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)

CDE Centre for Development and Environment (CDE Centre for Development and Environment) - Switzerland

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

When were the data compiled (in the field)?

16/11/2012

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:

A riparian area that is frequently flooded requires a special treatment because conventional agriculture is not possible. Trees along the riverbank and Napier grass on the remaining space still allow a productive use despite the difficult circumstances.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

On the southeastern slopes of Mt. Kenya, the circumstances are ideal for agricultural activities, the rains are plenty and normally reliable. The plot owner started realizing a problem of riverbank degradation 17 years ago. But still he continued the traditional way of agriculture, planting beans and maize. Since his plot is on the slip-off slope only few metres above the river level, it experienced regular floods in case of heavy rainfalls, destroying the plants and leading to crop failures. Conventional plants like maize and beans do not resist such an excess of water. To fight the land loss and the bad harvest, the farmer introduced indigenous trees along the river and Napier fighting the riverbank degradation. Behind that, several rows of the flood resistant Napier grass were planted to still use the area in a productive way.

Purpose of the Technology: Above all, the goal of this technology is to get a high grass production. As a side effect results a quite good protection of the riparian area. The vegetation prevents rainwater from running directly from the fields into the water. Therefore, the chemicals from the field get stuck in the riparian soils and don't pollute the river. In the same way the infiltration in the riparian enlarges the total infiltration since the water would go to the river directly. Especially the raw surface of the riparian allows more infiltration and interception storage of water. This surplus of stored water is able to provide river water for a longer period, when rains are humble for a longer period. In case of floods, the increased infiltration potential can cut the peak flow and thus prevent damages. The grass yield is used as a fodder for the cows.

Establishment / maintenance activities and inputs: Before planting the indigenous trees, water guzzlers like eucalyptus trees were cut down. Indigenous seedlings were planted right along the river at a distance of 1 m. Behind the tree row, Napier grass is planted and harvested twice a year. The cutting and harvesting of the grass is done regularly such that animals can be provided with fodder every day. As soon as the trees are big enough, they function as a source of fire wood, they can be pruned every 5 months.

Natural / human environment: The studied plot is situated between the tea and the coffee zone at an elevation of 1663 m.a.s.l. This small-scale farm does not produce tea nor coffee, there is mainly subsistence agricultural production and some few products are sold on the market. Rainfall is reliable and ensures a regular production.

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:

• 10-50 years ago

2.7 Introduction of the Technology

Specify how the Technology was introduced:

• through land users' innovation

Comments (type of project, etc.):

Farmer asked neighbours for advice.

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

• improve production

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

Comments:

Major land use problems (compiler’s opinion): The excessive water on the plot hinders conventional agriculture and the floods lead to riverbank degradation.

Major land use problems (land users’ perception): The land plot is situated right beside the river and is less than a metre above the river. Flood destroyed regularly the harvest of maize or french beans. Parts of the riparian have been removed.

Future (final) land use (after implementation of SLM Technology): Grazing land: Gi: Intensive grazing/ fodder production

If land use has changed due to the implementation of the Technology, indicate land use before implementation of the Technology:

Cropland: Ca: Annual cropping

3.3 Further information about land use

Water supply for the land on which the Technology is applied:

• rainfed

Comments:

Water supply: Also post-flooding

Number of growing seasons per year:

• 2

Specify:

Longest growing period in days: 90 Longest growing period from month to month: march to may Second longest growing period in days: 90 Second longest growing period from month to month: october to december

Livestock density (if relevant):

> 100 LU /km2

3.4 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• improved plant varieties/ animal breeds

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:

The area along the river is very small, namely 750m2.

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

Comments:

Main measures: vegetative measures

Type of vegetative measures: aligned: -along boundary, scattered / dispersed

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

Comments:

Main type of degradation addressed: Wr: riverbank erosion, Hp: decline of surface water quality

Secondary types of degradation addressed: Wt: loss of topsoil / surface erosion, Bs: quality and species composition /diversity decline

Main causes of degradation: over-exploitation of vegetation for domestic use, floods (The floods are mostly responsible for the riverbank degradation and destroy conventionally cultivated crops.)

Secondary causes of degradation: deforestation / removal of natural vegetation (incl. forest fires), population pressure, land tenure (By law the riparian should be protected. The land owner uses it in a productive way.), poverty / wealth

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

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

4.2 Technical specifications/ explanations of technical drawing

A tree row is aligned directly beside the riverbed with a spacing of 1m. Directly behind the trees, Napier grass is planted up to a width of 15m. Adjacent to the Napier grass, there is cropland.

Location: Manyatta. Embu West / Eastern Province

Date: 28.12.2013

Technical knowledge required for field staff / advisors: low

Technical knowledge required for land users: low

Main technical functions: stabilisation of soil (eg by tree roots against land slides), improvement of water quality, buffering / filtering water

Secondary technical functions: improvement of ground cover, increase of biomass (quantity)

Aligned: -along boundary
Vegetative material: T : trees / shrubs
Vertical interval within rows / strips / blocks (m): 1

Scattered / dispersed
Vegetative material: G : grass
Spacing between rows / strips / blocks (m): 0.8
Vertical interval within rows / strips / blocks (m): 0.8

Trees/ shrubs species: Grevillea, Mutundu, Miburu, Mulinga, Mugumo

Grass species: Napier Grass

Slope (which determines the spacing indicated above): 0%

4.3 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

Specify how costs and inputs were calculated:

• per Technology unit

Specify currency used for cost calculations:

• US Dollars

4.4 Establishment activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing
1.	Chopping bad trees	Vegetative	anytime
2.	Tree planting	Vegetative	rainy season
3.	Planting of Napier grass	Vegetative	Beginning of rainy season

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	Chopping bad trees	Persons/day	2.5	3.2	8.0	100.0
Labour	Tree planting	Persons/day	5.0	3.6	18.0	100.0
Labour	Planting of Napier grass	Persons/day	2.0	2.75	5.5	100.0
Plant material	Seedling	Pieces	70.0	0.114285	8.0	100.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology					39.5

Comments:

Duration of establishment phase: 0.3 month(s)

4.6 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing/ frequency
1.	Adding manure	Vegetative	2 times a month
2.	Harvest of Napier	Vegetative	2 times per year after rainy season
3.	Pruning	Vegetative

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	Adding manure	Persons/day	0.2	2.25	0.45	100.0
Labour	Harvest of Napier	Persons/day	2.0	3.3333	6.67	100.0
Labour	Prunning	Persons/day	2.0	3.25	6.5	100.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology					13.62

Comments:

Machinery/ tools: Jembe (Hacke), Panga (Machete)

The plot is situated right at the riverside and gets flooded regularly. 70 trees were planted along the river in one row. The area of the Napier grass is approximately 750m2 big, harvest is two times a year. Costs were calculated in 2012.
The costs per hectare were calculated for a riparian area with a length of 100m and a width of 10m, since hectares are difficult to apply on a riparian context. The determinant factor for the costs is labour and the area of the plot. The required equipment like a spade is available on nearly every farm or can be borrowed from neighbours and is thus not added to the costs.

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

Indicate if the Technology is specifically applied in:

• concave situations

Comments and further specifications on topography:

Altitudinal zone: 1668 m a.s.l., source: aster gdem

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): It is called Murram

Soil fertility is low

Soil drainage / infiltration is good

Soil water storage capacity is medium

5.4 Water availability and quality

5.5 Biodiversity

Comments and further specifications on biodiversity:

Species diversity: Also low

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: > 500 persons/km2

Market orientation of production system: Family of 10 children

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:

• individual

Water use rights:

• individual

Comments:

Abstractions are controlled by the local Water Resource Users association (WRUA), but everybody can take water by hand.

5.9 Access to services and infrastructure

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

Other ecological impacts

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 rainstorm	well
local windstorm	well

Climatological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
drought	not well

Hydrological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
general (river) flood	not well

Other climate-related consequences

Other climate-related consequences

	How does the Technology cope with it?
reduced growing period	well

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:

Establishment and maintenance costs are quite low.

6.5 Adoption of the Technology

• single cases/ experimental

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:

15% of land user families have adopted the Technology without any external material support

There is a moderate trend towards spontaneous adoption of the Technology

Comments on adoption trend: The knowledge is spreading and people acknowledge the benefits.

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view
Protection of the riverbank and reduced riverbank erosion. How can they be sustained / enhanced? Regular management of riparian trees by replacing dead trees with new ones.
Productive function of the Napier grass in terms of fodder and of the trees in terms of pruning for fire wood. How can they be sustained / enhanced? Careful use of the trees and the grass enables a sustainable use of the plants.
No more crop failures. How can they be sustained / enhanced? One should only cultivate plants that can cope with the local excess or scarcity of water.

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
Riverbank stabilisation due to the plantation of trees. How can they be sustained / enhanced? A good idea would be to establish a second row of trees along the river and thus enlarging the number of trees and their positive effects on riverbank stabilisation and filtering of the runoff.

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?
After the harvest of the Napier, the land is bare and vulnerable to erosion.	Instead of cutting the whole plot at once, only a quarter of the Napier grass should be cut at once. So that the land is not completely vulnerable to rain.