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

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

Soil Conservation Office of Yongchun (SCOY) - China

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:

Yes

2.1 Short description of the Approach

Comprehensive control measures including the bahia grass interplantation in the orchards.

2.2 Detailed description of the Approach

Detailed description of the Approach:

Bahia grass interplanted in the orchards aims to improve the ground cover and prevent the water erosion; The project had been implemented between 1991 and 2000. Through the demonstration site, helping the farmers to plant bahia grass in the orchards. The governments at county and township levels and the soil conservation departments are the organizers, the farmers are the main community to implement the project.

2.3 Photos of the Approach

2.5 Country/ region/ locations where the Approach has been applied

2.6 Dates of initiation and termination of the Approach

2.7 Type of Approach

• project/ programme based

2.8 Main aims/ objectives of the Approach

Interplanted bahia grass in the orchards so as to increase the ground cover percentage, prevent runoff occur or erosion, increase the soil organic matters and improve the orchards benefits; Changing the traditional cultivation customs, guide the farmers to manage the orchards scientifically so as to prevent the soil erosion, improve the growing conditions of fruit trees.
The SLM Approach addressed the following problems: At the beginning of the program, farmers did not fully realize the measure of bahia grass interplantation in orchards, because the measure did not accord with traditional method so that it was very hard for farmers to accept; The germinant percentage of the bahia grass was comparatively low; Lack of funds.

2.9 Conditions enabling or hindering implementation of the Technology/ Technologies applied under the Approach

3.1 Stakeholders involved in the Approach and their roles

3.2 Involvement of local land users/ local communities in the different phases of the Approach

	Involvement of local land users/ local communities	Specify who was involved and describe activities
initiation/ motivation	self-mobilization	Mainly:public meetings; partly: workshops/seminars; convening the mobilization meeting, and special workshop
planning	interactive	Mainly: rapid/participatory rural appraisal; partly: public meetings
implementation	external support	responsibility for minor steps
monitoring/ evaluation	interactive	measurements/observations;
Research	interactive	on-station

3.4 Decision-making on the selection of SLM Technology/ Technologies

Specify who decided on the selection of the Technology/ Technologies to be implemented:

• mainly SLM specialists, following consultation with land users

Explain:

Decisions on the method of implementing the SLM Technology were made by by politicians / leaders: directive (top-down), county government made the decision

4.1 Capacity building/ training

Was training provided to land users/ other stakeholders?

Yes

Specify who was trained:

• land users

• SWC specialists, planners (2)

Form of training:

• farmer-to-farmer
• demonstration areas
• courses

Subjects covered:

bahia grass plantation technique and citrus cooperation between Fujian & Taiwan Provinces.

4.2 Advisory service

Do land users have access to an advisory service?

Yes

Describe/ comments:

Name of method used for advisory service: Meeting, technical training & materials; Key elements: Technique training, demonstration; 1) Mainly: projects own extension structure and agents, Partly: government's existing extension system 2) Mainly: projects own extension structure and agents, Partly: government's existing extension system; Extension staff: mainly government employees 3) Target groups for extension: technicians/SWC specialists; Activities: training
Advisory service is quite adequate to ensure the continuation of land conservation activities; governmental propaganda, soil conservation extension, application of soil conservation measures, improving the benefit and encourage the farmers to voluntary participate in the project.

4.3 Institution strengthening (organizational development)

Have institutions been established or strengthened through the Approach?

• yes, moderately

Specify the level(s) at which institutions have been strengthened or established:

• local

Specify type of support:

• financial
• capacity building/ training

• policy

4.4 Monitoring and evaluation

Is monitoring and evaluation part of the Approach?

Yes

Comments:

bio-physical aspects were ad hoc monitored through observations
technical aspects were regular monitored through measurements
socio-cultural aspects were ad hoc monitored through observations
economic / production aspects were monitored through measurements
area treated aspects were monitored through measurements
land users involved aspects were monitored through observations
There were no changes in the Approach as a result of monitoring and evaluation

4.5 Research

Was research part of the Approach?

Yes

Specify topics:

• ecology

Give further details and indicate who did the research:

Bahia grass interplantion project is the research project of the county soil conservation experimental station.
Research was carried out both on station and on-farm

5.1 Annual budget for the SLM component of the Approach

If precise annual budget is not known, indicate range:

• > 1,000,000

Comments (e.g. main sources of funding/ major donors):

Approach costs were met by the following donors: government (National - counterpart funds): 12.0%; local community / land user(s) (agriculture comprehensive develop. Fund): 17.0%; other (local farmer input(labor)): 71.0%

5.2 Financial/ material support provided to land users

Did land users receive financial/ material support for implementing the Technology/ Technologies?

Yes

5.3 Subsidies for specific inputs (including labour)

• equipment

• agricultural

• infrastructure

If labour by land users was a substantial input, was it:

• paid in cash

Comments:

subsidy according to the development areas, labour rewarded with other materials as well

5.4 Credit

Was credit provided under the Approach for SLM activities?

Yes

Specify conditions (interest rate, payback, etc.):

Interest rate charged: 0.5%; repayment conditions: repay year by year after the fruit trees yield.
Interest was lower than market rate.

6.1 Impacts of the Approach

6.3 Sustainability of Approach activities

Can the land users sustain what has been implemented through the Approach (without external support)?

• yes

6.4 Strengths/ advantages of the Approach

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view
Bahia grass interplantation in the orchards (especially in the young orchards) is the most effective method for the soil conservation. (How to sustain/ enhance this strength: strengthening the training and extension in order to improve the farmers' SWC knowledge.)

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
Bahia grass interplantation in the orchards (especially in the young orchards) is the most effective method for the soil conservation. (How to sustain/ enhance this strength: strengthening the scientific guidance so as to improve the farmers' knowledge.)
Mountain and hilly areas closure is an ideal measure with less input and fast effect. (How to sustain/ enhance this strength: Enhancing management.)

6.5 Weaknesses/ disadvantages of the Approach and ways of overcoming them

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view	How can they be overcome?
Low percentage of seeds germination for bahia grass.	Strengthening the experimental study to solve the problem.

7.1 Methods/ sources of information

7.2 References to available publications

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Acceptance Materials for the Shan Huxi Small Watershed Cosntruction Project.

Available from where? Costs?

Soil & Water Conservation Office of Yongchun County