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)

Book project: where the land is greener - Case Studies and Analysis of Soil and Water Conservation Initiatives Worldwide (where the land is greener)

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

World Association of Soil and Water Conservation (WASWC) - China

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

When were the data compiled (in the field)?

30/05/2000

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:

Terraces with narrow beds, used for growing tea, coffee, and horticultural crops on hillsides cleared from forests.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

The terraces described in this case study from northern Thailand are found on hilly slopes with deep soils. The climate is humid and tropical, with 1,700-2,000 mm of rainfall annually. The main aim of the terraces is to facilitate cultivation of tea or coffee on sloping land: erosion control is secondary. Coffee and tea, as well as flowers and vegetables, are good alternatives to opium poppies - which it is government policy to eradicate.

Purpose of the Technology: After clearing natural and secondary forests by slash and burn, terraces are aligned by eye - and constructed by hoe. The width of the bed is 1.0-1.5 m depending on slope, though there are no specific technical guidelines. The length of each terrace can be up to 25 m. Down the slope, after every 3-4 terraces, there are lateral drainage channels, approximately 20-30 cm wide and 10 cm deep. Situated at the foot of a riser, each channel has a gradient of 0.5% or less. Excess water - some of which cascades over the terrace risers, with some draining through the soil - is discharged through these channels, generally to natural waterways. The risers are steep, with a slope of above 100%, and without a defined lip.

Establishment / maintenance activities and inputs: Natural grass cover develops on the risers: this is cut back by hand hoe or machete, or completely removed. The grass is often burned. After harvest (of annual crops), the land is left until immediately before the next rainy season. The terraces at this stage are covered by weeds and grasses. Land is then tilled by hoe. The weeds and grasses are removed and heaped in piles outside the cropped area. They are not composted or used for mulching - and here an opportunity is missed. Where soil fertility is a problem, chemical fertilizers are used. Maintenance includes building up/repairing of risers and levelling of terrace beds as required.

Natural / human environment: The technology was pioneered, and continues to be practiced, by refugee immigrants from China looking for new areas to start farming. These immigrants first came in the 1950s, and cultivated simply through slash and burn techniques. During the 1970s they visited relatives in Taiwan and brought back the idea of small terraces. Originally they settled illegally, but eventually they were given official permission to stay. However, official title deeds to their land have not yet been allocated.

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 land users' innovation

Comments (type of project, etc.):

Taiwan.

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

• improve production
• reduce, prevent, restore land degradation
• create beneficial economic impact

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

Comments:

Major land use problems (compiler’s opinion): - soil erosion on cultivated hillsides
- practical difficulties in tending tea, coffee, vegetables and flowers on sloping land: farming is much easier on levelled land
- Lacking of land ownership (The whole area is reserved forest.)
- Low price of agricultural produce.

Major land use problems (land users’ perception): 1. Lacking of land ownership. 2. Landusers do not have Thai citizenship; less than 20% have ID cards (not citizenship).
Forest: before SWC measures

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: 150 Longest growing period from month to month: Dec - Apr

3.4 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• cross-slope measure
• 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:

• 1-10 km2

Comments:

Total area covered by the SLM Technology is 5 km2.

This practice has been done by tribal people such as E-kaw, Lahu, Lisu, Mien, Khin, Thai Yai, Haw Chinese, H'mong

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, Cn: fertility decline and reduced organic matter content, Ha: aridification

Main causes of degradation: deforestation / removal of natural vegetation (incl. forest fires), Lack of enforcement of legislation or authority

Secondary causes of degradation: other human induced causes (specify) (Agricultural activities), other natural causes (avalanches, volcanic eruptions, mud flows, highly susceptible natural resources, extreme topography, etc.) specify

3.8 Prevention, reduction, or restoration of land degradation

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

• prevent land degradation

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

4.2 Technical specifications/ explanations of technical drawing

Layout of small level bench terraces. After every third or fourth terrace a lateral drainage channel is built. Later, protective grass cover is established on the risers (right).

Technical knowledge required for field staff / advisors: moderate

Technical knowledge required for land users: moderate

Main technical functions: control of dispersed runoff: retain / trap, reduction of slope angle, reduction of slope length

Secondary technical functions: control of concentrated runoff: impede / retard, increase of infiltration, increase / maintain water stored in soil

Vegetative measure: grass on risers (optional)
Vegetative material: G : grass

Vegetative measure: Vegetative material: G : grass

Vegetative measure: Vegetative material: G : grass

Vegetative measure: Vegetative material: G : grass

Terrace: bench level
Vertical interval between structures (m): 0.4
Spacing between structures (m): 0.3
Height of bunds/banks/others (m): 0.4
Width of bunds/banks/others (m): 1.5
Length of bunds/banks/others (m): 25

Structural measure: drainage channels
Depth of ditches/pits/dams (m): 0.1
Width of ditches/pits/dams (m): .02 - .3

Construction material (earth): It is the earth dug in situ.

Lateral gradient along the structure: 0%

Vegetation is used for stabilisation of structures.

4.3 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

other/ national currency (specify):

Baht

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

37.0

4.4 Establishment activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing
1.	Layout is simply by eye and best judgment.	Structural
2.	Work begins on the lower part of the slope, and then progresses uphill.	Structural
3.	Farmers cut into the hillside with hoes and drag the soil down to formthe risers and level the terrace beds.	Structural
4.	Risers are then stabilised/compacted by hoe.	Structural

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	270.0	270.0	100.0
Equipment	Tools	ha	1.0	5.0	5.0	100.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology					275.0

Comments:

Duration of establishment phase: 12 month(s)

4.6 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing/ frequency
1.	Weeds and grasses are removed and piled outside the cropping area.	Vegetative
2.	Land is prepared through tillage by hoe.	Structural
3.	Risers are built up/repaired where necessary.	Structural
4.	Terrace beds may need levelling.	Structural

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	45.0	45.0	100.0
Equipment	Tools	ha	1.0	45.0	45.0	100.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology					90.0

Comments:

Clearing of forest is not included in the cost calculations. This calculation is based on a typical slope of approximately 20%, with risers of 0.2 m in height and beds 1.0 m wide. Maintenance costs include basic land preparation (for annual crops) or weeding etc for perennial crops.

4.8 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

The slope factor affects most because it will require longer time to construct.

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

Comments and further specifications on topography:

Slopes on average: Also steep (ranked 3)
Soil fertility: Low (ranked 1) and very low (ranked 2)
Soil drainage/infiltration: Medium (ranked 1, good drainage though being cleyey soil) and good (ranked 2)
Soil water storage capacity: Medium and low (both ranked 1)

5.3 Soils

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

Indicate other relevant characteristics of the land users:

Population density: < 10 persons/km2
6% of the land users are rich and own 35% of the land.
24% of the land users are average wealthy and own 40% of the land.
60% of the land users are poor and own 20% of the land.
10% of the land users are poor and own 5% of the land.
Off-farm income specification: farmers spend much time as farm labourers on other farms or in food processing factories - and some have jobs at construction sites, for example road building
Level of mechanization: Manual work (ranked 1) and animal traction (ranked 2)
Market orientation: Commercial/market (ranked 1, tea, coffee, vegetable and flower production) and subsistence (ranked 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:

• individual

• illegal (initially) (see Annex T3)

• illegal (initially) (see Annex T3)

6.1 On-site impacts the Technology has shown

Socio-economic impacts

Production

Income and costs

Other socio-economic impacts

Socio-cultural impacts

Ecological impacts

Water cycle/ runoff

Soil

Biodiversity: vegetation, animals

6.2 Off-site impacts the Technology has shown

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

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

500

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

• 50-90%

Comments:

10% of land user families have adopted the Technology with external material support

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

Comments on acceptance with external material support: estimates

90% of land user families have adopted the Technology without any external material support

450 land user families have adopted the Technology without any external material support

Comments on spontaneous adoption: estimates

There is a little trend towards spontaneous adoption of the Technology

Comments on adoption trend: There is a little growing spontaneous adoption: for example in the Mae Salong area farmers accept these terraces increasingly, but fruit growers tend to prefer intermittent ‘orchard terraces’ - terraces spaced apart, with 5 m or more of undisturbed land in-between. The benches in this case are backward sloping.

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view
For facilitating picking of tea leaves
For using as farm path
For increasing soil fertility

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
A relatively cheap method of terracing which makes cultivation easier and provides erosion control How can they be sustained / enhanced? Should be further promoted by extension agencies (in areas where cultivation is officially allowed). Allocation of official title deeds to land will speed up the adoption automatically.
For improving/maintaining soil fertility
For increasing the yield of tea leaves How can they be sustained / enhanced? Inspecting the field during/after rain to see how efficient they are in conserving soil and water and repair as needed
For using as farm path
Compared with normal bench terraces, construction does not bring infertile subsoil to the surface.

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?
Farmers have to pay for its construction.	The government may be able to help in the future.

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view	How can they be overcome?
Does not lend itself to mechanisation: the terrace beds are narrow and only suited to hand hoeing.	Teach farmers techniques of composting and/or mulching.
In this situation grasses and weeds are merely piled and burned rather than being used to improve soil fertility

7.2 References to available publications

Title, author, year, ISBN:

No references