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)

Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources of Ethiopia (MoA) - Ethiopia

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

2.1 Short description of the Technology

Definition of the Technology:

It is an allignment of stones embankment at the lower/downslope of the trench dug to form earth embankment following a contour.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

Description: digging of foundation, stone wall constructionof 60-80 m, digging of trench along the contour Purpose: decrease soil erosion, moisture harvesting, decrease slope length, reduce runoff velocity and increase productivity per unit area Establishment/Maintenance: planting of fodder trees and integrate with biological measures Environment: enhance to grow natural grasses and vegetation, minimize desertification, recharge ground water and improve local 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:

• through projects/ external interventions

Comments (type of project, etc.):

Developed in the region

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

Comments:

Major land use problems (compiler’s opinion): Decline of soil fertility and productivity, soil erosion, deforestation, overgrazing

Major land use problems (land users’ perception): Decrease in production, low moisture content of the soil, drought and deforestation

Plantation forestry: deforestation

Problems / comments regarding forest use: Basically the forest land is open wood/shrub cover and used for grazing/browsing at the same time
Ge: Extensive grazing land

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: 120Longest growing period from month to month: Jun - Oct

3.4 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• cross-slope measure

3.5 Spread of the Technology

Comments:

Total area covered by the SLM Technology is 32 m2.

This data is based on the Adet Naedir office of Agriculture and Natural Resources

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

Comments:

Main measures: structural measures

Secondary measures: agronomic measures, vegetative measures

Type of agronomic measures: better crop cover, manure / compost / residues, mineral (inorganic) fertilizers, contour tillage

Type of vegetative measures: aligned: -contour

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

Comments:

Main type of degradation addressed: Wt: loss of topsoil / surface erosion

Secondary types of degradation addressed: Wg: gully erosion / gullying, Ca: acidification

3.8 Prevention, reduction, or restoration of land degradation

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

• reduce land degradation
• restore/ rehabilitate severely degraded land

Comments:

Main goals: mitigation / reduction of land degradation

Secondary goals: rehabilitation / reclamation of denuded land

4.2 Technical specifications/ explanations of technical drawing

Technical knowledge required for field staff / advisors: moderate

Technical knowledge required for land users: low

Main technical functions: control of dispersed runoff: retain / trap, increase / maintain water stored in soil

Secondary technical functions: reduction of slope length, increase of infiltration, water harvesting / increase water supply

Better crop cover
Material/ species: teff, sorghum

Agronomic measure: row planting
Material/ species: maize
Quantity/ density: 45,000/ha
Remarks: planting on rows along the contour

Contour tillage
Remarks: farmers plow their land along the contour

Aligned: -contour
Vegetative material: T : trees / shrubs, G : grass
Number of plants per (ha): 100-150
Vertical interval between rows / strips / blocks (m): 1m
Spacing between rows / strips / blocks (m): 20-25m
Vertical interval within rows / strips / blocks (m): 2.5 m
Width within rows / strips / blocks (m): 1

Trees/ shrubs species: leucanea, sesbanea

Grass species: local grasses

Slope (which determines the spacing indicated above): 12.00%

Gradient along the rows / strips: 12.00%

Bund/ bank: level
Vertical interval between structures (m): 1
Spacing between structures (m): 20-25m
Depth of ditches/pits/dams (m): 0.3m
Width of ditches/pits/dams (m): 0.5m
Height of bunds/banks/others (m): 0.5-0.75m
Width of bunds/banks/others (m): 1m
Length of bunds/banks/others (m): 60-80m

Structural measure: bund / bank: level
Vertical interval between structures (m): 1m
Spacing between structures (m): 20-25m
Height of bunds/banks/others (m): 0.5-0.75m
Width of bunds/banks/others (m): 0.5-0.75m
Length of bunds/banks/others (m): 0.5-0.75m

Slope (which determines the spacing indicated above): 12%

Lateral gradient along the structure: 0%

Vegetation is used for stabilisation of structures.

4.3 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

other/ national currency (specify):

Birr

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

8.0

4.4 Establishment activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing
1.	seedling production	Vegetative	Dec.-June
2.	seedling planting	Vegetative	June-July
3.	collection of stones	Management	dry season
4.	placing of stones	Management	dry season
5.	digging of trench	Management	dry season
6.	embanking of soil	Management	dry season

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	118.0	118.0	100.0
Equipment	Animal traction	ha	1.0	20.0	20.0	100.0
Equipment	Tools	ha	1.0	2.0	2.0	100.0
Plant material	Seeds	ha	1.0	6.25	6.25	100.0
Fertilizers and biocides	Fertilizer	ha	1.0	33.75	33.75	100.0
Other	Other cost	ha	1.0	17.5	17.5	100.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology					197.5

Comments:

Duration of establishment phase: 48 month(s)

4.6 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing/ frequency
1.	plowing	Agronomic	March-July / 3-4 times
2.	sowing	Agronomic	June-July / Once
3.	Weeding	Agronomic	July-August / twice
4.	harvest	Agronomic	Oct.-Dec. / once
5.	Replanting	Vegetative	July /once

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	10.5	10.5	100.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology					10.5

Comments:

Machinery/ tools: crawbar, hammer, shovel, digging hoe

length of the structure and tree seedlings per hectar

4.8 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

labour, slope

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

Comments and further specifications on topography:

Landforms: Hill slopes coer a larger area of the woreda but there are also footslopes and plateaus/plains
Slopes on average: Also Rolling and moderate

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 depth on average: Also very shallow and moderately deep
Soil texture: Also coarse/light and fine/heavy
Soil fertility is low. Also very low and medium
Topsoil organic matter: Low (this data is based of physical observation on crop performance)
Soil drainage/infiltration is medium. Also good and poor
Soil water storage capacity is low. Also medium, very low.

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

Indicate other relevant characteristics of the land users:

Population density: 100-200 persons/km2
Annual population growth: 2% - 3%; 3%
10% of the land users are rich and own 15% of the land.
40% of the land users are average wealthy and own 45% of the land.
30% of the land users are poor and own 25% of the land.
20% of the land users are poor and own 15% of the land.
Off-farm income specification: daily labourer in town, food for work
Level of mechanization: Manual labour and animal traction (oxen plow)

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:

• state

Land use rights:

• open access (unorganized)
• individual

6.1 On-site impacts the Technology has shown

Socio-economic impacts

Production

Income and costs

Socio-cultural impacts

Ecological impacts

Soil

Other ecological impacts

6.2 Off-site impacts the Technology has shown

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

Comments:

100% of land user families have adopted the Technology without any external material support

109035 land user families have adopted the Technology without any external material support

Comments on spontaneous adoption: survey results

There is a moderate trend towards spontaneous adoption of the Technology

Comments on adoption trend: some individual farmers are applying the technology on their farm land by their own.

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view
increase in productivity How can they be sustained / enhanced? continous maintenance,
increase soil fertility How can they be sustained / enhanced? integrate biological SWC measures
increase fodder availability How can they be sustained / enhanced? planting of fooder trees and grass species on the enbankments

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
decrease soil erosion How can they be sustained / enhanced? By integrating area closure on the up slopes and incorporate biological SWC
moisture harvesting
increase production
enhance vegetation growth
decrease runoff velocity

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?
loss of cultivated land	increase the land productivity by incorporating biological measures in the system

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view	How can they be overcome?
labour intensive	mobilization of the community
hinder farm operation	enlarge the spacing between bunds