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)

Kathmandu University (KU) - Nepal

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

Sustainable Agriculture Development Program Nepal (SADP) - Nepal

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

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:

Making the use of cow dung, cow urine, cow ghee, cow milk and honey with other materials, in order to make a fertilizer for plant production.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

Panchhagavya was in practice from Neolithic period but recently has become a common interest. It has been used by Hindu Society and has also been mentioned in Vedas. In 1950, James F. Martin made a liquid by lactating cow milk, using dung, sea water and yeast. It was claimed that it was capable of greening degrading land.
It is an organic product that has the potential to play the role of promoting growth and providing immunity in plant system. It consists of nine products i.e. cow dung, cow urine, milk, curd, jaggery, ghee, ripened banana, tender coconut and water.
This technology most importantly focuses on agronomic measures and conserves the manuring and composting. It does not lead to changes in slope profile of the land. Organic matter is used for soil surface treatment which increases the fertility of the soil. This agronomic measure is also combined with management measures where change in management of soil results in giving improved vegetable cover.

Purpose of the Technology: The main purpose of Panchhagavya is to deal with major land problems such as soil infertility, less production of crops and water pollution due to use of fertilizers. It focuses on cropland where annual cropping is done. Annual crops are usually harvested within one or maximally within two years. Chemical and physical soil deterioration and biological degradation are the types of land degradation addresses by the technology.

Establishment / maintenance activities and inputs: In a container, mix 5kg of cow dung and 1/2kg of ghee. This mixture is stored in a shade for 4 days.On 5th day, the mixture is poured in a new container and cow milk, curd and cow urine is added to it. Then Jaggery is added by dissolving it in water. Ripened bananas are mashed and added to the above mixture with coconut water. This is stored for 30 days. Now, the mixture is stirred and mixed daily. This mixture is then sprayed to the crops. If the mixture is sprayed with hand sprayer then the nozzel must have greater pores. The preparation of Panchhagavya requires lot of products and takes around 30 days which makes it a bit costly.

Natural / human environment: The Panchhagavya thus produced is then sprayed in the agriculture fields. So, this can be used as a substitute for fertilizers as a type of organic manure. It can help promote greenery. Panchhagavya is prepared indoors in huge quantities and may be used overtime as required.

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:

• 10-50 years ago

2.7 Introduction of the Technology

Specify how the Technology was introduced:

• during experiments/ research

Comments (type of project, etc.):

It was in practice from neolithic period (7500-6500) but recently has become a common interest.

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

• Improve soil fertility

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

Comments:

Major land use problems (compiler’s opinion): Soil infertility, less yield or production of crops, water pollution due to use of fertilizers.

Major land use problems (land users’ perception): Less yield of crops

Nomadism: Yes

Semi-nomadism / pastoralism: Yes

Ranching: Yes

Cut-and-carry/ zero grazing: Yes

Improved pasture: Yes

Selective felling of (semi-) natural forests: Yes

Clear felling of (semi-)natural forests: Yes

Plantation forestry: Yes

Forest products and services: timber, fuelwood, fruits and nuts, grazing / browsing, other forest products / uses (honey, medical, etc.), nature conservation / protection, recreation / tourism, protection against natural hazards

Future (final) land use (after implementation of SLM Technology): Cropland: Ca: Annual cropping

Constraints of mines and extractive industries

Constraints of settlement / urban

Constraints of infrastructure network (roads, railways, pipe lines, power lines)

Constraints of wastelands / deserts / glaciers / swamps

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

Cropland: Ca: Annual cropping

3.3 Further information about land use

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

• rainfed

Comments:

Water supply: Also mixed rainfed - irrigated, full irrigation and post-flooding

Number of growing seasons per year:

• 2

Specify:

Longest growing period in days: 180; Longest growing period from month to month: July-December; Second longest growing period in days: 120; Second longest growing period from month to month: February-March

Livestock density (if relevant):

1-10 LU /km2

3.4 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• integrated soil fertility management

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:

• > 10,000 km2

Comments:

The use of Panchhagavya is specially seen in different sates of India and Nepal. The area isn't uniformly distributed.

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

Comments:

Main measures: agronomic measures

Secondary measures: vegetative measures, structural measures, management measures

Specification of other management measures: improves water holding capacity of soil

Type of agronomic measures: better crop cover, green manure, manure / compost / residues, soil conditioners (lime, gypsum)

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

Comments:

Main type of degradation addressed: Cn: fertility decline and reduced organic matter content, Cp: soil pollution, Cs: salinisation / alkalinisation, Bc: reduction of vegetation cover, Bq: quantity / biomass decline

Secondary types of degradation addressed: Ps: subsidence of organic soils, settling of soil, Pu: loss of bio-productive function due to other activities

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

Comments:

Secondary goals: rehabilitation / reclamation of denuded land

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

4.2 Technical specifications/ explanations of technical drawing

Panchagavya, an organic product has the potential to play the role of promoting growth and providing immunity in plant system. Panchagavya consists of nine products viz. cow dung, cow urine, milk, curd, jaggery, ghee, banana, Tender coconut and water.

Location: Bakhundol. Kathmandu

Date: 18-01-2014

Technical knowledge required for field staff / advisors: moderate

Technical knowledge required for land users: low

Main technical functions: increase in organic matter, increase in nutrient availability (supply, recycling,…), sediment retention / trapping, sediment harvesting, increase of biomass (quantity), promotion of vegetation species and varieties (quality, eg palatable fodder), spatial arrangement and diversification of land use

Secondary technical functions: control of raindrop splash, control of dispersed runoff: retain / trap, control of dispersed runoff: impede / retard, control of concentrated runoff: retain / trap, control of concentrated runoff: impede / retard, control of concentrated runoff: drain / divert, reduction of slope angle, reduction of slope length, improvement of ground cover, increase of surface roughness, improvement of surface structure (crusting, sealing), improvement of topsoil structure (compaction), improvement of subsoil structure (hardpan), stabilisation of soil (eg by tree roots against land slides), increase of infiltration, increase / maintain water stored in soil, increase of groundwater level / recharge of groundwater, water harvesting / increase water supply, water spreading, improvement of water quality, buffering / filtering water, reduction in wind speed, control of fires, reduction of dry material (fuel for wildfires)

Structural measure: soil management

Structural measure: increase crop yield

Structural measure: increase crops immunity

Other type of management: storage of the mixture should managed

4.4 Establishment activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing
1.	mix 7 kg cow dung and 1 kg cow ghee	Structural	store in shade for 4 days
2.	on 5th day pour milk, curd and cow urine	Structural	1 day
3.	dissolve jaggery in water, add ripened banana and tender coconut water	Structural	store for 30 days
4.	stir and mix mixture daily	Structural	for 30 days

4.6 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing/ frequency
1.	Mix 5 kg of cow dung and 1/2 kg of ghee	Structural	4 days
2.	On 5th day pour milk, curd and cow urine	Structural	5th day
3.	Dissolve jaggery in water and add ripened banana and tender coconut water	Structural	30 days
4.	Stir and mix mixture daily	Structural	Everyday

4.8 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

Fertilizers are found everywhere and is cheap but the properties of Panchhagavya requires a lot of products and takes around 30 days which makes it costly.

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

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 very low - medium

Soil drainage / infiltration is medium

Soil water storage capacity is high

5.4 Water availability and quality

5.5 Biodiversity

Comments and further specifications on biodiversity:

Species diversity: Also medium

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: > 500 persons/km2

Annual population growth: 2% - 3%

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:

• company
• communal/ village

Comments:

Land ownership: Also group

5.9 Access to services and infrastructure

6.1 On-site impacts the Technology has shown

Socio-economic impacts

Production

Water availability and quality

Income and costs

Socio-cultural impacts

Ecological impacts

Water cycle/ runoff

Soil

Biodiversity: vegetation, animals

Climate and disaster risk reduction

Other ecological impacts

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	not well
local windstorm	not known

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	not known

Comments:

Prefer drainage system and better plant diversity

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)?

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view
Can improve the lifestyle because it helps to increase the economic status. How can they be sustained / enhanced? Land users also should be active and motivates other to use.
Fresh vegetables without chemical fertilizers can be sold in market and gain more profit.

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
Increase the productivity of crops. How can they be sustained / enhanced? Awareness program, training should be done in local level in each and every part of the country.
Sustain drought condition because roots are grown into deeper layers. How can they be sustained / enhanced? Different research based project should carried out.
Reduces the use of chemical fertilizers because Panchhagavya itself is a fertilizer. How can they be sustained / enhanced? Research study initiation based on Panchhagavya should be established.
Improve the quality of the soil which ultimately improves the yield also.
Increase the immunity of the plant.

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?
Preparation of Panchhagavya is lengthy process so farmer use chemical fertilizer rather than Panchhagavya.

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view	How can they be overcome?
The preparation of Panchhagavya is a lengthy process so people are not ready to use instead of chemical fertilizers.	Awareness training program within the people.
The use of Panchhagavya should be done in specific quantity. If not then it has negative impact on plants.	Use of Panchhagavya in specific quantity as referred by the SLM specialists.