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)

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) - Italy

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

When were the data compiled (in the field)?

26/04/2000

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:

Blocking of a gully by use of stone checks in order to impede runoff and improve soil moisture for crop production

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

Stone checks are constructed across the gully at horizontal intervals of 10 - 15 m. The check dams vary in size, but are generally 1- 1.5 m high, 1 m wide at the top (base width is greater) and stretch for some 5 - 10 metres across the gully. The checks are flat across the top, except for one end which is lowered to act as a spillway for overflow. As has been pointed out already, these are constructed in stages every rainy season, keeping pace with the rate of siltation. Stone for construction is collected from around the farm. These
checks slow down runoff, encourage sedimentation of organically rich deposits and create a moist and fertile gully bed, suited to crop production. Bananas, pawpaws and annual crops are planted between the stone checks.

Purpose of the Technology: The aim of this technology is to slow down runoff in the gully and harvest the silt. Its purpose is primarily for perennial (and annual) cropping. With respect to
soil and water conservation, impact is achieved through control of concentrated runoff, by retention/ trapping of sediment, by reduction of slope and thereby reclamation of land within a gully.

Establishment / maintenance activities and inputs: Maintenance is a continuous process. There is a regular demand for adding more layers to the check dams as they silt up, and an occasional need to repair broken checks.

Natural / human environment: Mwaniki Mutembei is a young family man, who took the decision some years ago to devote his energies to farming. As he expressed in his interview in the PFI video, he became disillusioned with casual contract labour, and decided to work for himself instead, on his own land. Although he has 4 hectares of farmland, it is situated in one of the driest sub-locations of Migwani, namely Thitani, and the land itself is infertile and shallow. Mwaniki is certainly resource-poor.

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.):

It was a person intiative

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): soil infertility due to washing of important nutients through leaching. Lack of technology by the land users

Major land use problems (land users’ perception): lack of tools, credit. Proper trainingand market information market. Poor access roads

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: 120 Longest growing period from month to month: Apr - Jul Second longest growing period in days: 90 Second longest growing period from month to month: Oct - Jan

3.4 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• integrated soil fertility management
• 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:

• 0.1-1 km2

Comments:

Total area covered by the SLM Technology is 0.04 m2.

technology covers a portion of the farm.

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

Comments:

Main measures: structural measures

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

Comments:

Main type of degradation addressed: Wg: gully erosion / gullying

Secondary types of degradation addressed: Wt: loss of topsoil / surface erosion, Cn: fertility decline and reduced organic matter content, Ha: aridification

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

4.2 Technical specifications/ explanations of technical drawing

Stone checks in the gully: note side spillways

Kenya

Technical knowledge required for field staff / advisors: moderate

Technical knowledge required for land users: high

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

Secondary technical functions: control of concentrated runoff: retain / trap, reduction of slope length, sediment retention / trapping, sediment harvesting, improvement of soil structure, increase in soil fertility

Construction material (earth): acquired from the side of the gully

Construction material (concrete): to reinforce the gully

Vegetation is used for stabilisation of structures.

4.3 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

other/ national currency (specify):

Kenya shillings

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

70.0

4.4 Establishment activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing
1.	layout of the embankment	Structural	dry season
2.	widening of the gully	Structural	dry season
3.	planting of stabiliser	Structural	rain season

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.	repair of embankments	Structural	dry season/occasional
2.	addition of more layers of check	Structural	dry season/seasonally
3.	planting of grass, trees	Structural	rain season/seasonally

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

Comments:

length of the structures

4.8 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

cost of labour. Slope

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 texture (topsoil): Also fine

Soil fertility is medium - high

Soil drainage / infiltration is good - poor

Soil water storage capacity is low - high

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

Indicate other relevant characteristics of the land users:

Population density: 10-50 persons/km2

Annual population growth: 2% - 3%

5% of the land users are rich and own 35% of the land.
50% of the land users are average wealthy and own 40% of the land.
30% of the land users are poor and own 20% of the land.
15% of the land users are poor and own 5% of the land.

Off-farm income specification: few employed persons outside

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

Land ownership:

• individual, not titled

Land use rights:

• leased
• individual

6.1 On-site impacts the Technology has shown

Socio-economic impacts

Production

Income and costs

Ecological impacts

Water cycle/ runoff

Soil

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

• 1-10%

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

12 households and they cover an area of 1 percent

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:

12 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: As the main work of construction, involving superficial quarrying of stone, is very labour demanding, it makes the technology expensive to undertake. Because of this, and also due to the fact that it is a
very site specific technology, adoption has so far been limited to a handful of farmers locally.

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
Making use of generally infertile and unproductive land by creatively manipulating a gully
Increased land area for production
Increased crop yield (bananas and pawpaws) and improved farm income

7.2 References to available publications

Title, author, year, ISBN:

PFI Mid term evaluation report. 1998.

Available from where? Costs?

PFI Mwingi box 319 Mwingi

Title, author, year, ISBN:

PFI Regional workshop report. 1999.

Available from where? Costs?

PFI Mwingi box 319 Mwingi

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Kithinji M., Critchley W. 2001. Farmers' initiatives in land husbandry: Promising technologies for the drier areas of East Africa. RELMA Technical Report series no. 27