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)

Scaling-up SLM practices by smallholder farmers (IFAD)

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

CDE Centre for Development and Environment (CDE Centre for Development and Environment) - Switzerland

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:

A high water table is favourable for digging shallow water wells for irrigation of cropland which increases production during the dry season.

2.1 Short description of the Technology

Definition of the Technology:

Fish farming supported by availability of water is considered as profitable enterprise in Northern Uganda. Farmers use areas with either high water tables or swamps to locate the ground water recharged fish ponds and water for fish production and crop irrigation during the dry season.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

Fish farming is a sustainable land management agricultural practice promoted by farmers on medium sized farms in Northern Uganda, where ground water supply in wetland is used to recharge at least three adjacent fish ponds for fish production during the wet and dry season with each pond established measuring 50 m long x 20 m wide and 1.5 m depth with the following inputs hoes, spades, panga, wheel barrow, feeds and labour. The sides of the ponds are grown with grassy vegetation to stabilize soil, as well as feed the fish. It is, therefore imperative that farmers who want to invest in such sustainable land management practice first seek professional advice from extension agents or from other experienced farmers, on post-harvest fish handling and preservation. In Northern Uganda, fish theft and poisoning are also rampant, especially where ponds are not properly guarded or fenced. The most costly aspects of pond fish farming include pond excavation, laboratory testing of water and surrounding soil properties; procurement of fries especially tilapia, fencing and procurement of fish feeds. The average cost of establishing each pond is approximately US$428; while putting fish firies establishment goes for an average of US$ 71 per pond.
It is important to note that at the beginning the capital investments are high; these include paying for construction and buying fish fries to put in the ponds. However, in the long term the benefits exceed the costs. This is because fish farming is a high value enterprise with potential to provide household food, nutrition and income security.

2.3 Photos of the Technology

2.4 Videos 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

Indicate year of implementation:

2000

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
• through projects/ external interventions

Comments (type of project, etc.):

Received training from the extension agent.

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

• improve production
• create beneficial economic impact

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

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

Comments:

Land was under maize plantation, which was usually planted within one year before the implementation of the technology.

3.4 Water supply

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

• rainfed

3.5 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• surface water management (spring, river, lakes, sea)
• beekeeping, aquaculture, poultry, rabbit farming, silkworm farming, etc.

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

Comments:

Grasses are allowed to grow to stabilise the levees.

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

Comments:

Vegetation around the pond stabilize the soils which reduces erosion.

3.8 Prevention, reduction, or restoration of land degradation

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

• restore/ rehabilitate severely degraded land

Comments:

Due to vegetation growth around the fish ponds.

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):

UGX

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

3500.0

4.3 Establishment activities

	Activity	Timing (season)
1.	Excavation of soil for ponds	During the dry season
2.	Soil testing	During the dry season
3.	Water testing	Routine, dry and wet season
4.	Buying fries	Dry and wet season
5.	Stocking the fish	Wet season and dry season
6.	Feeding	Dry and wet season
7.	Planting around the pond	Dry and wet season

Comments:

Planted vegetation can also be used as feed supplement.

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	Monthly persons days	persons	6.0	150000.0	900000.0	1000.0
Equipment	Hoes	pieces	6.0	10000.0	60000.0	100.0
Equipment	Spade	peices	3.0	10000.0	30000.0	100.0
Equipment	panga	pieces	3.0	10000.0	30000.0	100.0
Equipment	Wheel barrow	piece	2.0	250000.0	500000.0
Other	Fish fries for 3 ponds	fries	3000.0	1000.0	3000000.0	100.0
Other	Soil tests	1	2.0	350000.0	700000.0	1000.0
Other	water tests	1	2.0	380000.0	760000.0	100.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology					5980000.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology in USD					1708.57

Comments:

Soil and water tests are done twice before establishment and once after establishment.

4.5 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

	Activity	Timing/ frequency
1.	Slashing	twice a year
2.	Feeding	Routine

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	Persons days for feeding and slashing/ monthly	Persons	1.0	150000.0	150000.0	100.0
Other	Feeds monthly	Kilograms	15.0	4000.0	60000.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology					210000.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology in USD					60.0

Comments:

Low costs for paying labour due to reduced workload.
Also equipment like hoe , spade, panga are purchased at the time of establishment so no need to incur more costs. Additional costs are incurred when they wear out. At the time of the interview, the land user had not incurred costs on buying tools for maintaining the technology.

4.7 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

Labour for establishing and maintaining the pond.

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

Indicate if the Technology is specifically applied in:

• concave situations

Comments and further specifications on topography:

Situated in the wetland.

5.3 Soils

5.4 Water availability and quality

Is water salinity a problem?

Nee

Is flooding of the area occurring?

Nee

Comments and further specifications on water quality and quantity:

The farmer has put a drainage system and the levees long enough.

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:

• communal/ village
• individual, not titled

Land use rights:

• communal (organized)
• individual

Water use rights:

• communal (organized)
• individual

Comments:

The technology on a communal land owned by the family.

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

Water cycle/ runoff

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		decrease	well
seasonal temperature	wet/ rainy season	decrease	well
annual rainfall		decrease	well
seasonal rainfall	wet/ rainy season	decrease	moderately

Climate-related extremes (disasters)

Climatological disasters

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

Biological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
epidemic diseases	moderately

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:

slightly negative at the time of establishment with purchase of labour, purchase of fish fries and lab testing but positive when workload reduces and its associated costs with the farmer harvesting and selling fish for income.

6.5 Adoption of the Technology

• 1-10%

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

Mostly those with some capital

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

• 11-50%

Comments:

More farmers were trained by National Agricultural Advisory services (NAADS) and Open Wealth Creation (OWC), acquired knowledge and skills and started on their own without material incentives.

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
Provides high benefits (income) in the short run.
Its replicable elsewhere by both small scale and large scale land users.
Uses recharged from under ground which is available all year round.

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
Good and sustainable technology. Does not require constant labour once its established. Low costs of labour required for routine and maintenance activities.
Can survive on planted vegetation to supplement fish feeds.

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?
Requires high level sophisticated skills in water and soil testing / high costs.	Testing using local indicators.
Not fenced. Possibility of poisong the fish.	Fencing the fish pond and if possible employ a local secuirty guard.

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view	How can they be overcome?
Labour and capital intentive at the time of establishment/ Appropriate to the rich.	Link farmers to Agricultural loans and pay after selling fish.

7.1 Methods/ sources of information