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)

Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Ethiopia (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development) - Ethiopia

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

When were the data compiled (in the field)?

18/10/2005

The compiler and key resource person(s) accept the conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT:

Yes

1.5 Reference to Questionnaire(s) on SLM Approaches

2.1 Short description of the Technology

Definition of the Technology:

Stablized bund constructed fron stone and soils on the farm land along the contour and planted with multipurposive plant species

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

The stablized bund is constructed on farm land in order to reduce slope length, angle and there by control soil erosion and enhance moisture/water retention capacity of siols. The bund is established along the contour by digging trench/foundation and place stone walls on the excavated trench. It is stablized by planting grass. The structure is regularly maintained by repairing breaks. Some farmers put on additional height to the bunds as part of the upgrading practice. The technology is suitable to all agroecological conditions, where stones are available for construction.

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.):

It is locally known but with improved techniques. Stone walls are used in the area for making barriers for runoff.

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): Soil erosion, overgrazing, deforestation, encrochment of one type of landuse over the other (competetion between landuse types)

Major land use problems (land users’ perception): declining production, shallow soil depth, infestation of weeds (exotic)

Type of cropping system and major crops comments: Sorghum-teff, maize-beans, teff-check peas, wheat/barley-legumes

3.3 Further information about land use

Water supply for the land on which the Technology is applied:

• rainfed

Comments:

Water supply: Also mixed rainfed - irrigated

Number of growing seasons per year:

• 2

Specify:

Longest growing period in days: 24 0Longest growing period from month to month: May - Dec Second longest growing period in days: 150 Second longest growing period from month to month: Feb - Jun

3.4 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• cross-slope measure

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:

• 10-100 km2

Comments:

Since the implementation of this technology flooding problem has reduced with additional benefit of protecting roads. Communies benefited from ffw payments and activities, production of farm land improved (both crop & fodder)

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

Comments:

Main type of degradation addressed: Wt: loss of topsoil / surface erosion

Secondary types of degradation addressed: Wg: gully erosion / gullying, Wm: mass movements / landslides, Cn: fertility decline and reduced organic matter content

3.8 Prevention, reduction, or restoration of land degradation

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

• reduce land degradation

Comments:

Secondary goals: prevention of land degradation, rehabilitation / reclamation of denuded land

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

4.2 Technical specifications/ explanations of technical drawing

Amhara

Technical knowledge required for field staff / advisors: moderate

Technical knowledge required for land users: moderate

Main technical functions: reduction of slope angle, reduction of slope length

Secondary technical functions: control of dispersed runoff: retain / trap, control of dispersed runoff: impede / retard, increase of infiltration, increase / maintain water stored in soil, water harvesting / increase water supply

Aligned: -contour
Vertical interval between rows / strips / blocks (m): 1m
Spacing between rows / strips / blocks (m): 10m
Vertical interval within rows / strips / blocks (m): 0.25-0.5m

Trees/ shrubs species: pigeon pea, sesbania sesban, treelucern

Bund/ bank: level
Vertical interval between structures (m): 1m
Spacing between structures (m): 10m
Depth of ditches/pits/dams (m): 0.5m
Width of ditches/pits/dams (m): 0.5m
Length of ditches/pits/dams (m): 166m
Height of bunds/banks/others (m): 0.7m
Width of bunds/banks/others (m): 0.5-1.20m
Length of bunds/banks/others (m): 170m

Construction material (earth): dig earth and form an embankment

Construction material (stone): place stone wall at downslope side to support earth embankment

Slope (which determines the spacing indicated above): 12%

If the original slope has changed as a result of the Technology, the slope today is: 0%

Lateral gradient along the structure: 0%

Vegetation is used for stabilisation of structures.

4.3 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

other/ national currency (specify):

Birr

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

8.6

4.4 Establishment activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing
1.	contour tillage	Vegetative	uly/during crop sowing
2.	contour planting	Vegetative	July/during crop sowing
3.	collection of stones	Structural	dry season/off-season
4.	layout and design	Structural	dry season/off-season
5.	excavation of foundation & trenches	Structural	dry season/off-season
6.	forming of embankment	Structural	dry season/off-season
7.	compaction	Structural	dry season/off-season
8.	sow/plant tree/grass species	Structural	onset of rain

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	Labour	ha	1.0	170.0	170.0
Labour	Weeding	ha	1.0	47.0	47.0	100.0
Labour	Harvesting	ha	1.0	23.0	23.0	100.0
Equipment	Animal traction	ha	1.0	35.0	35.0	100.0
Equipment	Tools	ha	1.0	720.0	720.0
Plant material	Seeds	ha	1.0	7.0	7.0
Plant material	Seedlings	ha	1.0	23.0	23.0	100.0
Fertilizers and biocides	Fertilizer	ha	1.0	54.0	54.0	100.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology					1079.0

Comments:

Duration of establishment phase: 12 month(s)

4.6 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing/ frequency
1.	contour farming	Agronomic	before rain & onset of rain / 3 times/year
2.	removing of silt from the trench	Structural	off season/once per year
3.	maintain broken part of the bund	Structural	off season/once per year
4.	replanting	Structural	on set of rain/once per year

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	Labour	ha	1.0	17.0	17.0	100.0
Equipment	Tools	ha	1.0	72.0	72.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology					89.0

Comments:

Machinery/ tools: shovel, spade, hoe, line level

Length of structure per hectare of land treated with SWC activities

4.8 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

The cost of the technology is affected by slope, soil workability, availability of labour

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

Comments and further specifications on topography:

Altitudinal zone: Also 1501-2000 m a.s.l. (ranked 2) and 1001-1500 and 2501-3000 m a.s.l. (ranked 3)
Landforms: Also plateau/plains and hill slopes (both ranked 2) and ridges and foot slopes (both ranked 3)

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 depth on average: Also moderately deep and deep (both ranked 2) and very shallow and very deep (both ranked 3)
Soil fertility: Low (ranked 1, on hilly areas), medium (ranked 2), very low and high (both ranked 3)
Soil drainage/infiltration: Good (ranked 1, on hilly and steep slopes), medium (ranked 2) and poor (ranked 3)
Soil water storage capacity: High (ranked 1), medium (ranked 2) and low (ranked 3)

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

Indicate other relevant characteristics of the land users:

Population density: 50-100 persons/km2
Annual population growth: 2% - 3%
5% of the land users are rich and own 10% of the land.
35% of the land users are average wealthy and own 50% of the land.
60% of the land users are poor and own 40% of the land.

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

6.1 On-site impacts the Technology has shown

Socio-economic impacts

Production

Income and costs

Socio-cultural impacts

Ecological impacts

Water cycle/ runoff

Soil

Other ecological impacts

6.2 Off-site impacts the Technology has shown

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

Comments:

100% of land user families have adopted the Technology with external material support

20730 land user families have adopted the Technology with external material support

Comments on acceptance with external material support: estimates

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
reduce soil loss, improve soil moisture How can they be sustained / enhanced? continuous awarness creation about the technology and its benefit and the required frequent supervision
increase feed and fodder, promote cut and carry system How can they be sustained / enhanced? provision of suitable feed/forage plant species, collection and distribution of seeds

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?
loss of land due to land occupation	Increase/improve productivity of fodder trees on bunds and improve farm land production to compensate

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view	How can they be overcome?
space between bunds is narrow for oxen plough	proper spacing to be designed/adopted
harbour pests	proper management and availing pesticides