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)?

28/08/2017

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:

The technique involving the creation of vegetable home gardens on sloping land was initiated through the villagers’ local insight and it has been practiced over many generations. Due to the fact that the village is located on sloping land there are limitations regarding the availability of agricultural land suitable for growing vegetables in a home garden.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

The local farmers mainly grow vegetables with other crops such as upland rice in upland areas and vegetable home gardens. In addition, they grow also vegetables along riverbanks during the dry season. Land users living on mountainous areas typically grow vegetables during the wet season and some manage to cultivate them during dry season if appropriate land is available along streams and river banks. Vegetables have traditionally been cultivated by farmers in Darkchung district on terraced fields for many generations. However, growing vegetables on areas of land with a higher gradient (rolling slopes: 11-15%) has a number of restrictions, namely the lack of suitable land available and the limited water supply. As a result of these restrictions on land and water farmers have developed their own initiatives to enable the cultivation of vegetables on sloping land both for household consumption and for sale. The vegetables most commonly grown are coriander, morning glory, and Chinese cabbage and mustard leaf. In 2000 farmers expanded their vegetable gardens on slopes by preparing and cultivating the land manually. Suitable land for such vegetable gardens can be selected along the lower banks of a stream (there should be a distance of approximately 5 – 10 meters from the river to the vegetable plots). Firstly, grass has to be removed prior to ploughing the soil manually. Then the soil from the top part of the land should be transferred to the bottom to result in a levelling effect so that a relatively flat garden bed is created. The preparation process to develop the whole garden takes about 3 – 4 weeks and requires a team of two to three people. In the preparation process there is a distinctive drawback when the farmers remove the humus and topsoil from the upper section of the field and leave the less fertile subsoil behind. As a result, this might affect the productivity during the early stage of vegetable growth; and on the contrary the lower sections piled with nutritious topsoil from the upper parts become more suitable for plant growth. To solve this problem, the farmers shape and level the nutrient-rich topsoil up to 3-4 small terraces top down. On average, with an area of 0.01ha such vegetable fields in Darkchung district are divided into small terraces with a width of 60 – 80 centimetres and a length of 2 – 3 metres (about 7 – 8 terraced plots per household, mostly two terrace arrangements in parallel). There is approximately a 30 cm difference between the levels of the upper to the next lower vegetable terrace. Once the land levelling has been completed, the farmers are then able to prepare the plots by firstly ploughing the soil and then letting it dry for 5 – 7 days. The next stage involves the use of wooden poles to break down bigger clods of earth. Then a small earth dike (10cm in hight) is pilled up around each terrace to protect furhter against soil erosion by water. Before starting the vegetable cultivation fencing is needed against animal entry. After this, they use a rake to adjust the plot’s surface. The benefits of this terracing method is to extend the cultivation of vegetables on stream river banks for the household consumption. Futhermore, the terracing method and the better soil cover lead to protection of the stream banks from erosion and sediment transport. However, this technique have some constraints as well beause it is difficult to level the surface of the soil in these areas particularly by removing soil from the upper sections to the lower sections of the terraces.

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:

• 10-50 years ago

2.7 Introduction of the Technology

Specify how the Technology was introduced:

• as part of a traditional system (> 50 years)

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

• improve production
• reduce, prevent, restore land degradation

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

3.3 Further information about land use

other (e.g. post-flooding):

• Water from stream

Number of growing seasons per year:

• 3

3.4 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• improved ground/ vegetation cover
• cross-slope measure
• home gardens

3.5 Spread of the Technology

Specify the spread of the Technology:

• evenly spread over an area

If the Technology is evenly spread over an area, indicate approximate area covered:

• < 0.1 km2 (10 ha)

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 average gradient for vegetable cultivation in terrain ranges from 10 – 15% and the distance from the stream to the vegetable plots is approximately 5 metres. The width of the average plot is about 80 – 100 cm, and the length is 2 -3 metres with the difference in height between the upper and the next lower terrace is about 30 cm. Fencing around the vegetable plot is needed to prevent damages done by animals (goats, cows etc.)

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):

LAK

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

8000.0

4.4 Establishment activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing
1.	Land preparation (ploughing and levelling into terraces)	Management	Before rainy season
2.	Fencing	Structural	Before vegetable planting

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 for land ploughing and levelling	person day	21.0	30000.0	630000.0	100.0
Labour	Labour for fencing	person day	4.0	30000.0	120000.0	100.0
Equipment	Shovel	piece	2.0	100000.0	200000.0	100.0
Equipment	Digger tool	piece	2.0	100000.0	200000.0	100.0
Construction material	Nails	kg	2.0	10000.0	20000.0	100.0
Construction material	Wire	roll	2.0	60000.0	120000.0	100.0
Construction material	Wooden posts	piece	80.0	5000.0	400000.0	100.0
Construction material	Wooden plank	piece	20.0	5000.0	100000.0	100.0
Construction material	Bamboo	piece	300.0	2000.0	600000.0	100.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology					2390000.0

4.6 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing/ frequency
1.	Reshaping of the the terraces (maintenance of terraces)	Structural	After harvesting
2.	Planting of seedling	Agronomic	After land preparation
3.	Weeding	Management	From time to time
4.	Manure	Management	From time to time

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 for re-levelling the terraces	person day	4.0	30000.0	120000.0	100.0
Labour	Labour for weeding	person day	3.0	30000.0	90000.0	100.0
Labour	Labour to apply manure	person day	1.0	30000.0	30000.0	100.0
Labour	Labour for planting	person day	3.0	30000.0	90000.0	100.0
Plant material	Seedling	bag	4.0	5000.0	20000.0	100.0
Fertilizers and biocides	Manure	kg	30.0	5000.0	150000.0	100.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology					500000.0

4.8 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

The labour for land levelling is the most important factor affecting the costs.

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

Indicate if the Technology is specifically applied in:

• convex 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, titled

Land use rights:

• open access (unorganized)

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

Soil

Biodiversity: vegetation, animals

6.2 Off-site impacts the Technology has shown

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

• 10-50%

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
Lower risk of flooding in relation to other vegetable fields which are located in the lower plains.
Vegetable cultivation generates an income as well as provides food for farmers.
Gardening is an activity which women can actively and fully become involved in as it can be implemented in the village.

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?
Vegetables require fertilizers to improve the yield.	Farmers also need to collect timber as building material to support the earth terraces so that fertilizer can be retained within the field.
Establishing and maintaining vegetable production is time consuming as it includes a number of activities such as land levelling, fertilizing, and the construction of fencing to prevent animal entry.	It also requires other equipment and tools for fencing.
Suitable land is limited due to mountainous terrains.

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view	How can they be overcome?
The site selection for establishment.	This technique will establish in slopes area (less than 15% of slop) and the plots are located approximately 5 meters from the river/stream in order to avoid soil erosion.
Land preparation and land levelling – farmers mainly remove top soil from upper to lower section to level the plots.	People will remove soil from the upper to the lower sections of the plots in order to level them. Topsoil may have to be temporarily stockpiled somewhere so that it can be used as backfill where it is needed as the topsoil is more fertile and thus more productive.

7.1 Methods/ sources of information