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)

Soil Resource Development Institute (SRDI) (Soil Resource Development Institute (SRDI)) - Bangladesh

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

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

Comments:

It is a very effective technology for soil conservation in hilly areas.

2.1 Short description of the Technology

Definition of the Technology:

Bench terraces are a soil and water conservation measure used on sloping land with relatively deep soils to retain water and control erosion. They are normally constructed by cutting and filling to produce a series of level steps or benches. This allows water to infiltrate slowly into the soil. Bench terraces are reinforced by banks of soil or stone that block waterflow above the forward edges. This practice is typical for rice-based cropping systems.It is also helpful to increase the beauty of the land along with increasing the soil stability on these lands.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

The Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) are undergoing deforestation and land degradation arising from environmentally unsuitable activities such as tobacco cultivation in sloping land, shifting cultivation and logging. Shifting cultivation, also known as slash-and-burn agriculture. The present shifting cultivation system with short fallow in the Chittagong Hill Tracts has accelerated erosion, land degradation, deforestation, and impoverishment of tribal people in CHT. If the present state of degradation continues, most of the areas under shifting cultivation will be severely degraded and future generations will face more difficulties to eke out their livelihoods on further degraded land. That land shows massive erosion impact as influenced by shifting cultivation (Jhum) at steep and continuously sloping lands.

To address the aforesaid constraints in hilly areas of CHT, the Soil Conservation and Watershed Management Centre (SCWMC) of the Soil Resource Development Institute (SRDI) has developed the "Bench Terrace" technology. In this technology, some bench like terraces are made on the slopy land of hills where the slope angle is more than 30 degree. The width of the terraces ranges from 2.5 to 3.0 metre. The height of the terraces is 0.6 metre to 1 metre. An embankment constructed at the outer rim of the terraces prevents run off and soil loss over the outer edge of the terrace during heavy rain in the monsoon. The length of such terraces depends on the topographical contexts within which the terraces are constructed. The technology has various benefits:

- To reduce the quantum of overland flow/sheet flow or runoff, and their velocity.
- To minimize the soil erosion.
- To conserve soil moisture.
- To conserve soil fertility and to facilitate farming operations such as ploughing, irrigation etc. on sloping land.
- To promote intensive land use, permanent agriculture and checking shifting cultivation on steep lands.
- Bench terraces support proper water management and fertilizers/manure application. They will also help in increasing cropping intensity within a stable farming system.

The hill dwellers, who are the owners of the land, are practicing the technology because it has established a permanent solution for crop production instead shifting cultivation. The technology contributes to a reduction in land slides, soil erosion and to increased farm income. Bench Terraces are widely being used in the hilly areas of India, Nepal, Srilanka, Tamilnadu etc.


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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:

• during experiments/ research

Comments (type of project, etc.):

Soil conservation and watershed management centre of soil resource development institute(SRDI) has developed the technology through long term research trial in farmers field as well as in research station.

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

• improve production
• reduce, prevent, restore land degradation
• conserve ecosystem
• protect a watershed/ downstream areas – in combination with other Technologies
• reduce risk of disasters
• create beneficial economic impact

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

Land use mixed within the same land unit:

Nee

3.3 Has land use changed due to the implementation of the Technology?

Has land use changed due to the implementation of the Technology?

• Yes (Please fill out the questions below with regard to the land use before implementation of the Technology)

Land use mixed within the same land unit:

Ja

Specify mixed land use (crops/ grazing/ trees):

• Agroforestry

Comments:

The land management and production system contains 3 cropping seasons per annum. The seasons are Rabi- Kharif1-Kharif-2.

3.4 Water supply

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

• mixed rainfed-irrigated

3.5 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• agroforestry
• minimal soil disturbance
• cross-slope measure

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:

• reduce land degradation

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

4.2 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

Specify how costs and inputs were calculated:

• per Technology area

other/ national currency (specify):

Taka( Bangladeshi currency)

If relevant, indicate exchange rate from USD to local currency (e.g. 1 USD = 79.9 Brazilian Real): 1 USD =:

80.0

4.3 Establishment activities

	Activity	Timing (season)
1.	Cleaning forest	Before making the terraces
2.	Earth cutting	Before raining season
3.	Making terraces
4.	Land preparation	every season
5.	fertiliser application	every season
6.	seed sowing	every season
7.	Irrigation	5 times per cropping season
8.	Intercultural operation	occassionally
9.	Reconstruction of terraces	Before rainy season

4.4 Costs and inputs needed for establishment

	Specify input	Unit	Quantity	Costs per Unit	Total costs per input	% of costs borne by land users
Labour	Cleaning forest	persons-per day	5.0	500.0	2500.0	100.0
Labour	Earth cutting	persons-per day	4.0	500.0	2000.0	100.0
Labour	Making terraces	persons-per day	5.0	500.0	2500.0	100.0
Labour	Land preparation	persons-per day	3.0	500.0	1500.0	100.0
Equipment	fertiliser application	persons-per day	1.0	500.0	500.0	50.0
Equipment	seed sowing	persons-per day	2.0	500.0	1000.0	30.0
Equipment	Irrigation	persons-per day	3.0	500.0	1500.0	70.0
Equipment	Intercultural operation	persons-per day	4.0	500.0	2000.0	100.0
Equipment	Machine operated cleaning tools	Number	1.0	4000.0	4000.0	50.0
Equipment	spade	Number	5.0	300.0	1500.0	100.0
Equipment	mower	Number	1.0	2000.0	2000.0	100.0
Equipment	sickle	Number	5.0	200.0	1000.0	100.0
Plant material	Tape	Piece	2.0	100.0	200.0	100.0
Plant material	rope	piece	2.0	50.0	100.0	100.0
Plant material	seed	Kg	0.5	300.0	150.0
Plant material	seedlings	Number	50.0	50.0	2500.0
Fertilizers and biocides	Nitrogen	Kg	20.0	16.0	320.0	70.0
Fertilizers and biocides	Phosphorus	Kg	10.0	22.0	220.0	70.0
Fertilizers and biocides	potassium	Kg	15.0	30.0	450.0	70.0
Fertilizers and biocides	Compost	Ton	1.0	1000.0	1000.0	100.0
Construction material	pesticide	Kg	0.5	200.0	100.0	50.0
Construction material	pipes	Number	5.0	400.0	2000.0	50.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology					29040.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology in USD					363.0

If land user bore less than 100% of costs, indicate who covered the remaining costs:

Department of Agriculture Extension and other Government and non Government organisation

Comments:

The Government organisations always encourage the land owners to practice the technology by giving a portion of inputs.

4.5 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

	Activity	Timing/ frequency
1.	Reconstruction of terraces	Before rainy season

4.6 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	Reconstruction of terraces	Persons-per day	2.0	500.0	1000.0	80.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology					1000.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology in USD					12.5

4.7 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

Labour cost is the most important factor that affects the total cost.

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

Indicate if the Technology is specifically applied in:

• not relevant

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.

soils are clay loam to clay, soils are acidic in nature, nitrogen content in most cases low and presence of no salinity. Land type -very high

5.4 Water availability and quality

Is water salinity a problem?

Nee

Is flooding of the area occurring?

Nee

5.5 Biodiversity

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

5.7 Average area of land used by land users applying the Technology

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

Land ownership:

• individual, not titled
• individual, titled

Land use rights:

• individual

Water use rights:

• open access (unorganized)

Are land use rights based on a traditional legal system?

Ja

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

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	increase or decrease	How does the Technology cope with it?
annual temperature		increase	moderately
seasonal temperature	summer	increase	well
annual rainfall		increase	moderately
seasonal rainfall	wet/ rainy season	decrease	moderately

Climate-related extremes (disasters)

Meteorological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
tropical storm	moderately
local rainstorm	well
local thunderstorm	moderately
local hailstorm	very well
local windstorm	moderately

Climatological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
drought	moderately
forest fire	moderately
land fire	well

Hydrological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
landslide	very well

Biological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
insect/ worm infestation	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

• > 50%

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

• 11-50%

6.6 Adaptation

Has the Technology been modified recently to adapt to changing conditions?

Nee

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view
Risk of land slide reduced
Farm income increased

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
Soil erosion decreased
Crop production increased
Soil nutrient mining reduced
Soil nutrient availability enhanced
Soil moisture increased
Irrigation water use efficiency increased

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?
Labour cost very high	Borrow money from financial institution

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view	How can they be overcome?
Lack of knowledge regarding land management in slopy hilly areas	Take part in related training
Labour unavailability and labour cost is higher	Engaged family members

7.1 Methods/ sources of information

7.2 References to available publications

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Soil erosion in hilly areas affecting biodiversity and climate change and its biological conservation strategy,Md. Mijanur Rahman Wildlife Conservation Officer Coastal & Wetland Biodiversity Management Project Department of Environment, Teknaf, Cox’s Bazar

Available from where? Costs?

FAO, 1978. Soil erosion by water. FAO, United Nations. PP. 63-111 Khan, L.R. Watershed management. Field document no.44. UNDP/FAO/BGD/85/011. PP.151-193 Negi, S.S. 1983. Soil conservation. Fundamental of forestry volume.3. Rahman, M.M. 1994. A review paper on erosion control measures in hilly areas. FWT discipline, Khulna University, Khulna, Bangladesh Young, Anthony. 1989. Agro forestry for soil conservation. ICRAF.

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Soil erosion in the Chittagong hill tract and its impact on nutrient status of soils [in Bangladesh] [1992],Farid, A.T.M. Iqbal, A. Karim, Z.

Available from where? Costs?

AGRIS, FAO

7.3 Links to relevant online information

Title/ description:

A review of the effect of terracing on erosion,

URL:

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Luuk_Dorren

7.4 General comments

The questionnaire should be more generalised so that all the land degradation specialists can fill up the document smoothly.