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)

National Agriculture and Forestry Research Institute (NAFRI) - Lao People's Democratic Republic

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

When were the data compiled (in the field)?

18/05/2017

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:

Logs to reduce surface run-off during the rainy season.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

In the upland areas with 3-5 % at foot slopes and 16-30% hill slopes of Lao PDR rotational shifting cultivation has been the primary means of the local people’s livelihood for many generations. Given the topography of the area with its hill slopes it restricts the opportunities for agricultural development. After the land on foot slopes has been cleared and the remaining vegetation burned off in preparation for agricultural activities there are significant impacts on land use particularly during the rainy season which occurs between May-November. There are heavy downpours especially in the months of September and October that create significant sediment transport along the mountain valleys and it also results in flushing organic matter on the surface being flushed along the road sides and ending up in waterways. Furthermore decayed vegetation is washed over the crops. The negative impacts experienced from the loss of fertile topsoil motivated many of the land users to develop some kind of technology in 2015 that could control this run-off from the mountains.
This technology was also meant to help maintain nutrient levels on topsoil as without a technology the nutrients are being flushed down the hillside. It can be assembled using a collection of local logs approximately 4-5 meters in length and around 15-20 cm in diameter (obtained through the clearance of upland rice fields). The logs should be arranged horizontally at the position of a designated drainage site where the run-off flows from a particular agricultural area. They should be stacked on top of one another until reaching a height of about 1 meter. A buttress should also be erected using mature bamboo poles as supporting posts with a length of 1.5 meters and diameter of about 10 cm so as to prevent the logs from sliding down the hillside. The bamboo poles should be driven about 50 cm into the ground and then tightened with ropes. This technology should only be constructed after the planting of upland rice fields has been completed in mountainous areas which have slopes between 20-25%. In general, the local residents have set up this mechanism at 2-3 selected sites within an agricultural plot. The benefits of this technology include mitigating the impacts of soil run-off whilst facilitating the distribution of soil nutrients around the agricultural plot of land. The water and top soil run-off is slowed down when it reaches the log wall and is then directed to flow out on either side of the technology. Previously the average rice yield used to be 1.5 tons/ha, but then the upland rice yields increased to 2 tons/ha after the application of this technology. This is due to the reduction of soil surface losses and an increase in the soil’s organic matter that accumulates through the processes of sedimentation and biomass transport. The quality of the surrounding soil improves through the decay of biomass and the breakdown of the soil by organisms such as earthworms and millipedes.
This technology can be installed on hill slopes . The technology is approximately 1 meter in height (above ground) and 4 -5 meters in length. The supporting posts need to be driven 50 cm into the ground. This technology can be used at the location of seasonal drainage points or water channels on hill slopes between 20-25% (with usually 2 or 3 sites per agricultural plot).

Strengths: Reduces sediment run-off, increases organic matter on the soil’s surface (builds a thicker layer of soil), financially economical, and distributes nutrients on agricultural plots.

Weaknesses disadvantages/ risks of the technology/ how to overcome them: Most of these technologies are not permanent and quite exposed and therefore require annual repair and maintenance. If the run-off facility is to be upgraded, it would need the use of a better quality of rope and concrete posts. However, most people still use the readily available local materials which affects the quality of the water run-off technology as well as its effectiveness. Furthermore this technology may need to be installed at several sites along the same channel on the foot slopes.

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

Indicate year of implementation:

2015

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

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

• improve production
• reduce, prevent, restore land degradation
• reduce risk of disasters

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

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:

• 1

3.4 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• cross-slope measure

3.5 Spread of the Technology

Specify the spread of the Technology:

• applied at specific points/ concentrated on a small area

Comments:

Applied where water or erosion canals occur in the rice field.

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
• reduce land degradation

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

4.2 Technical specifications/ explanations of technical drawing

The technique is applied on foot slope area
Wooden log barriers are created with hight of 1 meter from the surface.
The length of the logs is about 4-5 meters .
Depth of the bamboo post into the soil is 50 centimeters to hold the logs,
This technique is implement on the top of the rice field at the slope 20-25%, where the water form natural surface canals.

4.3 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

Specify how costs and inputs were calculated:

• per Technology unit

other/ national currency (specify):

kip

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

8000.0

4.4 Establishment activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing
1.	Collect the wood logs and bamboo postsv	Structural	After harvesting
2.	Bury the bamboo post	Structural
3.	Arrange the wood	Structural

Comments:

place on the water canal to reduce water flow

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	labor ( for two barriers )	person-day	2.0	50000.0	100000.0	100.0
Equipment	hoe	piece	1.0	50000.0	50000.0	100.0
Equipment	shovel	piece	1.0	25000.0	25000.0	100.0
Equipment	hummer	piece	1.0	20000.0	20000.0	100.0
Plant material	timber logs (for two barriers)	piece	10.0			100.0
Plant material	bamboo (for two barriers )	stick	10.0			100.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology					195000.0

Comments:

Regarding the construction material:bamboo and dead wooden logs are for free, as they are collected from the surrounding.

4.6 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing/ frequency
1.	Repair of the barrier	Structural	2 times a year

Comments:

using residue material in the nature for maintenance

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	labor (for two barriers )	person	2.0	50000.0	100000.0	100.0
Equipment	knife	piece	2.0	25000.0	50000.0	100.0
Equipment	shovel	piece	1.0	20000.0	20000.0	100.0
Construction material	timber ( for two barriers )	piece	10.0			100.0
Construction material	bamboo ( for two barriers )	stick	10.0			100.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology					170000.0

4.8 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

The equipment is the most important factor affecting the costs.

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

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:

• individual

Water use rights:

• open access (unorganized)

5.9 Access to services and infrastructure

6.1 On-site impacts the Technology has shown

Socio-economic impacts

Production

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	moderately
seasonal temperature	wet/ rainy season	increase	very well
annual rainfall		increase	well
seasonal rainfall	wet/ rainy season	increase	well

Climate-related extremes (disasters)

Meteorological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
local rainstorm	moderately

Climatological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
extreme winter conditions	well
drought	moderately
forest fire	moderately

Hydrological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
landslide	moderately

Other climate-related consequences

Other climate-related consequences

	How does the Technology cope with it?
extended growing period	not 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)?

6.5 Adoption of the Technology

• 1-10%

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?

No

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view
Reduce sediment run-off
Increased organic matters on soil surface (create thicker soil layer)
Low cost for implementation

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
Better distribution of nutrients on agricultural lands.

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?
Most of these facilities are not permanent and vulnerable which require repair every year	It may require better rope quality and concrete posts.
Some sediment accumulation are still caused by remaining run-off sites	must create many point of barrier

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view	How can they be overcome?
People still use available local materials which affects the quality of the water run-off facility as well as its effectiveness.	It may require installation of this kind of facility in many sites along the same channel depending on slope of the land.

7.1 Methods/ sources of information