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)

Royal University of Agriculture (RUA) - Cambodia

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

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:

Digging ponds on farms to harvest rain water used for irrigating crops during drought provides a means for addressing a lack of water at the start of crop cultivation, both before the start of the rainy season and after the end of the rainy season. The main objective of this practice is to increase the duration of the potential growing seasons for crops. A pond with a storage capacity of 2,412 cubic meter of water can potentially irrigate crops year-round in an area of at least 1.6 hectares, including during the dry-season.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

In areas with low rainfall and limited or lack of irrigation systems, the harvesting of rainwater for potential irrigation is an important practice for crop cultivation and food security. The amount of water potentially available is also an integral factor that farmers need to take into account. Furthermore, climate change is another pressure for farmers to adapt to, due to the potential adverse impact on agricultural activities, including a reduction in crop yields, increases in the incidence of crop diseases and insect pests, together with more frequent extreme weather events, including irregular rainfall, droughts and floods.

In response to the above issues, farmers have the potential to dig ponds for water storage, and the application of drip irrigation for cropping activities. The development of on-farm ponds provides a crop water resource during drought periods, while also providing opportunities for small-scale aquaculture and vegetable cropping. Having a pond in a field is regarded as being resilient to climate change (climate-smart agriculture) because farmers can have sufficient water for irrigation in all seasons throughout the year.

With the application of drip irrigation, farmers save water and time. Labour input for irrigation is reduced while a better environment is provided for crop growth, reduced soil erosion and better management of weeds, diseases and some insect pests. Drip irrigation is also a system of irrigation that maximizes water use efficiency in periods of drought in response to climate change.

Before making the decision to dig a pond, the farmer had observed and estimated the availability of water resources including the groundwater in the area for around two years by learning from the existing wells of neighbours around his land. The selected point for digging the pond is at the lowest part of his land, and it is also based on the fact he found that the neighbouring pump wells have good source of groundwater. This pond hence collects rainwater and connects to underground water aquifer, which is not very deep.

A farmer may not have to spend money for the digging of a pond on his land, as it is potentially possible to reach an agreement with the owner of an excavator (soil digging machine), to allow the owner of the machine to take the excavated soil in payment for the excavation of the pond. Without such a mutual agreement, the cost to the farmer of digging a pond could be as high as 8 million riel (about US$2,000). A suitable farm pond would need to have surface size of 40 x 20 meters and a bottom size of 29 x 14 meters. A pond depth of 4 meters might potentially provide 2 meters depth of water which can potentially provide sufficient water to irrigate over 1.6 hectares of crop in the dry-season, thereby enable farmers to grow at least two crops per year (or perhaps four crops that are short maturing). Farmers have also been able to raise at least 600 Tilapia fish (a freshwater fish) in the ponds.

Farmers with access to water from a farm pond are able to grow more crops than previously, get higher yields, and grow crops such as pumpkin in the dry-season due to having access to water for irrigation.

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:

2013

2.7 Introduction of the Technology

Specify how the Technology was introduced:

• through land users' innovation

Comments (type of project, etc.):

The farmer observed the availability of groundwater source with the existing wells of neighbours around his land, and digged the pond at the lowest point of his land to collect both rainwater and groundwater.

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

• improve production
• adapt to climate change/ extremes and its impacts
• create beneficial social impact

• Can grow crops all year round, including before rainy season

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

Comments:

The pond provides water for irrigation all year round for a land of a size of 1.60 hectares. Before he had a pond he grew corn and beans because they don't need much water. Now he can grow crops before the rainy season starts.

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

In the past, the land where the crops are grown was forest. The forest was removed, then crops were grown and the soils became less fertile.

3.3 Further information about land use

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

• mixed rainfed-irrigated

Number of growing seasons per year:

• 2

3.4 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• water harvesting
• irrigation management (incl. water supply, drainage)

3.5 Spread of the Technology

Specify the spread of the Technology:

• applied at specific points/ concentrated on a small area

Comments:

Farmer can grow crops on a larger piece of land and grow more crops due to availability of irrigation water.

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

Constructed at the lowest part of the land, the pond has a surface size of 40 x 20 meters and bottom size of 29 x 14 meters. The depth is 4 meters with the water level of around 2 meters depth. The water level in the pond remains similar both in dried and rainy seasons. The farmer makes a earth dam around it with 1.3 meters high to protect sedimentation flow into the pond during heavy rainfall. The farmer also plants some local grass surrounding the dam to prevent soil erosion. Some water mimosa was also put in the pond to serves two functions, for filtering the water and as feed for fish in the pond.

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):

Riel

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

4000.0

4.4 Establishment activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing
1.	Digging pond with excavator	Structural	December
2.	Building a dam surrounding the pond	Structural	December
3.	Motor pump	Other measures	December
4.	Set up drip irrigation	Structural	February
5.	Plant local grass on the dam and put water mimosa in the pond	Vegetative	May

Comments:

Renting fee of an excavator is 200,000 Riel per hour.

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	Digging pond and making dam (by exscavator)	Hour	40.0	200000.0	8000000.0
Labour	Set up drip irrigation	person-day	2.0	40000.0	80000.0	100.0
Equipment	Motor pump pipe and tube sets for drip irrigation	Set	1.0	2720000.0	2720000.0	100.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology					10800000.0

If land user bore less than 100% of costs, indicate who covered the remaining costs:

The owner of excavator

Comments:

The owner of excavator sold the excavated soil and the farmer received the pond.

4.6 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing/ frequency
1.	Restore the pond	Structural	Dry season
2.	Fixing the dam	Structural	No rain
3.	Irrigating the crops	Agronomic	During drought

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	Restoring the pond and fixing the dam	person-day	7.0	20000.0	140000.0	100.0
Construction material	Gasoline for pumping	Liter	30.0	2800.0	84000.0	100.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology					224000.0

4.8 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

The wage of the excavator for digging the pond is expensive. However, this can be overcome by giving the soil to the excavator who can sell the soil and therewith does the work for free.

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

Indicate if the Technology is specifically applied in:

• concave situations

Comments and further specifications on topography:

The land has a slope of around 9 degrees.

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.

The underground soil is sandy and and the top soil is sandy loam with pH of 4,5.

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

Indicate other relevant characteristics of the land users:

The farmer who owns the described pond is 34 years old.

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, titled

• land rent

Land use rights:

• leased
• individual

Water use rights:

• individual

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

Comments regarding impact assessment:

The neighbors can use water​ regularly due to its availability.

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		decrease	very well
seasonal rainfall	wet/ rainy season	decrease	very well
other gradual climate change	Heat increase than before	increase	very well

Climate-related extremes (disasters)

Biological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
epidemic diseases	moderately
insect/ worm infestation	moderately

Comments:

Once there is a pond, the farmer can grow more vegetables or other 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)?

Comments:

Other people are interested to have ponds but they are afraid that the groundwater aquifer is too deep on their land and they then don't have enough water in pond.

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:

There was no other farmer in this area doing like this as they are afraid that the water source is not enough and they would lose the money for investing in it.

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
Sufficient water is made available for irrigation of crops
Crops can be grown outside the period of regular cropping based on rainfall distribution

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
Water can be stored for irrigation in the dry season and for use during periods of drought
Neighbors can be given access to water stored in the ponds
Small-scale aquaculture becomes potentially possible, with the potential for the cultivation of some aquatic plants as vegetables

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?
Loss of some land from crop cultivation due to the pond	Change to using the land to raise fish
Need to restore the pond within every two or three years	Hire someone to do it
Digging pond is expensive	Seek collaborate with a partner like the person who owns an excavator for mutual benefits

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view	How can they be overcome?
Reduced area of cultivated land	Can change the use of the land to grow some aquatic plants and raise fish
Digging pond is expensive	Seek some support from a project or NGOs, or collaborate with a partner like the person who owns a excavator for mutual benefits

7.1 Methods/ sources of information

7.3 Links to relevant information which is available online

Title/ description:

Sustainable Cambodia.(2010). Water & Related Programs Report. retreived 18/01/2018 from

URL:

http://www.sustainablecambodia.org/RetrieveDocument.asp?f=Sustainable+Cambodia+Water+%26+Related+Programs+Report%2Epdf

Title/ description:

Kaufmann,C.(2016).Use of household ponds for garden irrigation and fish production.Centre for Development and Environment. retreived 18/01/2018 from

URL:

https://www.google.com/search?q=Use+of+household+ponds+for+garden+irrigation+and+fish+production&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-b-ab