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)

FAO Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO Food and Agriculture Organization) - Italy

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

When were the data compiled (in the field)?

19/10/2005

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:

It is a stone wall built across a gully at a given interval to trap moisture and sediment for crop production.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

It is an enbankment placed in the gully. It is constructed with stones. The purpose is to conserve and retain runoff coming from upslopes. It is intended to trap sediment running from slopes. It converts gully land into cultivated. The establishment starts with a given height of stone wall which is increased every year as the need comes and when sediment fills up. It is essentially water harvesting practice and is very suitable in areas where moisture stress is high. At present new design and layout elements have been included to improve durability of structures and efficiency to store more water and soils. Top soils eroded from upper catchments and sedimented by the checkdams. Maintenance is made every year to repair breaks and additional height is given for the checkdams.

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 evolved from the local practices.

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

• improve production
• 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, stream bank erosion, gully expansion

Major land use problems (land users’ perception): increase in eroded land, shortage of cultivable land.

Type of cropping system and major crops comments: (1) Sorghum-Maize-Legume, (2) Sorghum-Sorghum

3.3 Further information about land use

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

• rainfed

Comments:

Water supply: Also post-flooding

Number of growing seasons per year:

• 1

Specify:

Longest growing period in days: 210 Longest growing period from month to month: Apr - Nov

3.4 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• cross-slope measure
• surface water management (spring, river, lakes, sea)

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:

70% of the woreda is under this technology

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, Wr: riverbank erosion

Main causes of degradation: over-exploitation of vegetation for domestic use (suseptable for erosion), education, access to knowledge and support services (lack of knowledge)

Secondary causes of degradation: overgrazing (free grazing), other human induced causes (specify) (agricultural causes - traditional farm implements), lack of enforcement of legislat./authority (less attention is given), land subdivision (smaller land holdings)

3.8 Prevention, reduction, or restoration of land degradation

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

• reduce land degradation

4.2 Technical specifications/ explanations of technical drawing

Technical knowledge required for field staff / advisors: moderate

Technical knowledge required for land users: moderate

Main technical functions: increase of infiltration, increase / maintain water stored in soil, water harvesting / increase water supply, water spreading, sediment retention / trapping, sediment harvesting, expansion of cultivated area

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

Mixed cropping / intercropping
Material/ species: sorghum, soyabean

Contour planting / strip cropping
Material/ species: oxen plough

Contour ridging
Remarks: use basins to collect wate

Scattered / dispersed
Vegetative material: F : fruit trees / shrubs
Number of plants per (ha): 4000
Spacing between rows / strips / blocks (m): 5x5m
Vertical interval within rows / strips / blocks (m): 30x30m
Width within rows / strips / blocks (m): 30x30m

In blocks
Vegetative material: O : other
Spacing between rows / strips / blocks (m): 30x30
Vertical interval within rows / strips / blocks (m): 25x25
Width within rows / strips / blocks (m): 25x25

Fruit trees / shrubs species: mango, orange, prunus, papaya

Perennial crops species: Coffee, Chat

Slope (which determines the spacing indicated above): 3.00%

If the original slope has changed as a result of the Technology, the slope today is (see figure below): 2.00%

Gradient along the rows / strips: 0.00%

Structural measure: infiltration ditch / sediment sand / trap
Vertical interval between structures (m): 1.5
Spacing between structures (m): 15-30
Depth of ditches/pits/dams (m): 1.5

Slope (which determines the spacing indicated above): 8%

If the original slope has changed as a result of the Technology, the slope today is: 3%

Lateral gradient along the structure: 0%

For water harvesting: the ratio between the area where the harvested water is applied and the total area from which water is collected is: 1:1

Vegetation is used for stabilisation of structures.

Change of land use type: grazing lands are put under cultivation

Control / change of species composition: incorporation of fruits and legume trees

Other type of management: change of management / intensity level - intensity of cultivation and number of weeding has increased.

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.	land preparation	Vegetative	during early rains
2.	formation of bench terrace	Vegetative	dry season
3.	manuring	Vegetative	dry season 1st application
4.	planting/pitting	Vegetative	during rains 2nd application
5.	stone collection	Structural	off farming season/dry season
6.	layout, digging foundation	Structural	off farming season/dry season
7.	shaping stone	Structural	off farming season/dry season
8.	placing of stone	Structural	off farming season/dry season
9.	interlocking stone	Structural	off farming season/dry season
10.	giving shape	Structural	off farming season/dry season

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	406.0	406.0
Plant material	Seeds	ha	1.0	23.0	23.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology					429.0

4.6 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing/ frequency
1.	land preparation	Agronomic	April / once
2.	planting	Agronomic	April, June / once
3.	weeding and cultivation	Agronomic	June/August / twice
4.	repair in break stone walls	Vegetative	dry season /as need arises
5.	increasing heights & length of stone walls (side ways)	Vegetative	while cultivating /as need arises
6.	repair break in the check	Structural	dry period/annual
7.	raising the height	Structural	dry period/annual
8.	increasing the length	Structural	dry period/annual

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	40.0	40.0
Plant material	Seeds	ha	1.0	23.0	23.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology					63.0

Comments:

length of structure

4.8 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

labour

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

Comments and further specifications on topography:

Altitudinal zone: 1001-1500 m a.s.l. (Ranked 1, 1001 m a.s.l) and 1501-2000 m a.s.l. (ranked 2)
Landforms: Also Footslopes (ranked 2) and valley floors (ranked 3)
Slopes on average: Also moderate (ranked 2) and hilly (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 fertility is low
Soil drainage/infiltration is good
Soil water storage capacity is low (ranked 1) and very low (ranked 2)

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

Indicate other relevant characteristics of the land users:

Population density: 100-200 persons/km2
Annual population growth: 2% - 3%
60% of the land users are poor.
40% of the land users are poor.
Level of mechanization: Manual work (ranked 1, tillage is primarily done manually) and animal traction (ranked 2, large portion of farmers use oxen plough on gentle slopes)

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

6.1 On-site impacts the Technology has shown

Socio-economic impacts

Production

Socio-cultural impacts

Ecological impacts

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

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

• 50-90%

Comments:

50% of land user families have adopted the Technology with external material support

Comments on acceptance with external material support: estimates

50% of land user families have adopted the Technology without any external material support

Comments on spontaneous adoption: estimates

There is a moderate trend towards spontaneous adoption of the Technology

Comments on adoption trend: farmers who have implemented the technology have improved their income.

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view
conserve moisture
increases yield

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
high efficiency for storing soil and water, How can they be sustained / enhanced? frequent maintenanace and upgrading
durable
forms bench fast