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)

Scaling-up SLM practices by smallholder farmers (IFAD)

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

Uganda Landcare Network (ULN) - Uganda

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

When were the data compiled (in the field)?

28/04/2017

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

2.1 Short description of the Technology

Definition of the Technology:

Fish ponds are established where there is access to water to enhance fish production and household incomes

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

Fish ponds are a common feature in Northern Uganda specifically constructed to raise fish for home consumption and sale to supplement household incomes. Often they are situated on gentle slopes (3-5%) and in wetlands protected with natural vegetation on the levees to act as stabilizers. They are usually recharged from a natural spring.

Establishment of a fish pond requires initial consultation with the extension agents or experts to access knowledge, skills on establishment as well as proper procedures including testing water suitability, presence of reliable water to constantly provide water to the pond, labour, hoes, wheel barrows, spades and slashers.

Establishment activities for the fish pond requires at least 3-5 persons for a period of 5 days per week for the following activities: (i) contacting experts or extension agents for guidance (ii) identifying of suitable land for fish pond establishment (iii) training on digging fish ponds (iv) purchasing equipment required (v) hiring labour and negotiating the payment (vi) excavating the pond and, (vii) identifying the right species of the fish and stocking the fish.

The technical specifications of a fish pond are 30 metres long and 15 metres wide. The depth should be 0.5-1metres at the shallow end and 1.5 -2 metres depth at the pond's outlet. During construction, the soil at the bottom of the planned pond needs to be well compacted. The bottom of the pond should be free of stumps or debris so to avoid leakage through cracks. The banks of the pond consists of compacted earthen rims of approx. 0.15m height and the 0.20 m width.

There shoud be 2 types or more of fish species kept in the fish pond. Sunlight can generally penetrate the pond waters to a depth of about 30-80 cm depending on the water level. The fish species mostly kept include Tilapia, Nile Perch and wild fish.

Once the technology is established the pond system requires only maintenance costs for removing weeds, feeding, restocking and slashing around the pond.
What is not liked about this technology is that it relies on a natural spring. In case of drought survival of the fish is not guaranteed.

2.3 Photos of the Technology

2.4 Videos 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

Indicate year of implementation:

2007

2.7 Introduction of the Technology

Specify how the Technology was introduced:

• through land users' innovation
• through projects/ external interventions

Comments (type of project, etc.):

The farmer started the innovation using his own initiative but later involved the extension agent to train him on fish pond management

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

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

Annual cropland: land under temporary/annual crops

3.3 Further information about land use

other (e.g. post-flooding):

• spring water

Number of growing seasons per year:

• 1

Livestock density (if relevant):

Cows=5, Goats=5, Sheep=4. These animals are kept mainly for manure and household income.

3.4 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• surface water management (spring, river, lakes, sea)

• Aquaculture

3.5 Spread of the Technology

Specify the spread of the Technology:

• applied at specific points/ concentrated on a small area

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

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 technical drawing of a fish pond is vertically drawn to show a fish pond in a wetland with natural vegetation allowed to grow to establish the pond. The recommended specifications of a fish pond are within a range of 30 metres x 15 metres. The depth should be 0.5-1metres at the shallow end sloping to 1.5 -2 metres at the outlet. A rim of compacted soil encircles the pond at its banks. The average stocking is 1000-3000 fishes depending critically on the fish species and the size of the fishes, that is its stage of lifecycle.
The second techical drawing shows the structure from a crosssectional view.

4.3 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

Specify how costs and inputs were calculated:

• per Technology area

other/ national currency (specify):

Uganda Shillings

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

3400.0

4.4 Establishment activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing
1.	Identify expert or extension agent to guide	Other measures	Before establishment
2.	Identifying suitable land for fish pond establishment	Other measures	Before establishment and after talking to the expert
3.	Identify location of the fish pond	Other measures	Before establishment / rainy season
4.	Training on how to establish fish pond	Other measures	Before establishment
5.	Buy equipment	Other measures	wet season/before establishment
6.	Look for labour and negotiate costs	Other measures	Before establishment/ dry season
7.	Dig the pond	Structural	At the time of establishment / dry season
8.	Identify the right species and stock	Agronomic	During establishment/ wet season
9.	Feeding	Agronomic	Wet and dry season
10.	Monitoring and routine maintanance	Other measures	During the dry and wet season

Comments:

Activities geared towards establishing a fish pond where favorable conditions can be sustained

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 on monthly basis	persons	5.0	150000.0	750000.0	100.0
Equipment	Spades	Pieces	5.0	10000.0	50000.0	100.0
Equipment	Slasher	Pieces	1.0	10000.0	10000.0	100.0
Equipment	Wheel barrow	Pieces	1.0	180000.0	180000.0	100.0
Other	Fish fry	Pieces	50.0	500.0	25000.0	100.0
Other	Feeds per week	Kilograms	5.0	10000.0	50000.0	100.0
Other	Fish nets	Pieces	7.0	50000.0	350000.0	100.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology					1415000.0

4.6 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing/ frequency
1.	Transporting the equipment	Other measures	During the dry season/ on set of rains
2.	Slashing	Management	Wet season
3.	Restocking the fish	Agronomic	wet and dry season
4.	Providing the security of the fish	Other measures	wet and dry season
5.	Feeding	Other measures	wet and dry season
6.	Monitoring the fish	Other measures	wet and dry season
7.	Fishing	Other measures	wet and dry season
8.	Selling	Other measures	wet and dry season

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 on monthly basis	persons	1.0	150000.0	150000.0	100.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology					150000.0

4.8 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

Labour is the important factor that influences costs. The farmer used own money to hire labour.

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

Indicate if the Technology is specifically applied in:

• concave situations

5.3 Soils

5.4 Water availability and quality

Is water salinity a problem?

No

Is flooding of the area occurring?

No

Comments and further specifications on water quality and quantity:

There is a lot of drought occurring due to deforestation

5.5 Biodiversity

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

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:

• open access (unorganized)

Water use rights:

• open access (unorganized)
• individual

Comments:

Farmer has submitted application to Registrar of Titles for registration of land

5.9 Access to services and infrastructure

6.1 On-site impacts the Technology has shown

Socio-economic impacts

Production

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:

High costs at the time of establishment with more benefits and increased income when fish is sold

6.5 Adoption of the Technology

• 1-10%

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

6

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

• 90-100%

6.6 Adaptation

Has the Technology been modified recently to adapt to changing conditions?

Yes

If yes, indicate to which changing conditions it was adapted:

• climatic change/ extremes

Specify adaptation of the Technology (design, material/ species, etc.):

Growing natural vegetation around the pond to act as bank stabilizer and fodder source

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view
Provides employment to the local communities
Easy to maintain with minimum costs
Provides income form the sale of the fish
Easily replicated

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
Does not require high maintenance costs once established
Requires technical advice which is available with extension workers

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?
Easily affected by drought especially during the dry season	Water harvesting
High costs for feeding and paying labour	Use of family / group labour/ growing more vegetation
Fish is easily attacked by preditors (crocodiles) which reduces harvest	Kill preditors

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view	How can they be overcome?
Not fenced yet poisoning is a common threat	Fencing / employ a guard
Requires more capital to establish	Link the farmer to credit institutions and pay after selling fish

7.1 Methods/ sources of information