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 (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)?

16/10/2005

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:

A waterway is an artficial drainage channel constructed along the steepest slope to receive runoff from cutoff drains and graded structures and drain to the natural waterway safely.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

A vegetative waterway is constructed in areas where stone is not available and in gentle slopes. Paved waterways are suitable in steeper terrains and areas with large amount of stones. The waterway carries excess water to the river, reservoirs or gullies safely with out creating erosion. It is applicable in all areas where excess water is generated when high rains are received which are beyound the intake capacity of soils. The excess water then will have to be disposed sefely to natural outlets. Waterways are established a year or two before cutoff drains and field structures are constructed. Vegetative waterways are formed by digging earth channel across the contour in the direction of flow. After making the channel suitable grass species are planted or are made to establish naturally. Maintenance is very vital in waterways. Breaks in channel or embankments, moving of silt deposited or keeping the grass shorter in order that it does not obstract flow. Vegetative waterways could be stablized by planting short growing grasses, sodding or letting natural growth.

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.):

introduced and farmers experience

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, flooding, decline of production and productivity.

Major land use problems (land users’ perception): soil erosion, shortage of feed and fodder, low productivity.

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: 210 Longest growing period from month to month: May - Dec

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:

The technology is practiced in 34 Kebeles in the Woreda.

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

Comments:

Main measures: vegetative measures, structural measures

Type of agronomic measures: early planting

Type of vegetative measures: aligned: -graded strips *³

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

Comments:

Main type of degradation addressed: Wg: gully erosion / gullying

Secondary types of degradation addressed: Wg: gully erosion / gullying

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

4.2 Technical specifications/ explanations of technical drawing

Technical knowledge required for field staff / advisors: moderate

Technical knowledge required for land users: high

Main technical functions: control of concentrated runoff: drain / divert

Secondary technical functions: control of dispersed runoff: retain / trap, control of concentrated runoff: retain / trap

Early planting
Material/ species: grass
Remarks: aligment layout

Aligned: -graded strips
Vegetative material: G : grass

Grass species: local grass

Waterway
Depth of ditches/pits/dams (m): 0.3-0.4m
Width of ditches/pits/dams (m): 2-3m
Length of ditches/pits/dams (m): 50-100m

Construction material (stone): medium sized (big and small stones avoided)

Slope (which determines the spacing indicated above): 15%

If the original slope has changed as a result of the Technology, the slope today is: 15%

Lateral gradient along the structure: 20%

Other type of management: change of management / intensity level - controlling, maintaining and guarding.

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.	determine the drainage area	Vegetative	dry season
2.	excavate and pile the soil on one or both side	Vegetative	dry season
3.	sods-local grass	Vegetative	dry season
4.	excavation and stone paving	Structural	dry season
5.	stone check	Structural	dry season

4.6 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing/ frequency
1.	Collecting planting materials	Agronomic	beginning of rainy season /
2.	Planting on pits	Agronomic	rainy season /
3.	resod-local grass	Vegetative	after rain /once
4.	repairing the broken part	Structural	after ran/once
5.	Collection of stones	Management	dry season / annual
6.	Planting grass	Management	during rains / annual

4.8 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

stone availability, finance, topography

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

Comments and further specifications on topography:

Altitudinal zone: Ranges between 1500-4033 m a.s.l.
Landforms: Mountain slopes (ranked 1), ridges (ranked 2) and plateau/plains as well as hill slopes (both ranked 3)
Slopes on average: Hilly (ranked 1), rolling (ranked 2) and steep (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: Very shallow (ranked 1), shallow (ranked 2) and moderately deep (ranked 3)
Soil texture: Fine/heavy ( on the top/surface, ranked 1) also medium (at depth , ranked 2) and coarse/light (ranked 3)
Soil fertility is low (ranked 1), medium (ranked 2) and high (ranked 3)
Soil drainage/infiltration is good (ranked 1), medium (ranked 2) and poor (ranked 3)
Soil water storage capacity is low (ranked 1), medium (ranked 2) and high (ranked 3)

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%

40% of the land users are poor and own 20% of the land.
60% of the land users are poor and own 30% of the land.
Level of mechanization is animal traction (ranked 1) and manual labour (ranked 2)
Market orientation of production system: Also mixed (subsistence/ commercial)

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

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

• 90-100%

Comments:

5 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: Waterways require high labour and material, which a poor farmer can not have. Moreover, the land taken by the measures will be prohibitive to be practiced by a smallholder farmers.

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
due to increased benefit obtained by the community and awarness created How can they be sustained / enhanced? better/proper followup, maintenance, monitoring and evalution, expansion of the technology. Establish bylaws,regulations to protect assetes created.
increased fodder production How can they be sustained / enhanced? provision of suitable planted material.