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)

Kathmandu University (KU) - Nepal

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

When were the data compiled (in the field)?

02/12/2012

The compiler and key resource person(s) accept the conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT:

Yes

1.4 Declaration on sustainability of the described Technology

Is the Technology described here problematic with regard to land degradation, so that it cannot be declared a sustainable land management technology?

No

1.5 Reference to Questionnaire(s) on SLM Approaches

2.1 Short description of the Technology

Definition of the Technology:

Waterways and pipelines to draw water from closeby rivers for irrigation and household purposes.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

The technology involves the construction of diversion and waterways from the rivers to draw ample water sufficient for distribution to the different houses of the V.D.C .
Water is drawn from two rivers via three routes, one route from 'Polsing' river and the two other from 'Ghatte river' .
In the upper areas, open digging is done up to 700 meters from the source and waterways are created.
However, in lower areas due to more stones, creation of waterways was not possible, hence pipelines had to be created over 425 meters.
The pipeline opens in each house into a small reservoir for use in irrigation and household.

Purpose of the Technology: Mainly for conservation of land and soil along with provision of water to agricultural land.
Before the implementation of this technology, land was semi arid with few perennial crops.

Establishment / maintenance activities and inputs: Initially established and then managed by the combined effort of the users. All activities done voluntarily using easily available tools of daily usage by members of the households who benefit and make use of the technology. The only costs made were for the purpose of making pipelines which was borne half by the government and half by the land-users themselves.
No maintenance activities have been carried out so far, yet monthly collection of Rs 20 is done from each house which is stored for future use.

Natural / human environment: Chyamrangbesi VDC is a valley with subtropical type of climate. Precipitation level ranges from 750mm to 1500mm for about four months during the monsoons. The winters are dry however and hence the growing period is from 79 to 179 days, making the area semi-arid depending on the agro-climate division. Since the area falls on hill slopes with 8.16% steep so the technology is applied with convex manner.

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.):

Initial work started in 2004, improvements in the technology each year

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

• improve production
• create beneficial economic impact

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

Comments:

Major land use problems (compiler’s opinion): Land semi-arid and dry, hence only few selected crops could be grown due to lack of sufficient water.
Major land use problems (land users’ perception): Land could not be utilised properly due to lack of sufficient water for crops, dry condition.
Future (final) land use (after implementation of SLM Technology): Other: Ow: Waterways, drainage lines, ponds, dams

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

Number of growing seasons per year:

• 3

Specify:

Longest growing period in days: 150, Longest growing period from month to month: Karthik (October) - Chaitra (April) Second longest growing period in days: 120, Second longest growing period from month to month: Asadh(June) - Ashwin (September)

3.4 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• irrigation management (incl. water supply, drainage)
• water diversion and drainage

3.5 Spread of the Technology

Comments:

Total area covered by the SLM Technology is 28.97 km2.
Same technology covers entire area with water source

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

Comments:

Main causes of degradation: urbanisation and infrastructure development (Construction of roads, not properly engineered, difficult to travel by and highly risky.), Heavy / extreme rainfall (intensity/amounts) (In the 3 months of monsoon), inputs and infrastructure: (roads, markets, distribution of water points, other, …) (Roads construction and its use by large vehicles frequently)

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

The drawing shows the path followed by the pipe irrigation, the various feautres

Location: Chamryangbesi VDC

Technical knowledge required for field staff / advisors: high (Designed by engineers
Technical knowledge required for land users: moderate (Constructed by land users)

Main technical functions: improvement of ground cover, water harvesting / increase water supply, promotion of vegetation species and varieties (quality, eg palatable fodder)
Secondary technical functions: stabilisation of soil (eg by tree roots against land slides), water spreading, increase of biomass (quantity)

Diversion ditch/ drainage
Vertical interval between structures (m): n/a
Spacing between structures (m): n/a
Depth of ditches/pits/dams (m): 0.6
Width of ditches/pits/dams (m): 0.6
Length of ditches/pits/dams (m): 100

Waterway
Vertical interval between structures (m): n/a
Spacing between structures (m): n/a
Depth of ditches/pits/dams (m): 0.6
Width of ditches/pits/dams (m): 0.6
Length of ditches/pits/dams (m): 700

Dam/ pan/ pond
Vertical interval between structures (m): n/a
Spacing between structures (m): 50
Depth of ditches/pits/dams (m): 0.45
Width of ditches/pits/dams (m): 0.6
Length of ditches/pits/dams (m): 50

Construction material (earth): soil excavated and used to make bunds of the water ways
Construction material (concrete): used to make small reservoirs in houses
Construction material (other): pipes : to transfer water from the source to houses

Slope (which determines the spacing indicated above): 15%
If the original slope has changed as a result of the Technology, the slope today is: 0%

4.3 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

other/ national currency (specify):

rupees

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

98.47

4.4 Establishment activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing
1.	Farmers cut into land from the source in suitable directions to bring water to their houses	Structural	Dry season
2.	Fitting of pipes	Structural	dry season
3.	Construct small openings/reservoirs	Structural	dry 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	Farmers cut into land from the source in suitable directions to bring water to their houses	mandays	45.0
Labour	Fitting of pipes	mandays	15.0
Labour	Construct small openings/reservoirs	mandays	15.0
Construction material	Pipe + cement	ha	1.0			50.0

Comments:

Duration of establishment phase: 2 month(s)

4.8 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

Area to be covered by the pipeline and distance from the source are the most determinate factors.

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

Indicate if the Technology is specifically applied in:

• convex situations

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: Varies from shallow to deep
Soil texture: Soil texture varies from place to place
Soil fertility: Medium (ranked 1, varies according to water availability) and low (ranked 2)
Topsoil organic matter: Use of manure necessary for maintaining productivity
Soil drainage/infiltration: Good
Soil water storage capacity: Medium (No groundwater found)

5.4 Water availability and quality

Comments and further specifications on water quality and quantity:

Ground water table: On surface (ranked 1, Groundwater use not much evident) and <5m (ranked 2)
Availability of surface water: Excess (ranked 1, Floods occurs in case of heavy seasonal rainfall; supply of water is good and sufficient) and good (ranked 2)
Water quality (untreated): Good drinking water (perennial surface water distributed through pipelines)

5.5 Biodiversity

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: 100-200 persons/km2
Annual population growth: > 4%; 5%
40% of the land users are rich.
60% of the land users are average wealthy.

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:

• open access (unorganized)
• communal (organized)

5.9 Access to services and infrastructure

6.1 On-site impacts the Technology has shown

Socio-economic impacts

Production

Water availability and quality

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 rainstorm	not well
local windstorm	not known

Climatological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
drought	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	not known

Comments:

In cases of excess water availability, pipelines have been made to divert water to mills , that uses water to rotate blades and grind crops.

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:

There is a strong trend towards spontaneous adoption of the Technology. Every year the irrigation line is being increased to encompass more houses of the VDC

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
Water is equally available to all the households, with minor level decrease in the dry season.
The crop, fodder production has increased
Reduced top soil loss due to erosion
Maintenance requirement minimum

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?
More houses could be Incorporated in the technology	Involvement of more local inhabitants so more households could benefit from the technology
Lack of Monitoring by Experts	Monitoring of SLM Experts could help improve the existing system to make it more sustainable and efficient.

7.1 Methods/ sources of information