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 Livestock Development of Kenya (MoA) - Kenya

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

When were the data compiled (in the field)?

05/04/1999

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:

management of runoff water on the road and its environment to reduce land degradation

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

It encompasses agronomic, vegetative, structural and management aspects to minimise land degradation within the road catchment and its environment using participatory methods. The purpose of the technology was to improve on the managent of water from the road so that it does not cause degradation. Establishment and maintenance of the technology was done by the local community bordering the roads.

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:

• less than 10 years ago (recently)

2.7 Introduction of the Technology

Specify how the Technology was introduced:

• through land users' innovation

Comments (type of project, etc.):

SWC specialists and land users

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): Declining soil fertility and soil erosion, land subdivision leading to small parcels of land

Major land use problems (land users’ perception): Marketing/pricing of farm produce, high costs of inputs and lack of credit

Grazingland comments: stall feeding is the most common grazing system as there are no delienated portions for grazing , due to the small holdings

Type of grazing system comments: stall feeding is the most common grazing system as there are no delienated portions for grazing , due to the small holdings

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:

• 2

Specify:

Longest growing period in days: 120Longest growing period from month to month: Mar - MaySecond longest growing period in days: 90Second longest growing period from month to month: Oct - Dec

3.4 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• 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:

• < 0.1 km2 (10 ha)

Comments:

the area covered depend on the area of the road. In total the technology was duplicated in roads totalling about 33 kilometres

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

Comments:

Main measures: structural measures

Secondary measures: agronomic measures, vegetative measures, management measures

Type of agronomic measures: contour ridging

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

Comments:

Main type of degradation addressed: Wt: loss of topsoil / surface erosion, Wg: gully erosion / gullying, Wo: offsite degradation effects

Secondary types of degradation addressed: Cn: fertility decline and reduced organic matter content

Main causes of degradation: other human induced causes (specify) (road surface & Agricultural causes), roads

Secondary causes of degradation: education, access to knowledge and support services (Lack of knowledge), Lack of enforcement of legislat./authority

3.8 Prevention, reduction, or restoration of land degradation

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

• reduce land degradation

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

4.2 Technical specifications/ explanations of technical drawing

Technical knowledge required for field staff / advisors: moderate

Main technical functions: control of dispersed runoff: impede / retard, control of concentrated runoff: retain / trap, control of concentrated runoff: impede / retard, control of concentrated runoff: drain / divert

Secondary technical functions: reduction of slope length, increase in organic matter, increase of infiltration

Grass species: napier grass

Slope (which determines the spacing indicated above): 0.00%

Construction material (stone): for scour checks in the waterway

Construction material (wood): small posts for scour checks

Construction material (other): grass, brush wood, live vegetative material

Lateral gradient along the structure: 8%

Vegetation is used for stabilisation of structures.

Change of land use type: exclusion of land under waterway

4.3 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

other/ national currency (specify):

Kenyan Shilling

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

33.0

4.4 Establishment activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing
1.	planting napier grass cuttings	Vegetative	after first rains
2.	establish scour checks	Structural	on set of rains
3.	excavation	Structural	dry spell
4.	planting grass for stabilisation	Structural	on set of rains

4.5 Costs and inputs needed for establishment

Comments:

Duration of establishment phase: 24 month(s)

4.6 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing/ frequency
1.	contour ridging	Agronomic	dry season / beginning of season
2.	weeding	Vegetative	dry spell /once per season
3.	desilting channel	Structural	dry season/each cropping season
4.	gapping the grass	Structural	wet season/each cropping season
5.	slashing grass in channel	Structural	wet season/each cropping season

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

Comments:

For the length of the waterway in metres. The length of the structure was kept constant

4.8 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

The general ground slope determines the cost of the structures and the distance of the safe discharge point from the road

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

Comments and further specifications on topography:

Landforms: Also valley floors

Slopes on average: Also moderate

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 medium-high

Soil drainage / infiltration is good

Soil water storage capacity is medium-high

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: 3% - 4%

5% of the land users are rich and own 10% of the land.
50% of the land users are average wealthy and own 70% of the land.
25% of the land users are poor and own 15% of the land.
20% of the land users are poor and own 5% of the land.

Off-farm income specification: mainly from employment in the nearby urban areas

Level of mechanization: With hand tools

5.8 Land ownership, land use rights, and water use rights

Land ownership:

• individual, titled

Land use rights:

• individual

6.1 On-site impacts the Technology has shown

Ecological impacts

Water cycle/ runoff

Soil

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

• more than 50%

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

210 households in an area of 10 ha

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

• 0-10%

Comments:

20% of land user families have adopted the Technology with external material support

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

Comments on acceptance with external material support: estimates

5% of land user families have adopted the Technology without any external material support

10 land user families have adopted the Technology without any external material support

Comments on spontaneous adoption: estimates

There is no trend towards spontaneous adoption of the Technology

Comments on adoption trend: technology adoption not spontaneous because of dependency on material support from donor

7.2 References to available publications

Title, author, year, ISBN:

farm management handbook of Kenya. 1983.

Available from where? Costs?

SWC branch, MoA, Nairobi

Title, author, year, ISBN:

minor roads soil conservation project. Final report. 1992.

Available from where? Costs?

Ministry of Public Works. Nairobi.