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)

Tajik Soil Insitute (Tajik Soil Institute) - Tajikistan

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

CDE Centre for Development and Environment (CDE Centre for Development and Environment) - Switzerland

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

Tajik Academy of Agricultural Sciences (Tajik Academy of Agricultural Sciences) - Tajikistan

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

When were the data compiled (in the field)?

21/06/2010

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:

An individual farmer family, has changed an overgrazed pasture area on a steep slope in the upper part of the village into an irrigated agro-biodiversity system, by constructing an irrigation canal, by tilling and removing stones from the terraces for crop production and afforesting the surrounding area with fruit trees and bushes.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

Establishment / maintenance activities and inputs: The site was established in 1989, with the construction of an irrigation canal. The canal brings water from a small watershed and the slowly melting snow fields within. In years with limited snowfall, the water is insufficient for irrigation throughout the summer months.It is a open, mud canal, 730 m long. When establishing new cropland, removal of stones from the plots is the most laborious part of the work. After an initial removal of stones, the land is tilled and appearing stones are again removed. This process is repeated several times.
Year round maintenance work is required to keep the canal functioning. Maintenance work on the cropland includes stone removal, manuring of potatoes fields, weeding and tilling.

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:

• as part of a traditional system (> 50 years)

Comments (type of project, etc.):

A traditional agroforestry system is implemented on a steep slope above the village, as there is a lack of flatter cropland. This requires improved and carefully adapted land practices.

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

• improve production
• conserve ecosystem

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

Comments:

Major land use problems (compiler’s opinion): Water scarcity is the major factor limiting vegetation growth and agricultural production in this arid areas. The soils are stony and slopes are steep (20-30 degrees).
The area is irrigated from streams fed by snow and glacier melting, and therefore water availability is strongly depending on yearly snow precipitation. If due to climate change snowfalls are decreasing in the future, this is a threat for agriculture in the region.

Major land use problems (land users’ perception): As the area is on steep slopes there is a high risk of small land slides triggered by irrigation. Fast snow melting in spring time may also cause land slides.

Future (final) land use (after implementation of SLM Technology): Mixed: Mf: Agroforestry

Type of cropping system and major crops comments: Old wallnut forests are used for agroforestry: there are potato, wheat, alfa-alfa and vegetable gardens below the nut trees.
Newly irrigated areas, are without wallnut trees and used for annual cropping and for perennial cropping.

Livestock is grazing on crop residues

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:

• full irrigation

Number of growing seasons per year:

• 1

Specify:

Longest growing period in days: 150Longest growing period from month to month: May - September

3.4 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• agroforestry
• cross-slope measure
• irrigation management (incl. water supply, drainage)

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)

Comments:

This technology can be found all along Vanj valley.

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

Comments:

Main measures: management measures

Secondary measures: agronomic measures, vegetative measures, structural measures

Type of agronomic measures: manure / compost / residues, mineral (inorganic) fertilizers, breaking crust / sealed surface, breaking compacted topsoil, contour tillage

Type of vegetative measures: aligned: -contour, scattered / dispersed

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

Comments:

Main type of degradation addressed: Wm: mass movements / landslides, Cn: fertility decline and reduced organic matter content, Bc: reduction of vegetation cover, Bq: quantity / biomass decline, Bs: quality and species composition /diversity decline

Secondary types of degradation addressed: Wt: loss of topsoil / surface erosion, Pc: compaction, Bh: loss of habitats, Bl: loss of soil life

Main causes of degradation: overgrazing, droughts (in years with droughts part of the perennial vegetation may dry up), land tenure (common grazing land), inputs and infrastructure: (roads, markets, distribution of water points, other, …) (access to irrigation water, access to markets)

Secondary causes of degradation: poverty / wealth (early grazing, overgrazing), labour availability (mostly manual work and thus labour intensiv), governance / institutional (limited access to market, no water association)

3.8 Prevention, reduction, or restoration of land degradation

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

• reduce land degradation

Comments:

Main goals: mitigation / reduction of land degradation

4.2 Technical specifications/ explanations of technical drawing

Technical knowledge required for land users: moderate (Vast practical knowledge is required, through practical experiments, the practices were improved over time.)

Main technical functions: improvement of ground cover, improvement of topsoil structure (compaction), increase in organic matter, increase of biomass (quantity), promotion of vegetation species and varieties (quality, eg palatable fodder), spatial arrangement and diversification of land use

Secondary technical functions: control of raindrop splash, control of dispersed runoff: impede / retard, control of concentrated runoff: drain / divert, stabilisation of soil (eg by tree roots against land slides), increase in nutrient availability (supply, recycling,…), increase of infiltration, increase / maintain water stored in soil

Agronomic measure: crop rotation on wheat fields
Material/ species: perennial fodder plants (alfa-alfa)
Remarks: high density of alfa-alfa plants

Manure / compost / residues
Material/ species: cow manure
Quantity/ density: 15
Remarks: for patatoe fields

Mineral (inorganic) fertilizers
Material/ species: "super phosphat" or "silitra"
Quantity/ density: 0.025
Remarks: for wheat fields

Breaking crust / sealed surface
Material/ species: tilling using 2 ochs
Remarks: for wheat and patatoe fields

Breaking compacted topsoil
Material/ species: tilling using 2 ochs
Remarks: for wheat and patatoe fields

Contour tillage
Material/ species: tilling using 2 ochs
Remarks: for wheat and patatoe fields

Aligned: -contour
Vegetative material: T : trees / shrubs, F : fruit trees / shrubs, G : grass

Scattered / dispersed
Vegetative material: T : trees / shrubs, F : fruit trees / shrubs, G : grass

Trees/ shrubs species: willow, "sangid", "Jachman bushes", "Kort (big bush)";

Fruit trees / shrubs species: sea-buckthorn, walnut, plum, appel, pear, apricot, mirabelle, whitethorn, cherry, dog rose

Grass species: graminoids and legumes

Diversion ditch/ drainage
Depth of ditches/pits/dams (m): 0.3
Width of ditches/pits/dams (m): 0.5
Length of ditches/pits/dams (m): 2500

Waterway
Depth of ditches/pits/dams (m): 0.5
Width of ditches/pits/dams (m): 1
Length of ditches/pits/dams (m): 750

Construction material (earth): The waterways are all dug into the ground, and are mostly fortified with bushes and trees.

Vegetation is used for stabilisation of structures.

Change of land use type: extensive grazing to agroforestry

Layout change according to natural and human environment: carefully designed layout taking advantage of flatter areas for cultivation of annual crops, and protecting steep slopes with perennial tree and bush cover

Control / change of species composition: mix of cultivated and wild plants (trees, bushes and grasses)

4.3 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

other/ national currency (specify):

Tajik Somoni

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

4.4

4.4 Establishment activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing
1.	Planting of willows, cherry, pears	Vegetative	spring
2.	Construction of irrigation canal	Structural	autumn
3.	Construction of on-farm water distribution network	Structural	spring
4.	Alfa-alfa seeds (12kg/ha)	Agronomic	for 4 years, then can produce own seeds

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	Planting of willows, cherry, pears	Persons/day	1.0			100.0
Labour	Construction irrigation canal	Persons/day	100.0	30.0	3000.0	100.0
Labour	Construction of on-farm water distribution network	Persons/day	30.0	30.0	900.0
Plant material	Alfa-alfa seeds	kg/ha	6.0	20.0	120.0	100.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology					4020.0

4.6 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing/ frequency
1.	Wheat (barley) sowing	Agronomic	anually
2.	Wheat (barley) sowing	Agronomic
3.	Tilling potato fields	Agronomic	3 times per growing season
4.	Irrigating wheat (barley, alfa-alfa)	Agronomic	times per growing season
5.	Planting potato	Agronomic	during planting
6.	Planting potato	Agronomic
7.	Applying fertilizer to wheat fields	Agronomic	3 times per growing period
8.	Maintenance of canal and on-farm water distribution network	Structural	spring and after rains

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	Sowing wheat with ochses	Persons/day	1.0	40.0	40.0	100.0
Labour	Tilling with ochses	Persons/day	6.0	40.0	240.0
Labour	Irrigating wheat, barley alfalfa	Persons/day	6.0	30.0	180.0
Labour	Planting potatoe	Persons/day	8.0	30.0	240.0
Equipment	Ochses for wheat sowing	Ochses/ha	2.0	50.0	100.0	100.0
Equipment	Ochses for potatoe tilling	Ochses/ha	6.0	30.0	180.0	100.0
Equipment	Donkey for carrying dung to the fields	loads	120.0	0.66666	80.0
Equipment	Labour: Going with donkeys	Persons/day	8.0	40.0	320.0
Plant material	Wheat seeds	kg	200.0	1.2	240.0
Fertilizers and biocides	Compost/manure	tons	12.0	50.0	600.0
Fertilizers and biocides	Poatoe seedling	kg	800.0	1.0	800.0
Fertilizers and biocides	Fertilizer for wheats	kg	140.0	0.58571	82.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology					3102.0

Comments:

Costs were calculated fro an area of 5 ha. The length of the irrigation channel from the creek to the plot is 730 m.

4.8 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

With regard to the establishment costs, the most determining factors are: the distance to the creek from where water is channeled away and the steepness of the slope and amount of stones when preparing the land for annual cropping. With regard to the maintenance costs it is the exposure of the water channel to rock fall and small land slides.

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

Comments and further specifications on topography:

Altitudinal zone: 2240 m a.s.l.

5.3 Soils

If available, attach full soil description or specify the available information, e.g. soil type, soil PH/ acidity, Cation Exchange Capacity, nitrogen, salinity etc.

Soil fertility is low

Soil drainage / infiltration is good

Soil water storage capacity is medium

5.4 Water availability and quality

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

Population density: 10-50 persons/km2

Annual population growth: 1% - 2%

5% of the land users are very rich.
10% of the land users are rich.
70% of the land users are average wealthy.
15% of the land users are poor.
10% of the land users are poor.

Off-farm income specification: The here described farmers family has very limited off-farm income. The farm provides sufficient fuel, fodder, fruits and potatoes for subsistence farming.
In general, seasonal migration to Russia is widespread in the area, which provides additional income in form of remittances. Only households with only young children, elderly and sick persons have no family member working in Russian.

Level of mechanization: One uses ochses for plowing, motorized is really rare.

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

Land use rights:

• individual

Water use rights:

• individual

Comments:

The land use right for the individual farmer is documented with an official land user certificate.
Water use right has been agreed on with the village council.

5.9 Access to services and infrastructure

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	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	not well

Other climate-related consequences

Other climate-related consequences

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

6.5 Adoption of the Technology

• single cases/ experimental

If available, quantify (no. of households and/ or area covered):

1 Household

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

• 90-100%