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)

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) - Italy

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

When were the data compiled (in the field)?

05/12/2008

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:

Earth embankment formed by digging a channel and pile the soil to form a ridge on which potato is planted.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

Sweet potato ridge are constructed from the soil dug out of the furrow. Farmers make the furrow and ridge by dengora and a hoe. In some cases oxen scoop are used to move the soil and form the embankment. Sweet potato is planted by cuttings. It is often planted during the end of the main rainy season. There are different methods employed in making ridge and furrows. The furrows are meant to collect rain water and the cuttings of sweet potato planted on the ridge. The plant benefits from the soil water stored by the farrows. It has deep roots that go deep insearch of soil water. Water could also move up by capillary movement. Forming the ridges and basin is quite labours. The ridges are frequently made new and in some cases the former ridges and furrows are maintained. The technology suits to sub-humid and semi arid agro-ecological zones having sandy loam soils.

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.):

Originated locally from long term experiences and improvments

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

• improve production

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

Comments:

Major land use problems (compiler’s opinion): Soil mositure stress, erosion and over population.
Major land use problems (land users’ perception): Shortage of rains, lack of finance for purchasing improved seeds and fertilizers.
Type of cropping system and major crops comments: Sorghum-Sweet Potato-Maize-Legumes

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: 21 0Longest growing period from month to month: May - Nov

3.4 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• water harvesting
• irrigation management (incl. water supply, drainage)
• water diversion and 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:

• 100-1,000 km2

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: Cn: fertility decline and reduced organic matter content

Main causes of degradation: deforestation / removal of natural vegetation (incl. forest fires), overgrazing, poverty / wealth (lack of captial)

Secondary causes of degradation: over-exploitation of vegetation for domestic use, other human induced causes (specify) (agricultural causes), education, access to knowledge and support services (lack of knowledge)

3.8 Prevention, reduction, or restoration of land degradation

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

• prevent land degradation
• reduce land degradation

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

4.2 Technical specifications/ explanations of technical drawing

Oromia

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

Secondary technical functions: control of dispersed runoff: retain / trap, reduction of slope length, increase in soil fertility

Better crop cover
Material/ species: Sweet potato
Quantity/ density: 20000-2500
Remarks: along the contour

Mixed cropping / intercropping
Material/ species: maize, sorghum, chat
Remarks: row and broadcast

Contour planting / strip cropping
Material/ species: Sorghum, chat

Cover cropping
Material/ species: Sorghum, chat, maize

Green manure
Material/ species: Sweet potato

Aligned: -contour
Vegetative material: T : trees / shrubs, F : fruit trees / shrubs, C : perennial crops
Number of plants per (ha): 1500
Vertical interval between rows / strips / blocks (m): 0.2
Spacing between rows / strips / blocks (m): 2.5
Vertical interval within rows / strips / blocks (m): 2
Width within rows / strips / blocks (m): 2.5

Trees/ shrubs species: some accacia trees

Fruit trees / shrubs species: apple, mango

Perennial crops species: 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): 3.00%

Gradient along the rows / strips: 0.00%

Retention/infiltration ditch/pit, sediment/sand trap
Spacing between structures (m): 1.5-2
Depth of ditches/pits/dams (m): 0.2-0.5
Width of ditches/pits/dams (m): 0.5-1
Length of ditches/pits/dams (m): 50-70

Structural measure: Ridge and furrows
Spacing between structures (m): 2-3
Height of bunds/banks/others (m): 0.3-0.6
Width of bunds/banks/others (m): 0.51
Length of bunds/banks/others (m): 50-70

Construction material (earth): Soil dug is embanked to form the ridge

Slope (which determines the spacing indicated above): 3%

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

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.	Seed bed preparation	Vegetative	dry season
2.	Pitting	Vegetative	after rain
3.	Manuring	Vegetative	all season
4.	Planting	Vegetative	during rains
5.	Cultivation	Vegetative	during rains
6.	Excavation (furrow formation)	Structural	dry period
7.	Embankment (ridge forming)	Structural
8.	Planting sweet potato	Structural	rainy 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	73.0	73.0	100.0
Equipment	Animal traction	ha	1.0	35.0	35.0	100.0
Plant material	Seedlings	ha	1.0	25.0	25.0	100.0
Fertilizers and biocides	Compost/manure	ha	1.0	50.0	50.0	100.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology					183.0

4.6 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing/ frequency
1.	Tillage	Agronomic	dry season / each cropping season
2.	Harrowing	Agronomic	dry season / each cropping season
3.	Contour ridging	Agronomic	dry season / each cropping season
4.	Planting	Agronomic	rainy season / each cropping season
5.	Cultivation	Agronomic	rainy season / 2-3
6.	Reconstructing basins, ridges and tie	Vegetative	dry eason /
7.	Applying more manure	Vegetative	all season /
8.	Repair of ridges and furrows	Structural	before planting/1
9.	Placing of fertile soil on the ridges	Structural	before planting/2
10.	Applying manure during cultivation	Structural	after planting/1

4.7 Costs and inputs needed for maintenance/ recurrent activities (per year)

Comments:

Total labour expended to till the land, pulverize it, harrow and making of the ridges. The cost further include the monetary estimate of manuring the land and purchasing of the sweet potato cuttings, assuming these are purchased from market.

4.8 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

Soil dryness and texture-light soils are very simple for opration and the least cost is incurred. Loam soils are good soils with moderate cost of investment.

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

Comments and further specifications on topography:

Altitudinal zone: 1001-1500 m a.s.l. (ranked 1), 1501-2000 m a.s.l. (ranked 2) and 2001-2500 m a.s.l. (ranked 3)
Landforms: Also hill slopes (ranked 2)
Slopes on average: Also gentle (ranked 2) and moderate (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 Deep and shallow (both ranked 2)
Soil fertility: Medium
Soil drainage/infiltration: Good (ranked 1) and medium (ranked 2)
Soil water storage capacity: Medium

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

Indicate other relevant characteristics of the land users:

Population density: 200-500 persons/km2
Annual population growth: 2% - 3%
25% of the land users are rich and own 30% of the land.
50% of the land users are average wealthy and own 50% of the land.
25% of the land users are poor and own 20% of the land.
Level of mechanization: Animal traction (sweet potato is mostly planted on level and gentle slopes and hence land preparation is made largely by oxen, ranked 1) and manual work (ranked 2)
Market orientation: Subsistence (ranked 1, most part consumed at home) and mixed (ranked 2, small portion of the sweet potato is sold at market)

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

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:

85% of land user families have adopted the Technology with external material support

100% of land user families have adopted the Technology without any external material support

There is a strong trend towards spontaneous adoption of the Technology

Comments on adoption trend: more farmers are practicing the technology

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view
Improve production How can they be sustained / enhanced? Use of high yielding varieties and fertilizers
Reduces risk of crop failure How can they be sustained / enhanced? Encourage more crop type

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
Efficiently controls soil erosion How can they be sustained / enhanced? The ridges retard surface flow and the furrow provide space for rain water storage
Allows maximum storage of rain water
Improves water storage capacity of soils How can they be sustained / enhanced? Sweet potato improves the soil structure by initiating microbial activities
Reduces evapotranspiration rate of soil moisture How can they be sustained / enhanced? Sweet potato provide dense ground cover and hence reduce evapotranspiration losses
Improves soil fertility How can they be sustained / enhanced? Sweet potato is naturally a soil fertility enhancing crop.