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)

Agency for Technical Cooperation and Development Tajikistan (ACTED Tajikistan) - Tajikistan

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

When were the data compiled (in the field)?

03/05/2011

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 Technology

Definition of the Technology:

Planting of trees and bushes in the rain fed slope areas by using mulching, rain water harvesting and organic fertilizers

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

6 vulnerable households are selected to carry out this pilot activity. They maintain terraced plots of 0.01 ha (10m x 10m) each. Households fence the entire area to protect it against animals. The plots are constructed on the slope of a hill by digging terraces/steps with intervals of 1m. 10 fruit seedlings are planted along one row and 10 rows are planted in total. In some areas where there is a probem with watering of new seedlings simple basin covered with plastic sheet could be installed in order to harvest rain water for the purpose of irrigation of seedling in ht summer periods or when there is a lack of water

Purpose of the Technology: The terracing will help to mitigate wind erosion by preventing top soil losses. The terraces will also provide protection against water erosion by catching water and improving natural infiltration of water. The terraced plot also provides an economic benefit to land users by functioning as an orchard.

Establishment / maintenance activities and inputs: The criteria for the establishment of the plots are the local conditions: this takes into account the sensitivity of the land to erosion, that the land is rainfed, and the vulnerability of households in or near the potential target areas/slopes. If the criteria are met, households then establish a fenced area of 0.01 ha in the target slope/area. They receive the task of planting and maintaining the orchard plots by watering (if necessary), pruning, mulching, and using organic fertilizers.

Natural / human environment: The issue with the target area/slopes is that they suffer from water or wind erosion. Therefore, they require terraced plots to mitigate the effects of erosion. In terms of human influence, the lands have either been overgrazed and were unproductive for vulnerable households in the area.

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.):

This technology has been in use since the 1940ies / 50ies. It is mainly used by the local population in rural areas.

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

• reduce, prevent, restore land degradation

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

Comments:

Major land use problems (compiler’s opinion): water insufficiency for irrigation purposes
Major land use problems (land users’ perception): water insufficiency, especially in summer period
Future (final) land use (after implementation of SLM Technology): Mixed: Mf: Agroforestry

If land use has changed due to the implementation of the Technology, indicate land use before implementation of the Technology:

Grazing land: 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: 120; Longest growing period from month to month: February-May

3.4 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• cross-slope measure
• water harvesting

3.5 Spread of the Technology

Specify the spread of the Technology:

• evenly spread over an area

Comments:

Total area covered by the SLM Technology is 0.0006 km2.
6 demoplots established in 6 different jamoats of Farkhor district, each demonstration plot area is 0.01 ha.

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

Comments:

Type of vegetative measures: aligned: -linear

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

Comments:

Main causes of degradation: deforestation / removal of natural vegetation (incl. forest fires) (Cutting of trees by people), other human induced causes (specify) (Cutting of forests for wood), change of seasonal rainfall (Insufficient rainfalls), population pressure (overgrazing of animals on the same area)
Secondary causes of degradation: overgrazing

3.8 Prevention, reduction, or restoration of land degradation

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

• restore/ rehabilitate severely degraded land

4.2 Technical specifications/ explanations of technical drawing

The plots are constructed on the slope of a hill by digging terraces/steps with intervals of 1m. 10 fruit seedlings are planted along one row and 10 rows are planted in total. In some areas where there is a probem with watering of new seedlings simple basin covered with plastic sheet could be installed in order to harvest rain water for the purpose of irrigation of seedling in ht summer periods or when there is a lack of water. Beside this all plots are surrounded with metalic fence in order to avoid animals from damaging the new palnted seedlings

Farkhor district
Date: 20.12.2011

Technical knowledge required for field staff / advisors: moderate
Technical knowledge required for land users: moderate
Main technical functions: increase / maintain water stored in soil
Secondary technical functions: control of concentrated runoff: drain / divert, reduction of slope angle, improvement of ground cover, improvement of water quality, buffering / filtering water, reduction in wind speed

Aligned: -along boundary
Vegetative material: T : trees / shrubs

Aligned: -linear
Vegetative material: T : trees / shrubs
Number of plants per (ha): 7500
Vertical interval between rows / strips / blocks (m): 2
Spacing between rows / strips / blocks (m): 1
Vertical interval within rows / strips / blocks (m): 1
Width within rows / strips / blocks (m): 1

Trees/ shrubs species: acacia, shrubs
Fruit trees / shrubs species: apple, almond trees, apricot trees, cherry trees, quince trees
Slope (which determines the spacing indicated above): 45%
If the original slope has changed as a result of the Technology, the slope today is (see figure below): 45%
Gradient along the rows / strips: 40%

Terrace: backward sloping
Vertical interval between structures (m): 2
Spacing between structures (m): 1
Depth of ditches/pits/dams (m): 0.4
Width of ditches/pits/dams (m): 0.4
Length of ditches/pits/dams (m): 10

Construction material (other): metal lath and pipes for the poles (stand)
Slope (which determines the spacing indicated above): 45%
If the original slope has changed as a result of the Technology, the slope today is: 45%
Lateral gradient along the structure: 45%
For water harvesting: the ratio between the area where the harvested water is applied and the total area from which water is collected is: 1:0,06
Vegetation is used for stabilisation of structures.

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):

somoni

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

2.46

4.4 Establishment activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing
1.	digging of the holes	Vegetative	in the early spring
2.	planting of trees	Vegetative	in the early spring
3.	Terracing of slope areas	Structural	in the early spring
4.	Fencing of the area	Structural	during planting of the trees
5.	Digging of water harvesting basin	Structural	while esteblishing of terraces

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	Digging of the holes	persons/day/unit	1.0	25.0	25.0
Labour	Planting of trees	persons/day/unit	5.0	25.0	125.0	73.0
Labour	Terracing of slope areas	persons/day	2.0	25.0	50.0	100.0
Labour	Digging of water harvesting basin	person/basin	1.0	30.0	30.0	100.0
Construction material	Fencing of area	unit	1.0	600.0	600.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology					830.0

4.6 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing/ frequency
1.	watering the plants	Vegetative	2 times per week
2.	Mulching the new plants	Vegetative	when it is necessary
3.	using of organic fertilizers for trees	Vegetative	During the planting and after couple of months
4.	rain water harvesting near the kitchen gardens for watering of new trees	Vegetative	when available
5.	Supervision and observing	Structural	on constant base

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	Watering the plants	persons/day	1.0	20.0	20.0	100.0
Labour	Mulching the new plants	persons/day	1.0	20.0	20.0	100.0
Labour	Using of organic fertilizers for trees	persons/day	1.0	20.0	20.0	100.0
Labour	Rain water harvesting near the kitchen gardens for watering of new trees	persons/day	1.0	25.0	25.0	100.0
Fertilizers and biocides	Fertilizer	kg/unit	1000.0	1.0	1000.0	100.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology					1085.0

Comments:

Machinery/ tools: spade, pail, chopper

area used for the technology: fenced plot of 0.01 ha

4.8 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

Soil structure, slope

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

Comments and further specifications on topography:

Soil fertility is low
Soil drainage / infiltration is poor and one of the main reasons of gully forming
Soil water storage capacity is low during dry seasonal periods

5.3 Soils

5.4 Water availability and quality

Comments and further specifications on water quality and quantity:

Water quality (untreated): Mostly hand water pumps

5.5 Biodiversity

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

Indicate other relevant characteristics of the land users:

Land users applying the Technology are mainly common / average land users
Annual population growth: 2% - 3%

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:

• communal/ village

Land use rights:

• leased

5.9 Access to services and infrastructure

6.1 On-site impacts the Technology has shown

Socio-economic impacts

Production

Water availability and quality

Socio-cultural impacts

Ecological impacts

Water cycle/ runoff

Soil

Biodiversity: vegetation, animals

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)

Gradual climate change

Gradual climate change

	Season	Type of climatic change/ extreme	How does the Technology cope with it?
annual temperature		increase	not well

Climate-related extremes (disasters)

Meteorological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
local rainstorm	not well
local windstorm	well

Climatological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
drought	not well

Hydrological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
general (river) flood	well

Other climate-related consequences

Other climate-related consequences

	How does the Technology cope with it?
reduced growing period	well

Comments:

main damage may be caused by droughts, thus plants will feel water insufficiency

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)?

Comments:

Establishment of plots with terracing on slope areas does not demand lots of funding and planting of fruit trees will become a source of alternative income in the near future

6.5 Adoption of the Technology

• single cases/ experimental

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

• 0-10%

Comments:

There is a moderate trend towards spontaneous adoption of the Technology

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
The technology is user-friendly and does not require complicated tools or agro-inputs. Land users can replicate this technology with minimal cost.

6.8 Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks of the Technology and ways of overcoming them

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view	How can they be overcome?
It does rely on climactic conditions. If there is an extended period of dry weather this can have a detrimental effect on the tree seedlings.	By ensuring that land users maintain these plots by regularly watering them and using mulching.

7.1 Methods/ sources of information