1.2 Contact details of resource persons and institutions involved in the assessment and documentation of the Technology

Name of project which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Technology (if relevant)

Central Asian Countries Initiative for Land Management (CACILM I)

Name of the institution(s) which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Technology (if relevant)

United Nations Development Program (United Nations Development Program) - Tajikistan

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

When were the data compiled (in the field)?

12/09/2011

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:

This technology is aimed at the creation of pistachio plantations on gentle slopes to improve the land’s productivity and to rehabilitate the arid land in the hill zone.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

Adyr (hilly) lands occupy around 400,000 ha of the territory of Uzbekistan. Increasing anthropogenic stress and unsustainable land use practices put these lands on the verge of desertification. Currently, the foothills are mostly used as pastures and as rain-fed cropland for growing mainly winter wheat. Due to the low amount of precipitation, the production of rain-fed wheat is unsustainable and rarely exceeds 8-10 centners/ha (usually 3-5 centners/ha), which sometimes is not enough to compensate for the cost of seed grain. Pastures become compacted due to overgrazing. Rehabilitating lands in the foothill zone and ensuring their sustainable use in the future requires alternative production methods. The creation of tree plantations with multi-effect features would ensure both ecological and material benefits for the local population (in the frame of CACILM).

Purpose of the Technology: The purpose of this technology is the restoration of landscapes in the foothill and arid hill zone, adaptation to climate change and an increase in agricultural productivity and income.

Establishment / maintenance activities and inputs: The purpose of this technology is the restoration of landscapes in the foothill and arid hill zone, adaptation to climate change and an increase in agricultural productivity and income.
The technology is based on the use of the biological trait of pistachios, which enables the tree to grow in exceptionally dry conditions without irrigation. Planting is organized in the traditional way, beginning with soil preparation, which includes tilling & sub-soiling the field. Planting is preceded by the marking of the plot with pegs denoting the planting spots in accordance with a 6х8 meter layout (planting density is 208 pcs/ha). To prevent animal grazing, the plantation is fenced with barbed wire on wooden poles & the planting of briar. In 2-3 years, the briar becomes a live fence, & barbed wire can be re-used in other plots.
Post-planting watering is performed at a rate of 1,5-2 liters / plant. During the three months of summer, irrigation is performed 3-5 times a month using a simple drip technique using plastic bottles. For rain-fed areas partially provided with water (300-500 mm/year), irrigation is performed only for the first two years. Until the pistachio enters the productive yield phase (the first 8 years), the inter-row space of the plantation is used for growing tilled drought-resistant crops such as safflower, peas, melons, gourds & alfalfa. Alfalfa is especially important for improving soil properties (structure- & organic matter formation, nitrogen fixation, etc.). The technology requires no additional start-up investments, since soil preparation was already performed during creation of the pistachio plantation.
Mineral fertilizers are applied: 290 kg/ha of ammonium nitrate (N 33-34,5%) & 220 kg/ha of superphosphate (P 45%). Grafting with the selected variety is performed 3-4 years after planting in order to stimulate early fructification

Natural / human environment: The local population used to lack additional revenue sources outside of livestock production. Pistachio plantations are of exceptional importance for people living in the areas where almost no other fruit bearing species would grow without supplementary irrigation. In the long run, pistachio production is much more profitable than livestock production, as well as more environment-friendly. The average productivity of pistachio is around 10 centners/ha and the lifespan is more than 1000 years. Briar planted along the fence bears fruit for 20-25 years, which is a supplementary source of income. Crops planted in the inter-row space partially compensate for the initial investment in the technology and improve the soil.

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 projects/ external interventions

Comments (type of project, etc.):

Introduced in 2009 within the framework of the GEF Small Grants Programme.

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

Comments:

Low water availability, non-uniform precipitation, both in time and season (maximum during the autumn-winter-spring period) and lack of surface water sources for land irrigation.

Major land use problems (land users’ perception): Weather conditions

Semi-nomadism / pastoralism: Small ruminants, sheep and goats, are dominant

Grazingland comments: The lack of pasture rotation, pasture sequencing, and the dominant number of sheep and goats in the herds facilitate pasture degradation.

Future (final) land use (after implementation of SLM Technology): Mixed: Mf: Agroforestry

Type of cropping system and major crops comments: Land in the foothills zone (adyrs) in Uzbekistan is used as rain-fed cropland for the cultivation of grain crops as well as for pastures. The productivity of grain crops is low and unstable due to insufficient precipitation, and in some years, there is no yield at all. Due to overgrazing, the pastures are degraded and show low productivity.

Livestock is grazing on crop residues

Type of grazing system comments: The lack of pasture rotation, pasture sequencing, and the dominant number of sheep and goats in the herds facilitate pasture degradation.

If land use has changed due to the implementation of the Technology, indicate land use before implementation of the Technology:

Mixed: Mp: Agro-pastoralism

3.3 Further information about land use

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

• rainfed

Comments:

Water supply: богарное, богарное

Number of growing seasons per year:

• 1

Specify:

Longest growing period in days: 220Longest growing period from month to month: October-June winter wheatSecond longest growing period in days: 110Second longest growing period from month to month: March - June natural pasture vegetation

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:

Total area covered by the SLM Technology is 0.42 m2.

The pistachio plantation is located on a flat slope in a hilly area of sub mountains (adyr) with a low precipitation rate and lack of surface water for irrigation. Before, it was a pasture with clear signs of erosion.

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

Comments:

Main measures: vegetative measures, management measures

Secondary measures: agronomic measures

Type of agronomic measures: смешанное возделывание / междурядное возделывание, минеральные (неорганические) удобрения

Type of vegetative measures: урегулированный: -линейныи

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

Comments:

Main causes of degradation: overgrazing (unsustainable grazing), droughts (low precipitation), population pressure (overgrazing, excess load on the pastures)

3.8 Prevention, reduction, or restoration of land degradation

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

• reduce land degradation

Comments:

Main goals: mitigation / reduction of land degradation

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

4.2 Technical specifications/ explanations of technical drawing

Planting of pistachio on a slope according to a 6 х 8 meter layout, plantation is protected with a ditch, barbed wire and a row of briar

Location: Norvon v. Farming enterprise “SBM Mukhammadamin”. Farish district/Djizak oblast

Date: 10-09-2011

Technical knowledge required for field staff / advisors: moderate

Technical knowledge required for land users: moderate

Main technical functions: improvement of ground cover, increase in organic matter, increase in nutrient availability (supply, recycling,…), improvement of soil fertility (with crop rotation incl. Beans+lucerne)

Mixed cropping / intercropping
Material/ species: Pistachio
Quantity/ density: 208 tr/ha
Remarks: with alfalfa in between the rows

Mineral (inorganic) fertilizers
Material/ species: ammonium nitrate
Quantity/ density: 290 kg/ha
Remarks: superphosphate, 220 kg/ha

Aligned: -linear
Vegetative material: C : perennial crops
Number of plants per (ha): 208
Vertical interval between rows / strips / blocks (m): 0.02
Vertical interval within rows / strips / blocks (m): 8
Width within rows / strips / blocks (m): 6

Perennial crops species: Alfalfa seeded

Other species: pistachio nut tree species

Slope (which determines the spacing indicated above): 16%

Change of land use type

4.3 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

other/ national currency (specify):

Uzbek sum

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

1430.0

4.4 Establishment activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing
1.	Tillage	Vegetative	Autumn
2.	Cultivation	Vegetative	Autumn
3.	Planting pistachio	Vegetative	March-April
4.	Fence of barbed wire and briarfence installation	Management	March-April

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	fencing	man/days	14.0	98.6	1380.4	100.0
Equipment	machine	ha	1.0	409.8	409.8	100.0
Equipment	wires	kg	1.0	560.0	560.0	100.0
Equipment	poles	pcs	200.0	272.16	54432.0	100.0
Equipment	briar plantlets	pcs	400.0	28.0	11200.0	100.0
Plant material	seedlings	pc	208.0	145.5	30264.0	100.0
Other	transportation	time	1.0	30.76	30.76
Total costs for establishment of the Technology					98276.96

Comments:

Duration of establishment phase: 3 month(s)

4.6 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing/ frequency
1.	Sowing alfalfa and applyingthe fertilizers	Agronomic	March-April
2.	Mowing	Agronomic
3.	Irrigation	Vegetative	Spring, summer, autumn
4.	Fertilizer application	Vegetative	Spring
5.	Weeding	Vegetative	Spring, summer, autumn
6.	Ingrafting	Vegetative	At year 3-4

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		1.0	1194.1	1194.1	97.0
Equipment	machine use		1.0	185.6	185.6	52.0
Plant material	seedlings	pcs	1.0	15.7	15.7	100.0
Plant material	fertilizer	pcs	1.0	185.6	185.6	100.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology					1581.0

Comments:

The values were calculated per 1 hectare (as of 2009). Due to economies of scale, increasing the area would reduce the cost per hectare of creating the plantation. The cost is minimal (45% of the total amount) when the plantation area is 20 ha. Running costs also decrease as the trees age. In 2 years, irrigation ceases and after 10 years, alfalfa is no longer grown in the inter-row space, as the pistachio commercial production phase starts.

4.8 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

The majority of the cost is associated with ingrafting with the selected variety. Management activities (fencing around the plantation to prevent animal access) also incurred significant expenditure. However, there are other types of fencing that probably are less expensive and may be used. Cost is affected by the distance between the farming enterprise and both the sources of irrigation water and the place of procurement of plantlets (transportation costs)

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

5.3 Soils

5.4 Water availability and quality

5.5 Biodiversity

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

Indicate other relevant characteristics of the land users:

Land users applying the Technology are mainly common / average land users

Population density: 10-50 persons/km2

Annual population growth: 1% - 2%

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:

• leased

Comments:

Farmers’ ownership of the land is based on long-term leases (50 years) without the right of sale or inheritance. In the dekhkan households (up to 2 hectares), the land is privately owned.

5.9 Access to services and infrastructure

6.1 On-site impacts the Technology has shown

Socio-economic impacts

Production

Income and costs

Socio-cultural impacts

Ecological impacts

Soil

Biodiversity: vegetation, animals

6.2 Off-site impacts the Technology has shown

6.3 Exposure and sensitivity of the Technology to gradual climate change and climate-related extremes/ disasters (as perceived by land users)

Gradual climate change

Gradual climate change

	Season	Type of climatic change/ extreme	How does the Technology cope with it?
annual temperature		increase	well

Climate-related extremes (disasters)

Meteorological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
local rainstorm	well
local windstorm	well

Climatological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
drought	well

Hydrological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
general (river) flood	not well

Other climate-related consequences

Other climate-related consequences

	How does the Technology cope with it?
reduced growing period	well

Comments:

Pistachio is a highly drought-resistant species, able to successfully grow and produce high quality yields in arid conditions where other species cannot grow without artificial irrigation.

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)?

Comments:

Lack of quick income generation from growing pistachio is compensated by the cultivation of tilled drought resistant crops in the inter-row space, including safflower, peas, melons, gourds and alfalfa.

6.5 Adoption of the Technology

Comments:

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

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

There is no trend towards spontaneous adoption of the Technology

Comments on adoption trend: Limited financial capacity prevents farmers from investing in long-term projects. Possibly, long term investment is also affected by the fact that the land is rented rather than privately owned.

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view
Profitably high prices on the pistachio market

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
Pistachio is the most financially promising crop suited for the arid conditions in the foothills of Uzbekistan; the return on investment of pistachio plantations is 500-600%. How can they be sustained / enhanced? The plantations starts generating stable income in its 5th year after engrafting
Pistachio-based horticulture is a more acceptable form of land use compared with livestock production and rain-fed crop production from the point-of-view of the sustainability of Uzbekistan’s arid foothill ecosystems; How can they be sustained / enhanced? In order to attract farmers to the cultivation of pistachios, it is necessary to promote benefits of gardening over the unprofitable rainfed agriculture and pasture use
Investment in pistachio plantations would generate income throughout the farmer’s life and the lives of his descendants. How can they be sustained / enhanced? The life span of a pistachio tree is more than 1000 years
Additional local development factors (additional income, extra work places and other benefits). How can they be sustained / enhanced? Throughout the productive period of the pistachio plantation (1000 years)

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?
Suffice expensive technology in the initial period (purchase of seedlings, irrigation difficulties due to lack of water sources)	Government assistance is needed
Not enough money to invest in long-term	State financial support is needed

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view	How can they be overcome?
The most significant constraint is long period before profitability (up to 10 years)	To grown between the rows before row crops of fruiting pistachio
An insufficient economic level for the making of long-term investments aimed at profit generation	To provide micro-loans of farmers who wanted to do pistachio orchards or provide other forms of financial assistance

7.2 References to available publications

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Норвон: от животноводства к лесоводству

Available from where? Costs?

http://www.sgp.uz/ru/zavershennie-proekti/139