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

Terraced paddy rice on steep mountain slopes is the main method of rice cultivation in Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) of the Philippines. This is a traditional technology: most of the terraces are at least a thousand years old. The terraces were constructed manually on steep hill slopes (30-60%) with small portions located in narrow valley bottoms. Farmers generally own one hectare or less of terraced land, and cultivation is intensive. The terraces (‘paddies’) curve along the contour, and are narrow, ranging from one to five meters in width, depending on the slope. The height of the riser is between one and two meters. Water supply for the rice crop depends on rainfall, and only one rice crop is grown
per year.
The terraces impound rainwater - average rainfall is around 2,000 mm - and thus prevent soil erosion. Soil fertility is largely maintained because the impounded water and a zero rate of erosion preserve organic matter levels. Some nutrient loss occurs however with each harvest. The terraces are multi-functional: in addition to their agricultural use, they assist in environmental protection through flood mitigation, and they contribute to biodiversity. Furthermore they have become a tourist attraction.
Land preparation is mainly manual. Farmers puddle the soil with their bare feet. Excess water is drained to the terrace below by a small opening in the lip on top of the riser. Maintenance consists basically of repairing breached bunds/risers. Every planting season, a few centimetres of soil is added. To strengthen the bunds, some farmers plant grasses, which may be cut and carried for animal fodder: napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum) is an example. It is important not to disturb the soil of the bund, as this may encourage breaching.
The area where the technology is practiced is mostly between 2,000 and 2,500 m. Because of the cool climate caused by the high elevation, crop maturity takes longer than in the lowlands. In some cases, vegetables such as cabbages and sweet potatoes are grown after the rice is harvested. The farmers, indigenous to the area, have a distinct culture that is different to lowland rice farmers. Rituals connected with farming are widely practiced. There is an added economic benefit from tourism, as people from all over the Philippines - and beyond - travel there for the spectacular views and mild climate.

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:

• more than 50 years ago (traditional)

2.7 Introduction of the Technology

Specify how the Technology was introduced:

• as part of a traditional system (> 50 years)

Comments (type of project, etc.):

Devised by the land users themselves due to extreme necessity

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

• reduce, prevent, restore land degradation
• conserve ecosystem

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

Comments:

Major land use problems (compiler’s opinion): The terraces allow crop cultivation in an area characterised by steep slopes and high rainfall. However, farming in this marginal areas is labour intensive, mechanisation is not an option on the narrow paddies, and even animal traction is rarely possible due to the steepness of the terrain and the high terrace risers. Non-terraced hill slopes are prone to very high runoff and soil erosion, production is zero.
Major land use problems (land users’ perception): High runoff and soil erosion, zero productivity.

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: 240

3.4 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• 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:

• > 10,000 km2

Comments:

Total area covered by the SLM Technology is 15000 m2.
The above provinces are basically dependent on terraced paddy rice. Most of it are rainfed with some areas under irrigation

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

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

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

4.2 Technical specifications/ explanations of technical drawing

Layout of rainfed paddy rice terraces. The level terraces allow cultivation of paddy rice (right) on steep slopes. In some places the terrace risers are as tall as the beds are wide.

Technical knowledge required for field staff / advisors: moderate
Technical knowledge required for land users: moderate
Main technical functions: control of dispersed runoff: retain / trap, increase / maintain water stored in soil
Secondary technical functions: reduction of slope angle, reduction of slope length, indirect maintenance of fertility

Vegetative measure: grass on bunds/risers (supp.)
Structural measure: level bench terrace

4.4 Establishment activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing
1.	Determination of contour lines by eye.	Structural
2.	Levelling by moving soil from the upslope to the downslope part	Structural
3.	Construction of bunds (lip at the terrace edge) of about 50-100 cm	Structural

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	2500.0	2500.0	100.0
Equipment	tools	ha	1.0	200.0	200.0	100.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology					2700.0

Comments:

Duration of establishment phase: 12 month(s)

4.6 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing/ frequency
1.	Weeding by cutting grasses on the bund/riser using hand tools. Hoeing	Vegetative
2.	Repairing breached portion of the bunds. Adding a few centimetres	Structural
3.	Land preparation by puddling. In most cases, the use of animal tractionis not possible because of the steepness of the slope and heightof the risers.	Structural

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	10.0	10.0	100.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology					40.0

Comments:

The costs of establishment are estimates - as new terrace construction no longer takes place. The land has already been terraced for centuries. The 800 person days are for land levelling and bund construction, which comprises the main activity. The calculation was based on a land slope of 30-60%. The maintenance figure assumes regular light maintenance - and does not include major repairs to bunds.

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

5.3 Soils

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

Indicate other relevant characteristics of the land users:

Off-farm income specification: carpentry, trading, labour for neighbouring farms, overseas employment, transport services, activities associated with tourism

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

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

6.2 Off-site impacts the Technology has shown

6.4 Cost-benefit analysis

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

6.5 Adoption of the Technology

Comments:

There is no trend towards spontaneous adoption of the Technology. The technology is widely accepted. As the terraces were constructed hundreds of years ago and construction of new terraces is no longer done the question of ‘adoption’ is not relevant.

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view
Know very well the agronomy of rice production

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
Low maintenance cost
Farmers are well versed (very familiar) with the rice production system – it is part of their culture
Terracing allows paddy rice production on very steep slopes, which are prone to very high erosion and water loss in such a monsoon area. It transforms steep unproductive slopes into productive land

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?
Lack of irrigation facilities	Construction of water harvesting structure
Declining yield	Fertilizer application

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view	How can they be overcome?
Lack of moisture for about six months	Moisture conservation (mulching): construction of water harvesting structures for supplementary irrigation.
Continuous mono-cropping	Crop diversification. Other crops (such as sweet potato, cabbage, chilli) could be grown after rice towards the end of the rainy season through minimum or zero tillage.
Severe soil fertility decline in some locations – and therefore declining yields	Fertility enhancement using organic and inorganic sources (manure, crop residues, compost, fertilizers etc).

7.1 Methods/ sources of information

7.2 References to available publications

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Breemen van N, Oldeman LR, Plantinga WJ and Wielemaker WG (1970) The Ifugao Rice Terraces. In: Miscellaneous papers (7) 1970,eds. N van Breemen et al Landbouwhogeschool, Wageningen, The Netherlands.