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)

University of Botswana (University of Botswana) - Botswana

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

When were the data compiled (in the field)?

18/02/2009

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:

Harnessing solar energy through solar cookers

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

The basic principle of all solar cookers is to concentrate sunlight using a mirror or some type of reflective metal. It is used to concentrate light and heat from the sun into a small cooking area making the energy more concentrated and therefore more potent. Parabolic shaped solar cookers - when a three dimensional parabolic is aimed at the sun, all the light that falls upon its mirrored surface is reflected to a point known as the focus.

The technology is supplied by the Rural Industries Innovation Centre (RIIC) in Botswana. The solar cooker is maintained by cleaning the reflector mirrors with soft cloth soaked in soap and rinse with clean water. Turn reflector anti-clockwise until it hits the stand leg to lock it in place when it not in use. The solar cooker requires frequent adjustment and supervision for safe operation.

The solar cooker is best used in an open atmosphere with direct sunlight. A solar cooker needs an outdoor spot that is sunny for several hours and protected from strong winds and where food will be safe. Solar cookers do not work at night or on cloudy days

2.3 Photos of the Technology

2.5 Country/ region/ locations where the Technology has been applied and which are covered by this assessment

2.7 Introduction of the Technology

Specify how the Technology was introduced:

• through projects/ external interventions

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

• reduce, prevent, restore land degradation
• conserve ecosystem

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

Comments:

Major land use problems (compiler’s opinion): Overgrazing the commons, droughts, saline water and overharvesting of fuelwood for heating and cooking purposes leading to deforestation and land degradation

Major land use problems (land users’ perception): Same as above

Grazingland comments: Technology not applied in Boteti at the moment

Future (final) land use (after implementation of SLM Technology): Forests / woodlands: Fn: Natural

Type of cropping system and major crops comments: Mixed cropping is the traditional practice but government extension advice promotes monocropping which majority find expensive and risky.

Constraints of settlement / urban: No constraint

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 from month to month: Oct - Mar

Livestock density (if relevant):

1-10 LU /km2

3.4 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• energy efficiency technologies

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:

SLM is point specific

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

Comments:

Main type of degradation addressed: Bc: reduction of vegetation cover, Bs: quality and species composition /diversity decline

Secondary types of degradation addressed: Wt: loss of topsoil / surface erosion, Et: loss of topsoil

Main causes of degradation: deforestation / removal of natural vegetation (incl. forest fires) (Most rural households use fuelwood for cooking, heating and lighting and sometimes cut live trees)

Secondary causes of degradation: over-exploitation of vegetation for domestic use (The study area is prone to drought), droughts, land tenure (The study area is communal grazing land), poverty / wealth (There are few employment opportunities in the study area and poor agric production hence most residents do not have adequate income to buy alternative sources of energy.)

3.8 Prevention, reduction, or restoration of land degradation

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

• prevent land degradation

Comments:

Secondary goals: mitigation / reduction of land degradation, rehabilitation / reclamation of denuded land

4.2 Technical specifications/ explanations of technical drawing

Technical knowledge required for field staff / advisors: high

Technical knowledge required for land users: moderate

Main technical functions: control of raindrop splash, improvement of ground cover

Secondary technical functions: increase in organic matter, increase in nutrient availability (supply, recycling,…), increase of infiltration, increase / maintain water stored in soil, increase of groundwater level / recharge of groundwater, reduction in wind speed, increase of biomass (quantity), control of fires

Construction material (other): Metal + reflective mirrors or shiny alluminium sheets

4.3 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

other/ national currency (specify):

Pula

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

6.6

4.5 Costs and inputs needed for establishment

Comments:

Duration of establishment phase: 0.3 month(s)

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

Comments:

Material + Labour -these are current date costs

4.8 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

Material followed by labour

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

Comments and further specifications on topography:

Altitudinal zone: 501-1000 m a.s.l. (part of the Makgadikgadi Basin)

5.4 Water availability and quality

Comments and further specifications on water quality and quantity:

Ground water table; >50m (ranked 1, for boreholes) and 5-50 m (ranked 2, wells in Boteti River bed)
Availabilty of surface: Poor/none (unreliable river flows and rainfalls)
Water quality (untreated): poor drinking water (treatment required, unusable, sometimes too salty even for animal/livestock consumption) and poor drinking water (treatement required, salty waters in most areas ) Both ranked 1.

5.5 Biodiversity

Comments and further specifications on biodiversity:

Biodiversity: Low (ranked 1, a grazing zone with some arable agriculture.However, the area is sandwiched between Central Kalahari and Makgadikgadi game reserves) and high (ranked 2, several national parks/game reserves nearby)

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

Difference in the involvement of women and men: N/A

Population density: < 10 persons/km2

Annual population growth: 2% - 3%

(Rich cattle barons (0.1 and 0.5%)).
(Most inhabitants (0.6 and 0.3%)).
(Subsistence farmers (0.3 and 0.2%)).

Off-farm income specification: Save labour time to fetch firewood and helps consrve forests.Limited off-farm income opportunities for everyone,including non-adopters of the technology.

Market orientation of production system: subsistence (self-supply), subsistence (self-supply), commercial/ market

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:

• communal/ village
• individual, titled

Land use rights:

• open access (unorganized)
• individual

Water use rights:

• communal (organized)
• individual

Comments:

The SLM technology can be used by anybody, it is not group specific.

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)

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 windstorm	not well

Climatological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
drought	well

Other climate-related consequences

Other climate-related consequences

	How does the Technology cope with it?
Cloudy weather	not well

Comments:

N/A

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

Comments:

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

There is a little trend towards spontaneous adoption of the Technology

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view
Helps conserve trees,otherwise cut for fuelwood-saves 1 ton of wood per year How can they be sustained / enhanced? Disseminate the technology to rural household
Reduces labour time for gathering fuelwood How can they be sustained / enhanced? Improve incomes of rural household so that they could afford the technology

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
1) Helps conserve trees,otherwise cut for fuelwood-saves 1 ton of wood per year How can they be sustained / enhanced? Disseminate the technology to rural household
2Reduces labour time for gathering fuelwood How can they be sustained / enhanced? Improve income of rural households so that they could afford the technology
Solar energy is renewable and entirely non-polluting
Smoke free cooking
Solar energy is free

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?
Strong winds can upset cookers and pots on them if not sheltered	Build unroofed shelter around cooking area
Open cooking exposes food to dust

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view	How can they be overcome?
1)Only cook when it is sunny	Safe storage facility
2)Parabolic cookers need frequent adjustment	Build unroofed shelter around cooking area
Need to stole cooker during rainy season
Strong winds can upset cookers and pots on them if not sheltered
Open cooking exposes food to dust