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

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

When were the data compiled (in the field)?

02/10/2018

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

The learning and transfer center for land development technology was set up on the farm of the volunteer soil doctor, a farmer who was selected and trained by the Provincial Land Development Station and Land Development Department Regional Office 5 (LDDRO5) in integrated management of saline soils.

2.2 Detailed description of the Approach

Detailed description of the Approach:

The learning and transfer center for land development technology was set up on the farm of the volunteer soil doctor, a farmer who was selected and trained by the Provincial Land Development Station and Land Development Department Regional Office 5 (LDDRO5) in integrated management of saline soils. This center is used as a training facility for meetings, discussions, and sharing knowledge among farmers and officials. In addition, the center is a place to coordinate with other government agencies in the area. The volunteer soil doctor who is a landowner has played a role as coordinator between farmers and government officials: he is also a lecturer. Officers of LDDRO5 had worked on promoting the integrated management of salt-affected soils through this center. Firstly, the LDD local expert and agriculturists had discussed with the volunteer soil doctor about the process of learning and transferring land development technology. This then provided knowledge, and encouraged farmers to change areas that were unsuitable for monocropping of rice to grow other crops as appropriate throughout the year, resulting in continuous and sustainable land use.
In summary the method was as follows:
1. The expert and agriculturists of the LDDRO5 had learned the technology of vegetable production from farmers with more than 25 years of experience, and achieved success in using shallow groundwater for continuous agriculture without being affected by salty groundwater.
2. They then cooperated with the volunteer soil doctor and farmers in the community for design and planning of a land development project that would be implemented in the salt-affected area.
3. The officers of the LDDRO5 set up a forum to exchange knowledge and experiences between successful farmers.
4. The officers collaborated with the government office in the district to train farmers interested in vegetable production in their salt-affected areas.
5. Then, the officers of the LDDRO5 created motivation for farmers to change areas that are not suitable for planting paddy rice to grow vegetables by supporting shallow groundwater wells and pumping with solar energy.

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

This approach was developed to provide knowledge and encourage farmers to change areas that are not suitable for rice planting to grow other crops as appropriate and to create access to the water source for farmers to carry out agricultural activities throughout the year, resulting in continuous and sustainable land use. Furthermore the aim was to provide guidelines for farmers to generate more income.

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	Farmers had developed knowledge and technology by themselves
planning	self-mobilization	Planning by themselves
implementation	interactive	Some farmer had implemented by themselves but some farmers had been supported by the government
monitoring/ evaluation	interactive	Collaborate with government agency to evaluate the area after the project was completed

3.3 Flow chart (if available)

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

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

• land users alone (self-initiative)

Explain:

Farmers had studied by themselves

Specify on what basis decisions were made:

• personal experience and opinions (undocumented)

4.1 Capacity building/ training

Was training provided to land users/ other stakeholders?

Yes

Specify who was trained:

• land users

Form of training:

• farmer-to-farmer

Subjects covered:

Vegetable production in a salt-affected area

Comments:

The topic included vegetable production and using shallow groundwater without the problem of salt

4.2 Advisory service

Do land users have access to an advisory service?

No

4.3 Institution strengthening (organizational development)

Have institutions been established or strengthened through the Approach?

• yes, greatly

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

• local

Describe institution, roles and responsibilities, members, etc.

The learning and transferring center of land development technology was set up in the community to be used as a training facility, for meetings, discussions, and sharing knowledge among farmers and official.

Specify type of support:

• capacity building/ training

Give further details:

Location for a training facility and sharing of knowledge

4.4 Monitoring and evaluation

Is monitoring and evaluation part of the Approach?

Yes

Comments:

Government, volunteer soil doctor and farmer

If yes, is this documentation intended to be used for monitoring and evaluation?

Yes

Comments:

This document will be used for the evaluation guidelines

4.5 Research

Was research part of the Approach?

No

5.1 Annual budget for the SLM component of the Approach

If precise annual budget is not known, indicate range:

• 10,000-100,000

5.2 Financial/ material support provided to land users

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

No

5.3 Subsidies for specific inputs (including labour)

• labour

• equipment

• agricultural

• construction

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

• voluntary

Comments:

Farmer work by themselves but LDD supports production material for producing compost and the farm pond. The volunteer soil doctor is supported with his training also.

5.4 Credit

Was credit provided under the Approach for SLM activities?

No

5.5 Other incentives or instruments

Were other incentives or instruments used to promote implementation of SLM Technologies?

Yes

If yes, specify:

Land Development Department Regional Office 5 supported water pump with the solar energy

6.1 Impacts of the Approach

6.2 Main motivation of land users to implement SLM

6.3 Sustainability of Approach activities

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

• yes

If yes, describe how:

Farmers have a clear understanding and they could develop their farm by themselves

6.4 Strengths/ advantages of the Approach

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view
Farmers can easily access information because the learning and transferring center of land development technology is in the community
Farmers can learn from other successful farmers
Easy to coordinate

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
This center is used as a training facility, for meetings, discussions, and sharing knowledge among farmers and official

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

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the land user’s view	How can they be overcome?
1)The government support did not cover farmers who joined the project	Add more budget for supporting shallow groundwater wells and the solar energy pump

7.1 Methods/ sources of information