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)

National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO) - Uganda

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

When were the data compiled (in the field)?

23/01/2018

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:

A fish pond for intensive commercial fish farming is constructed in the backyard of the farmer's home for easy management. The pond is lined with a tarpaulin interior and is connected to a water source for water supply during the seasons of water scarcitiy.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

The backyard fish pond farming system is a simple commercial fish farming system established close to the farmers’ home stead. It is planned to ease management of rearing the fish and to minimize maintenance costs. The system is also designed to harvest rain water and overflow which eases filling and emptying of the pond with water. The walls of the ponds are lined with tarpaulin and the banks are strengthened with timber or brick work to prevent breaking of the walls. The three ponds in Bushenyi-Kigoma are located on a gentle slope and designed with a trench that feeds them with rain water from the rain harvest reservoir up slope. They were constructed in 2013 and are located a meter away from a live fence enclosing the farmer’s house. This makes it easy for the farmer to access, monitor and manage the fish ponds.

The establishment process for each pond is simple and may not require technical skills to set up the system. The activities involved include:

i.Excavation of the pond, which is best done during the dry season to avoid interruption by runoff.
ii.Strengthening of banks using timber and nails (some farmers use brinks, cement and sand)
iii.Lining of the water proof tarpaulin on the interior of the pond.
iv.Construction of a water channel from the water reservoir to the pond and fixing of overflow pipes at the deeper end of the ponds.
v.Filling the pond with water and applying animal dug to fertilize the ponds. This creates a favorable environment for growth of microorganisms and algae on which fish can feed.
vi.The fish fingerlings are introduced into the pond two weeks after fertilization with animal dug.

The maintenance activities include; cleaning of ponds from contamination of objects, changing of the pond water on a monthly basis to avoid contamination that may lead to infestation and application of organic fertilizers.

Establishment requires a hoe, panga, dibber, spade, wheel barrow, hammer and the trowel. The inputs include; timber, tarpaulin, cement, garters bricks, sand, nails, plastic pipe, water, animal dung, fish pellets and fish fingerlings. These where used to construct a pond 5 m × 4 m × 3 m i.e length × width × depth respectively, with a maximum carrying capacity of 500 cat fish.
The costs of setting up the system are relatively affordable to the average local people according to the farmer. The key determinants are hiring labor to excavate the ponds, construction of a water channel and stocking fish fingerlings which are all locally available. The maintenance activities involve daily feeding of fish, cleaning in case of contamination, changing the pond water every 3 months and harvesting of fish at 7 months of age. The farmer spends USD $ 164.65 on establishment of the pond system including, exaction costs, equipment, materials and stocking fingerlings (USD $ 0.033 each). The farmer spends USD$ 21.99 on premixed feeds before harvesting the fish after seven months. The cat fish are harvested with 3-5 kg liveweight after 7 months and sold at USD$ 2.75 to wholesale buyers from Kasese District.

The intensive fish farming system is designed to demand minimal labor for feeding the fish, cleaning the pond, replacing water and harvesting fish. The system is also adapted to water scarcity in the dry season since it is connected to a rain water harvest system; regular changing of pond water improves visibility, removes algae, replenishes oxygen and minimizes possible infections in the pond.

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:

2016

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.):

Intensive back yard fish farming.

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

• improve production
• reduce, prevent, restore land degradation
• reduce risk of disasters
• adapt to climate change/ extremes and its impacts
• create beneficial economic impact

• Beauty

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:

• mixed rainfed-irrigated

Comments:

The farmer harvests roof top water and channels it into the ponds during times of water scarcity

Number of growing seasons per year:

• 2

Specify:

March - May & Sept - Nov

Livestock density (if relevant):

500 fish per 5m×4m×3m in length, width and depth respectively

3.4 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• beekeeping, aquaculture, poultry, rabbit farming, silkworm farming, etc.
• home gardens

3.5 Spread of the Technology

Specify the spread of the Technology:

• applied at specific points/ concentrated on a small area

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

Comments:

The intensive method utilizes small space for high quantity fish production and therefore reduces the conversion of large pieces of land to fish farming

3.8 Prevention, reduction, or restoration of land degradation

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

• reduce land degradation

Comments:

The design promotes intensive methods to utilize small space for high quantity fish production and therefore reduces the conversion of large pieces of land to fish farming.

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

4.2 Technical specifications/ explanations of technical drawing

The water ponds are constructed with 5m × 4m × 3 m i.e length × width × depth. The ponds are on a gentle slope a meter away from a live fence. The ponds are lined with a water proof tarpaulin. The banks are strengthened with wood fixed together with nails.

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):

Ugandan shilling

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

3650.0

4.4 Establishment activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing
1.	Excavation	Structural	In the dry season
2.	Fixing of tarpaulin and timber on the banks	Structural	After excavation
3.	Filling pond with water and fertilizing with animal dug	Management	After fixing walls
4.	Stocking the pond	Other measures	2 days after filling pond with water and fertilization
5.	Connecting a water channel from the water reservoir with a pvc pipe at end the end leading to the pond	Structural	After excavation.

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	Construction labour	man day	5.0	50000.0	250000.0	100.0
Equipment	Hoe hire	per day	500.0	5.0	2500.0	100.0
Equipment	Panga hire	per day	500.0	5.0	2500.0	100.0
Equipment	Spade hire	per day	500.0	5.0	2500.0	100.0
Equipment	Hammer hire	per day	500.0	5.0	2500.0	100.0
Equipment	Wheel barrow hire	per day	500.0	5.0	2500.0	100.0
Equipment	Metallic tray	per day	500.0	5.0	2500.0	100.0
Plant material	Fish fingerlings	pieces	500.0	500.0	250000.0	100.0
Fertilizers and biocides	Animal Dung	kg	50.0	120.0	6000.0	100.0
Construction material	Tarpaulin	pieces	1.0	45000.0	45000.0	100.0
Construction material	Timber	pieces	8.0	3000.0	24000.0	100.0
Construction material	Nails	Kg	0.5	8000.0	4000.0	100.0
Construction material	Hose Pipe	Pieces	2.0	5000.0	10000.0	100.0
Other	Water	Liters	500.0	10.0	5000.0	100.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology					609000.0

4.6 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing/ frequency
1.	Feeding	Management	Once daily
2.	Cleaning	Management	Once a week
3.	Changing the water	Management	Every three months
4.	Harvesting	Management	Every 7months

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	Cleaning	man day	1.0	5000.0	5000.0	100.0
Labour	Feeding	man day	1.0	600000.0	600000.0	100.0
Labour	Replacement of water	man day	1.0	100000.0	100000.0	100.0
Labour	Harvesting	manday	2.0	5000.0	10000.0	100.0
Equipment	Slasher	piece	2.0	8000.0	16000.0	100.0
Equipment	Hoe	piece	2.0	15000.0	30000.0	100.0
Equipment	Bucket	piece	2.0	6000.0	12000.0	100.0
Fertilizers and biocides	Cow dug	tones	1.0	250000.0	250000.0	100.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology					1023000.0

4.8 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

Excavation of ponds and stocking of fish fingerlings. Excavation is done once at the start of the project. The labour required for operation and maintenance is minimal compared to conventional fish farming methods.

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?

Ja

Specify:

Cat fish doesn't thrive well in saline waters, the longer the water stays in the pond the more salts it accumulates due to waste from fish and feeds being used hence need for replacement every three months.

Is flooding of the area occurring?

Nee

5.5 Biodiversity

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

Indicate other relevant characteristics of the land users:

The project belongs to a household of 5 children and parents in their 45-50 years

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
• individual, titled

Land use rights:

• individual

Water use rights:

• communal (organized)
• individual

5.9 Access to services and infrastructure

6.1 On-site impacts the Technology has shown

Socio-economic impacts

Production

Income and costs

Ecological impacts

Water cycle/ runoff

Soil

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)

Climate-related extremes (disasters)

Climatological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
drought	very well

Comments:

During the dry season, the water harvested from the roof top is used to replenish the water in the ponds

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

• 10-50%

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

• 50-90%

6.6 Adaptation

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

Ja

If yes, indicate to which changing conditions it was adapted:

• labour availability (e.g. due to migration)

Specify adaptation of the Technology (design, material/ species, etc.):

The system is designed to harvest water on roof tops and deliver it in the fishponds, Some of the harvested water is reserved for replenishing of water in the ponds during times of scarcity

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view
Easy management since most of the tedious work is at establishment
Easy to harvest the fish since many fish are keep in a small pond/tarpaulin

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
There is rady market for the fish
Rain Water harvesting reduces impacts of climate change on the fish production especially in the dry season/times of scarcity
Source of proteins for the public that buy the fish for sauce

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?
At times of extreme dry season, the farmer may face challenges of water scarcity	Establishment of big enough water reservoirs

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view	How can they be overcome?
Due to high stock ratio, the fish are prone to diseases/parasites in case of any break out	Reduction in the stocking rate, the farmer should farther maintain the hygiene and precaution in management

7.1 Methods/ sources of information

7.3 Links to relevant information which is available online

Title/ description:

Rear fish in your backyard with harvested rainwater

URL:

http://www.monitor.co.ug/Magazines/Farming/Rear-fish-backyard-harvested-rainwater/689860-2997914-vacgkk/index.html