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)?

11/07/2017

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:

Technique on the use of water from fishpond for dry season rice cultivation to increase yields

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

This technique involves the use of water from a fishpond for the cultivation of dry season paddy rice, and it was introduced in area of 0.5 ha of irrigated paddy fields in 2010. Dry season rice cultivation is normally prevented by an inadequate water supply. Farmers can usually only practice rain fed rice cultivation. However, in 2012 one land user had an idea so as to maximize the use of his land. He hired a backhoe in order to excavate a pond which he could then use for fish breeding. The pond’s total volume is 1,700 m2 and it measures 50 meters x 30 meters, with a depth of 1.5 meters. A canal had been dug to fill the pond with water from a nearby stream. The pond is utilized for fish breeding, and the water is also diverted for the cultivation of rice in both the dry and wet seasons. This is done by utilizing small 40 cm wide irrigation canals which were established to supply water to the rice paddies. This technique therefore not only assists agricultural practices but also enables aquaculture and thus has provided households with increased food security. Furthermore the rice paddies have become more productive throughout the plantation periods. The fishpond also manages to control erosion as it retains the run-off water from the surrounding forest areas. This run off is held by the pond before it reaches the rice fields. Therefore, the technique helps to sustain agricultural activities on the land and reduce localized drought. However, supplying water to areas that are at a higher elevation than the pond remains difficult; farmers are unable provide sufficient amounts of water without the use of a pump. After adopting this technique land users have been very satisfied with the outputs as they can cultivate rice throughout the year, so in both the dry and the rainy seasons, and as a result have produced higher yields of rice. They have also been able to raise fish which has provided meat for household consumption. This means that the families applying the technique are currently better off. Additionally, the soil has become moister and this has prevented the development of clods as had happened in the past. The fishpond is 50 meters long, 30 meters wide and has a depth of 1.5 meters. The water gate, which measures 40cm x 40cm has been constructed with planks. In the dry season particularly when there is an inadequate amount of water in the rice field, the farmer will open this gate so as to divert water from the pond to the rice fields. They are able to use half of the pond’s volume of water at one time, and then it will gradually have to be filled up again with water that runs through a canal from the stream. It takes a few days to refill the pond and then the farmers are once again able to irrigate their paddies. The pond was established right next the rice paddies which can be fed through a 40 cm wide canal that is blocked by a wooden gate when not in use. Additionally a 5 HP, diesel water pump is used to pump water uphill from the fishpond to another 0.5ha paddy field. This is necessary because the paddy field, on a slope of 3-5% is located at a higher elevation - which is a characteristic feature of rice paddies. The species of fish fingerlings in the pond include tilapia, common carp and grass carp. As the fish are maturing the land users mostly feed them with rice bran because it is readily available. A plastic net is used as a filter in front of either the pump inlet when irrigating the paddy field upstream or the gate when water is being diverted to the paddy field downstream so as to avoid the loss of fish. The pond has a storage capacity is 2,000 m3 and it is replenished from a natural source by a canal that was recently constructed by the land users. Strengths: (1) Water from the fishpond can be used for rice cultivation in both the dry and rainy seasons, thereby enabling agricultural activities without the provision of water from an irrigation system. (2) It enables fish breeding and therefore land users can propagate various fish fingerlings. Weaknesses: (1) The fishpond is located at a lower elevation than some of the paddy fields and thus only a limited area can be supplied through gravity fed irrigation ; (3) A diesel water pump is needed to supply water to some of the fields to enable the cultivation of rice.

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:

2012

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:

• mixed rainfed-irrigated

Number of growing seasons per year:

• 2

Specify:

Paddy rice

Livestock density (if relevant):

1000 fish/season

3.4 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• water harvesting
• irrigation management (incl. water supply, drainage)
• beekeeping, aquaculture, poultry, rabbit farming, silkworm farming, etc.

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
• reduce land degradation

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

4.2 Technical specifications/ explanations of technical drawing

The fish pond is 50 meters in length, 20 meters in width and has a depth 1.5 meters. Levees with a thickness of 40 cm run around the edge of the pond and separate it from the rice fields. A wooden outlet door measuring 40 x 40 cm has been installed in one corner of the pond. The rice paddies in either a downhill or uphill direction lie on a gentle slope of about 3-5%. The fish species being bred in the pond include Tilapia, Silver carp and Grass carp. The storage capacity of the pond is 2000 m3. A pump and 10 meter tubes are used for uphill irrigation.

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.	Dig the pond using an excavator	Structural	In April
2.	Build levees (embankments) around the edge of the pond	Structural	In April
3.	Dig a canal from the stream to the pond	Structural	In April
4.	Construct a wooden gate	Structural	In April
5.	Fill the pond with water	Other measures	May
6.	Install a pump and tubes in order to irrigate fields at a higher elevation	Management	May

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 build an embankment (levee) and construct a wooden gate	person	6.0	50000.0	300000.0	100.0
Labour	Labor for dig a canal from stream to pond	person	5.0	50000.0	250000.0	100.0
Labour	Labour for drained water to the paddy field	person	2.0	50000.0	100000.0	100.0
Equipment	Shovel	piece	2.0	25000.0	50000.0	100.0
Equipment	Excavator	Day	2.0	500000.0	1000000.0	100.0
Equipment	Hoe	piece	3.0	40000.0	120000.0	100.0
Equipment	Pump	Machine	1.0	1200000.0	1200000.0	100.0
Equipment	Tube	Meter	10.0	8000.0	80000.0	100.0
Construction material	Wood	piece	2.0	15000.0	30000.0	100.0
Other	Fish fingerling	head	1000.0	200.0	200000.0	100.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology					3330000.0

4.6 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing/ frequency
1.	Repair levees	Structural	After harvest in June and November
2.	Repair the outlet door	Structural	Time a year
3.	Divert water to the paddy fields	Management	Before planting rice
4.	Pump water to the paddy fields at a higher elevation	Management	Before planting rice
5.	Feed the fish	Management	time /day

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 repair levees and outlet door	Person	4.0	50000.0	200000.0	100.0
Labour	Labor for drained water to the paddy field	Person	1.0	50000.0	50000.0	100.0
Labour	Labor for pumping water to uphill paddy	Person	1.0	50000.0	50000.0	100.0
Labour	Labor for fish feeding	Person	1.0	50000.0	50000.0	100.0
Equipment	Hoe	Piece	2.0	40000.0	80000.0	100.0
Equipment	Shovel	Piece	2.0	25000.0	50000.0	100.0
Construction material	Wood		2.0	15000.0	30000.0	100.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology					510000.0

4.8 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

The hiring excavator and labor is important effect to the cost of implementation.

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

Indicate if the Technology is specifically applied in:

• not relevant

5.3 Soils

5.4 Water availability and quality

Is water salinity a problem?

No

Is flooding of the area occurring?

Yes

Regularity:

episodically

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:

• individual

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		decrease	well
seasonal temperature	wet/ rainy season	increase	well
annual rainfall		increase	moderately
seasonal rainfall	wet/ rainy season	increase	moderately
other gradual climate change		increase	well

Climate-related extremes (disasters)

Meteorological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
local rainstorm	not well
local hailstorm	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

• 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%

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
By using the water from the pond the farmers are able to cultivate rice paddies in both the wet and dry seasons.
The added potential of propagating aquatic animals.

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
Ability to cultivate rice paddies without an irrigation system.

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?
The pond is at a lower elevation than some of the areas under cultivation, and so to an extent the flow of water is limited	A pump must be used to fill the rice fields at a higher elevation with water.

7.1 Methods/ sources of information