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)

The Transboundary Agro-ecosystem Management Project for the Kagera River Basin (GEF-FAO / Kagera TAMP )

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

Missenyi District Council (Missenyi District Council) - Tanzania, United Republic of

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

Bukoba district council (Bukoba district council) - Tanzania, United Republic of

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

When were the data compiled (in the field)?

30/07/2014

The compiler and key resource person(s) accept the conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT:

Yes

1.4 Declaration on sustainability of the described Technology

Is the Technology described here problematic with regard to land degradation, so that it cannot be declared a sustainable land management technology?

No

2.1 Short description of the Technology

Definition of the Technology:

Is a cross slope berier characterised with 2m widith by 2m depth furrow, farm yard manures and grass mulch in banana production.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

The level ditches combined with farm trushlines, farm yard manure, and grass mulch technology in banana production is the digging of a furrow measured 2m wide by 2m deep along the contour in the banana plantation. The technology is applied on a perennial cropland by combining structural, vegetative and agronomic measures. The climatic zone is sub humid in a gentle to moderate slope with medium to deep loam clay soils. The hand cultivation is done manual using hand hoes in a mixed production system. The establishment procedures contour demarcation using a local made A-frame, digging a furrow along the contour, digging the banana holes spaced at 3.6m by 3.6m between the structures, mixing farm yard manure with top soils and planting banana suckers after restng the mixture for not less than 60 days. The maintenance procedures requires, weeding the field, desuckering, detrushing, planting beans, topical manure application, grass mulch application and filling the contour furrow with farm trushlines. The land ownership is individual not titled. This technology was introduced in 2012 by Kagera TAMP using the FFS methodology. In case of sensitive climatic extremities

Purpose of the Technology: The major purpose for technology application is reduced moisture stress, increased soil water retention, reduced soil erosion to increase crop productivity in a sustainable land management.

Establishment / maintenance activities and inputs: The establishment activities included; first to clear the field and demarcate the contour line using a local made A-frame done at the end of short rains. Second is to plough and harrow the field done in the early dry season. Third is to space and dig holes for planting banana suckers done in mid of dry season. Fourth is mixing farm yard manures with top soils and cover the hole for not less than sity days before planting, this is done in mid of dry spell. Fourth is to plant certified banana suckers done in late dry season. Fifth is to dig the contour ditch done in at the onset of long rainfall. The maintenance activities includes; first to weed the entire field done twice before the onset of rainfalls. Second is to apply farm yard manures concurrently with grass mulch done once in the late dry period. Third is to desucker and detrush banana plants done twice before planting beans. Fourth is to plant beans done once before the onset of long rainfalls.

Natural / human environment: The natural environment in the location is 750-1000 mm rainfalls, foots lopes valley floors landform, gentle slope, shallow to meium soil depth (50-80)cm and (80-120)cm characterised with two growing periods. The social economic persisting are small scale land users farming on( 0.5 to 2)ha per house hold. The land ownership is individual not titled while the water use rights is open access. The importance of off-farm incomes is less than 10% and the market orientation is mixed while soil cultivation is manual and livestock are not fed on farm residues.

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 by TAMP -Kagera, Tanzania in 2012 using FFS methodology.

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): The major land use problem related to soil and vegetation in the area were soil erosion, soil moisture stress and fertility decline and reduced organic matter content.

Major land use problems (land users’ perception): moisture stresss and soil erosion.

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: 90; Longest growing period from month to month: October to December; Second longest growing period in days: 60; Second longest growing period from month to month: March to May

3.4 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• improved ground/ vegetation cover
• 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:

• < 0.1 km2 (10 ha)

Comments:

Three host farmers of FFS allocated a total of 1.5 acres (three different sites) as a leaning sites. While 22 group members implimented the technology with modifications in their farms with average of 0.5ha X22 =1.1ha

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

Comments:

Specification of other vegetative measures: lemon grass
Type of agronomic measures: better crop cover, mulching, temporary trashlines, manure / compost / residues
Type of vegetative measures: aligned: -contour, scattered / dispersed

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

Comments:

Main causes of degradation: soil management (cultivating along the slopes), crop management (annual, perennial, tree/shrub) (continous banana production without soil fertilization.), change of seasonal rainfall (dry spell prolonged), droughts (the area experienced a six months dry period.), population pressure (High population growth rates had forced to cultivate slope lands to feed the population.), poverty / wealth (community cant afford to invest in soil conservation.), education, access to knowledge and support services (inadequate staffing reduces extension services rendered to farmes.), governance / institutional (Agriculture policy had a narrow focus on environmental issues.)

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

4.2 Technical specifications/ explanations of technical drawing

Technical knowledge required for field staff / advisors: low (Basic agronomy principles, farm structures and vegetation management are taught at colleges.)
Technical knowledge required for land users: low (most of material required to implement the technology are common to them.)

Main technical functions: control of raindrop splash, control of dispersed runoff: retain / trap, control of dispersed runoff: impede / retard, improvement of ground cover, stabilisation of soil (eg by tree roots against land slides), increase in organic matter, increase in nutrient availability (supply, recycling,…), increase of infiltration, increase / maintain water stored in soil, increase of biomass (quantity)

Better crop cover
Material/ species: Pumpukins and water melon
Remarks: spaced at 3m in the space between the contour bunds.

Mulching
Material/ species: hyperhamia spps
Quantity/ density: 1500
Remarks: spread across the slope with 15cm thick covering the soil surfaces where banana and coffee are plant

Temporary trashlines
Material/ species: banana dry leaves and psodstems.

Manure / compost / residues
Material/ species: farm yard manures
Quantity/ density: 48979
Remarks: 60kg per plant during planting and 36kg for maintenance.

Aligned: -contour
Vegetative material: G : grass
Number of plants per (ha): 1666
Spacing between rows / strips / blocks (m): 18
Vertical interval within rows / strips / blocks (m): 0.6
Width within rows / strips / blocks (m): 0.3

Scattered / dispersed
Vegetative material: O : other
Number of plants per (ha): 778

Structural measure: contour bund
Spacing between structures (m): 18
Depth of ditches/pits/dams (m): 0.6
Width of ditches/pits/dams (m): 0.6
Length of ditches/pits/dams (m): 100
Height of bunds/banks/others (m): 0.3
Width of bunds/banks/others (m): 0.6
Length of bunds/banks/others (m): 100

Construction material (earth): soils excavated from the furrow.

4.3 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

Specify currency used for cost calculations:

• US Dollars

4.4 Establishment activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing
1.	To plant lemon grass	Vegetative	March
2.	To plant water melon	Vegetative	april
3.	To gape fill lemon grasse	Vegetative	september
4.	Dermacating the contour lines using simple made tool (A-frame)	Structural	June
5.	To dig a furrow and excavating the soils to be placed on either lower side or upper side of the furrow.	Structural	August

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	609.45	609.45
Equipment	Tools	ha	1.0	114.71	114.71
Plant material	Seedlings	ha	1.0	420.17	420.17
Fertilizers and biocides	Compost / manure	ha	1.0	756.3	756.3
Total costs for establishment of the Technology					1900.63

Comments:

Duration of establishment phase: 12 month(s)

4.6 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing/ frequency
1.	Weeding in the space where coffee and banana are planted.	Agronomic	january and June
2.	desuckering	Agronomic	February and August
3.	Detrushing	Agronomic	February and August
4.	manure application	Agronomic	July
5.	Spreading mulch grasses	Agronomic	September
6.	Harvesting banana and coffee.	Agronomic	routeenly
7.	To harvest lemon grass	Vegetative	routeenly
8.	To remove soil sedments from the furrow and place them along the contour lines.	Structural	june and January.

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	ha	1.0	416.91	416.91	100.0
Plant material	Seeds	ha	1.0	88.24	88.24	100.0
Fertilizers and biocides	Compost / manure	ha	1.0	252.1	252.1	100.0
Fertilizers and biocides	Grass mulch	ha	1.0	441.18	441.18	100.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology					1198.43

Comments:

Labour calculated per ha of land protected, Farm yard manure calculated per plants applied, mulch grass calculated per ha of land protected, seedling and seeds calculated per ha of land protected.

4.8 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

The most determinate factor affecting the cost is labour

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 medium
Soil drainage / infiltration is medium
Soil water storage capacity is medium

5.4 Water availability and quality

Comments and further specifications on water quality and quantity:

Availability of surface water: Excess during short rainfals and medium because two permanent river tributaries (misheke and Charuhanga) flows throughout the year.
Water quality (untreated): Good drinking water when gravity water supply from Kasunkuni river tributar and poor when over-flooded Mwisa river during short rains.

5.5 Biodiversity

Comments and further specifications on biodiversity:

Mchwa, sisimizi, vipepeo and earth worms

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: 50-100 persons/km2
Annual population growth: < 0.5%
99% of the land users are average wealthy and own 100% of the land.
1% of the land users are poor.
Off-farm income specification: Land users who applied the technolgy can meet hie/her cost of living (mainly food) from farm income while land users who have not applied the technology can not the household cost of living from the farm.
Market orientation of production system: Coffee are for sale while banana only excess is for sale.
Level of mechanization: Hand hoes use during farm establishment, but late local made tool (vihosho) are used for weeding and desuckering purpoes.

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:

• individual, not titled

Land use rights:

• communal (organized)
• individual

Water use rights:

• open access (unorganized)

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

Water cycle/ runoff

Soil

Biodiversity: vegetation, animals

Climate and disaster risk reduction

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)

Climate-related extremes (disasters)

Meteorological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
local rainstorm	not well

Climatological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
drought	well

Comments:

The technology can be modified of metre drain and the collected water to be used for small scale 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:

In the short term returns banana harvested should equate the establishment costs, while in the long term retuns there will be no further establishment, therefore returns are very positive.
in the short term retuns negative compared to maintenance because all returns equate establishment costs, while in the longterm returns should be positive due to complimentary effects of protected land to improve productivity.

6.5 Adoption of the Technology

• more than 50%

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

70 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?

• 10-50%

Comments:

35 land user families have adopted the Technology with external material support
Comments on acceptance with external material support: Three host farmers were provided with farm yard manures and mulch grasses.

35 land user families have adopted the Technology without any external material support
Comments on spontaneous adoption: The FFS started late due to inadequate council staffing.

There is no trend towards spontaneous adoption of the Technology
Comments on adoption trend: Still early to give any comments (actual implimentation started September 2013.

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
The technology is easy to learn and simple to implement.
Production results are of short gestation period when considering test crop (banana) for land users to make the decisions.

6.8 Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks of the Technology and ways of overcoming them

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view	How can they be overcome?
The technology increased the farm input (farm yard manures and grass mulch) costs of which average land users (peasants) can not afford from his farm income on top of meeting his daily cost of living.	Introduce zero grazing to provide farm yard manures and quick income generating activities.
Big land area is require to realise the ecological benefits.	Sensitize political will to stimulate and support technology up scaling through multiplier effects.

7.1 Methods/ sources of information