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

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

2.1 Short description of the Technology

Definition of the Technology:

Intercropping of maize with watermelon as a land optimization strategy

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

Traditionally, maize has been inter-cropped with other legumes such as common beans or soy bean. Intercropping of maize with water melon is used where the availability of land is limited in order to utilize optimally the available land. Watermelon has emerged as a high-value crop that can replace traditional companion crops in maize cultivations.

The technology is applied by planting maize of 0.25 meters within the rows and 1.0 meters between rows. Watermelon is planted at 1.0 meters meter between individual watermeleon plants. Sugar Baby, the watermelon variety grown in the areas, takes 120 days to mature. It produces melons with bright red flesh. This means that both maize and the water melon are harvested around the same time.

Watermelons like loamy, fertile, well-drained soil. Using a hoe, form mounds of earth (hills) to plant seeds in. Place 3 or 4 holes into the soil with a tool or your finger, about 2.5 cm deep. Place 1 to 4 seeds in each hole, then rake the soil flat over the top of the seeds, and lightly press the soil to pack it sufficiently to keep the moisture from quickly evaporating around the seed. Plant the seed directly into the ground. Keep the soil moist (50-60% moisture content) around the seeds during the germination period, water close enough so that the water reaches the small roots which are in the process of forming. When the seedlings grow, thin them down to the two strongest, to give the strong one room to grow. You should water at least once daily. Mulching soil under the vines helps suppress weeds and slows moisture evaporation.

The major limitation for which farmers detest this technology is that both maize and water melon take a lot of nutrients from the soil that need to be replaced periodically. Since water melon, unlike beans and soy bean, requires spraying, the profitability of this technology may be reduced by these input costs. Furthermore, there are several varieties of water melon that may perform differently in different soils and also have different preferences by consumers. So, there is need to evaluate the market potential of this technology.

Major benefits are increased income, employment, an additional food source, the minimisation of production risks and reduction of production costs by having many fields. The technology increases resilience and income security. Watermelons provide soil cover while maize provides shade to the melons.

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:

2015

2.7 Introduction of the Technology

Specify how the Technology was introduced:

• through land users' innovation

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

• improve production
• reduce risk of disasters
• adapt to climate change/ extremes and its impacts
• create beneficial economic impact
• create beneficial social impact

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

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:

• 2

3.4 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• rotational systems (crop rotation, fallows, shifting cultivation)
• improved ground/ vegetation cover
• minimal soil disturbance

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:

Response to crop potential failure due to increased drought

3.8 Prevention, reduction, or restoration of land degradation

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

• adapt to land degradation

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

4.2 Technical specifications/ explanations of technical drawing

Spacing between maize rows is 1.0 meter. The spacing within rows of maize is 0.25 meter.
Watermelons are planted at a spacing of 3m between rows and 3m within rows i.e. 3m by 3m.
Planting for both crops is done by direct sowing at the start of the rainy season.
Mulching and is done to reduce the need for weeding and to conserve soil moisture.
Spraying of watermelon against fungal infection is done (3 times). The first time one month after planting, the second time when the plants flower and the third time, when the fruits are fully formed.
Both crops are harvested after 3-4 months.

4.3 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

Specify how costs and inputs were calculated:

• per Technology unit

other/ national currency (specify):

Uganda Shillings

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

3500.0

4.4 Establishment activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing
1.	Clearing of land	Management	Every season
2.	Pitting and sawing of seed	Agronomic	Every season
3.	Mulching	Agronomic	Every season
4.	Spraying of water melon against fungal diseases	Agronomic	Three times every season
5.	Harvesting	Agronomic	End of cropping season
6.	Marketing	Management	Every end of cropping 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	Land preparation	Acre	1.0	150000.0	150000.0	100.0
Labour	Pitting and sawing	Acre	1.0	100000.0	100000.0	100.0
Labour	Mulching	Acre	1.0	200000.0	200000.0	100.0
Labour	Spraying	Acre	1.0	100000.0	100000.0	100.0
Equipment	HandHoe for digging	1	4.0	5000.0	20000.0	100.0
Plant material	Seeds - watermelon	kg	2.0	100000.0	200000.0	50.0
Plant material	Seeds - maize	kg	10.0	5000.0	50000.0	50.0
Fertilizers and biocides	NPK	kg	100.0	2000.0	200000.0	20.0
Fertilizers and biocides	Urea	kg	100.0	2000.0	200000.0	20.0
Fertilizers and biocides	Fungicides	Liters	15.0	20000.0	300000.0	20.0
Fertilizers and biocides	Knapsack sprayer	Piece	1.0	200000.0	200000.0	50.0
Construction material	Mulching material	Bundles	50.0	5000.0	250000.0	100.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology					1970000.0

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

The supporting organisation subsidized the cost of seeds, fertilizer and biocides.

4.6 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing/ frequency
1.	Planting	Agronomic	Every season
2.	Mulching	Agronomic	Every season
3.	Spraying	Agronomic	Three times a season

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	Planting	Acre	1.0	150000.0	150000.0	100.0
Labour	Mulching	Acre	1.0	200000.0	200000.0	100.0
Labour	Spraying	Acre	1.0	100000.0	100000.0	100.0
Plant material	Seeds - Water melon	kg	2.0	100000.0	200000.0	50.0
Plant material	Seeds - Maize	kg	10.0	5000.0	50000.0	50.0
Fertilizers and biocides	NPK	kg	100.0	2000.0	200000.0	20.0
Fertilizers and biocides	Urea	kg	100.0	2000.0	200000.0	20.0
Fertilizers and biocides	Fungicides	Liters	10.0	20000.0	200000.0	20.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology					1300000.0

4.8 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

Cost of seeds, fertilizer and spraying are the items mainly affecting costs

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

Indicate if the Technology is specifically applied in:

• not relevant

5.3 Soils

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 owned or leased by land users applying the Technology

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

Land ownership:

• individual, not titled

Land use rights:

• individual

Water use rights:

• individual

5.9 Access to services and infrastructure

6.1 On-site impacts the Technology has shown

Socio-economic impacts

Production

Ecological impacts

Climate and disaster risk reduction

6.2 Off-site impacts the Technology has shown

Comments regarding impact assessment:

No obvious off-site impacts are observed

6.3 Exposure and sensitivity of the Technology to gradual climate change and climate-related extremes/ disasters (as perceived by land users)

Climate-related extremes (disasters)

Climatological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
drought	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)?

6.5 Adoption of the Technology

• 1-10%

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

• 10-50%

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
Increase diversification in production
Improved soil conservation by mulching and fertilizer application

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?
Nutrient mining by both crops	Application of adequate levels of fertilizer to replenish soil nutrient stocks
Low labour availability due to rural-urban migration by the youth	Mechanize farming practices

7.1 Methods/ sources of information

7.2 References to available publications

Title, author, year, ISBN:

N/a

7.3 Links to relevant information which is available online

Title/ description:

N/a