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)

Overseas Development Institute (ODI) - United Kingdom

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

When were the data compiled (in the field)?

26/04/1999

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:

stone terrace more or less along the contour, combined with artificial waterways and traditional ditches to drain excess water, and heightened field borders

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

stone bunds, height 0.5 m to 2.5 m, base width 1m to 1.5 m, top width 0.2 m to 1 m (top width mainly below 0.5 m). stones are piled very carefully to form stable terraces, masonry-like, stable drystone walls. In some cases, gesho (local hop, Rhamnus prinoides) is planted above the stone terrace. Bisana (Croton macrostachytus) is planted below the stone bund or along raised field borders. Stone bunds vary in height depending on the slope angle to reach, if possible, flat terraces behind the bund. Bunds are maintained regularly and if necessary bunds are raised. The technology is applied since generations in this area. Farmers continue to build bunds on new plots. A factor favouring the construction and maintenance of bunds - compared with many areas of the Ethiopian Highlans - is that the land distribution of 1996/97 was not carried out in Mesobit & Gedeba.

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:

• more than 50 years ago (traditional)

2.7 Introduction of the Technology

Specify how the Technology was introduced:

• as part of a traditional system (> 50 years)

Comments (type of project, etc.):

No historical record

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

Comments:

Major land use problems (compiler’s opinion): continuous cultivation and overgrazing due to high population pressure; declining soil fertility, which is only partially made up with increased inputs; pests

Major land use problems (land users’ perception): continuous cropping and overgrazing due to high population pressure, change of climate, pests

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

Number of growing seasons per year:

• 2

Specify:

Longest growing period from month to month: Apr - DecSecond longest growing period from month to month: Feb - May

3.4 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• cross-slope measure
• irrigation management (incl. water supply, drainage)
• 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:

• 100-1,000 km2

Comments:

Technology known since generations. Knowledge passed down from father to son. One person mentioned the year 1906 EC (1913 gregor. calendar) as the time when SWC started to be applied on a bigger scale in the area. Area of application: unknown. Information given below is for Mesobit and Gedeba KA only (ca 500 ha).

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

Comments:

Main measures: structural measures

Secondary measures: vegetative measures

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

Comments:

Main type of degradation addressed: Wt: loss of topsoil / surface erosion

Secondary types of degradation addressed: Wg: gully erosion / gullying, Cn: fertility decline and reduced organic matter content, Ha: aridification

4.2 Technical specifications/ explanations of technical drawing

Technical knowledge required for land users: moderate

Main technical functions: control of dispersed runoff: impede / retard

Secondary technical functions: control of concentrated runoff: drain / divert, reduction of slope angle, increase of infiltration, increase / maintain water stored in soil, sediment retention / trapping, sediment harvesting, improvement of soil structure

Trees/ shrubs species: bisana (croton macrostachytus), accacia

Perennial crops species: gesho (rhamnus prinoides)

Slope (which determines the spacing indicated above): 15.00%

If the original slope has changed as a result of the Technology, the slope today is (see figure below): 5.00%

Construction material (earth): fills up trench behind bund to form level terrace, if soil is moved to build terrace, soil is distri

Construction material (stone): stone is main material , usually stones are collected in the field, sometimes solid rock is broken,

Slope (which determines the spacing indicated above): 15%

If the original slope has changed as a result of the Technology, the slope today is: 5%

Vegetation is used for stabilisation of structures.

Other type of management: livestock management - farmers pooling small area of grazing land

4.3 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

other/ national currency (specify):

Ethiopia Birr

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

7.0

4.4 Establishment activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing
1.	planting	Vegetative	beginning of and during rainy season
2.	manuring	Vegetative	beginning of and during rainy season
3.	collecting stones	Structural	May-June
4.	piling stones	Structural	May-June
5.	observing slope	Structural
6.	digging	Structural	May-June, small 'dry' season between small and big

4.5 Costs and inputs needed for establishment

Comments:

Duration of establishment phase: 48 month(s)

4.6 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing/ frequency
1.	weeding	Vegetative	/annual, several times
2.	cutting branches (gesho)	Vegetative	/every 2nd to 3rd year
3.	piling stones	Structural	February-June/annual
4.	reparing broken terraces	Structural	February-June/annual

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

Comments:

length of structure, per day one person constructs about 3 m new stone bund

4.8 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

financial costs are very small compared to manual labour. Costs for labour as indicated in 2.7.1. are given as opportunity costs!
much of the labour is done using traditional group work debo (= working party) or wenfel (= reciprocal work) or newly introduced group work (mass mobilisation).

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 depth on average: Moderately deep, also deep (soil depths estimated only. soil depth also varies depending on location in relation to stone bund.)
Soil fertility is medium
Soil infiltration/drainage is good
Soil water storage capacity is high

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

Indicate other relevant characteristics of the land users:

Annual population growth: 2% - 3%

5% of the land users are rich (yield lasts for 12 months).
80% of the land users are average wealthy (yield lasts for 8 months).
15% of the land users are poor (yield lasts for less than 8 monts and people are involved in petty trade).

Off-farm income specification: Some families rely heavily on off-farm income (petty trade, handicraft). For these families, off-farm income can be as high as 50%, usually it is in the order of 10-20%.

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

Land ownership:

• state

Land use rights:

• individual

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

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

• 90-100%

Comments:

Comments on acceptance with external material support: estimates

Comments on spontaneous adoption: estimates

Comments on adoption trend: young farmers are a bit more reluctant to continue building new bunds, however they maintain existing bunds.