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)

Book project: where people and their land are safer - A Compendium of Good Practices in Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) (where people and their land are safer)

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

Swiss Red Cross (Swiss Red Cross) - Switzerland

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

When were the data compiled (in the field)?

08/12/2016

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

1.5 Reference to Questionnaire(s) on SLM Approaches

2.1 Short description of the Technology

Definition of the Technology:

Terra Preta raised garden beds are a combination of techniques from permaculture and the production of Terra Preta, an anthrosol. These garden beds, which were created with local resources, are highly fertile and enable the production of much higher yields than traditional techniques, while diminishing soil erosion.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

One of the major problems in the mountainous rural zones of the municipality of Léogâne in Haiti is the severe degradation and erosion of soils. The soil loss aggravates the vulnerable situation of the local population, mainly farmers. The Terra Preta raised garden beds were introduced in this region after the earthquake of 2010, and were replicated by several organisations and also by members of the communities. They are based on two main techniques:
1) Terra Preta is a technique to create soils based on a lacto-acidic fermentation of organic matter with charcoal powder. This technique was used by indigenous people in Amazonia, and rediscovered and replicated recently by scientists. The technique is characterised by the use of local resources and a high fertility. With this technique, a soil layer of several decimeters can be produced in a few years, whereas this takes normally around 100 years per centimeter. Soil analyses show that the formation of humic acids can be demonstrated after 4 months.
2) Raised garden beds (Hugelculture) are a technique from permaculture. Permaculture is a science of agricultural and social systems which uses the principles of ecology and the knowledge of traditional societies to simulate the diversity, stability and the resilience of natural ecosystems. Raised garden beds consist of an interior of ligneous material, covered by a layer of earth. The elevated construction facilitates the work in the garden and the decomposition of wood inside the beds. Due to their spongy structure, the raised garden beds function as a water reservoir during dry periods.
The garden beds are placed perpendicularly to the slope direction as much as possible, and are arranged alternately, with an extension to redirect the surface runoff towards the structures. This arrangement prevents the water from draining directly. This promotes the infiltration of water into the soil, where it is captured by the ligneous material, which prevents erosion (see the photograph).
The following inputs to the garden beds can be found locally:
- Organic matter: ligneous material, dry straw, fresh straw, harvest residues, organic residues rich in NPK (kitchen waste, animal waste, etc.),
- Charcoal powder (biochar),
- Possibly ashes or other fertile materials.
With these materials, which are generally without cost and locally available, a raised garden bed can be set up in less than an hour. Even without additional fertilisation after the set up, the technique offers the possibility to have several cycles of vegetable production. Experiments showed good results during 4 years of continuous plantation in Thozin (Grand Goâve). In order to secure soil fertility for many years, organic matter can be added after the period of plantation. It can be easily incorporated below the first layer of soil, and the decomposition takes place automatically. When put in place on sloping terrain, the garden beds slow down erosion strongly, and can serve to protect houses.
The technique is valued because of its cost-effectiveness and its sustainability compared to known techniques. The complexity of the implementation can be a limiting factor for an autonomous replication by the beneficiaries. That is when they see the set-up of the structures and think they know how to replicate it without taking account of all the details which are essential for the good functioning of the structures. This is why generally a certain level of support by technicians is required.

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:

• less than 10 years ago (recently)

2.7 Introduction of the Technology

Specify how the Technology was introduced:

• through projects/ external interventions

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

• improve production
• reduce, prevent, restore land degradation
• reduce risk of disasters
• mitigate climate change and its impacts
• create beneficial economic impact
• create beneficial social impact

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

Comments:

With this technique, marginal land can be cultivated. The soil in place does not play a very important role because the nutrients are contained in the inputs.

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

The technology enables the production of vegetables on land that was not productive before (degraded soils, sandy or inert substrates). This allows farmers to diversify their traditional crops of maize, peas, sorghum and sweet potato with vegetables.

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:

• 2

Specify:

The intervention zone has 2 cropping periods based on 2 rainy seasons. The Terra Preta raised garden beds are usually used all year round.

3.4 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• integrated soil fertility management
• cross-slope measure
• home gardens

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:

• reduce land degradation
• restore/ rehabilitate severely degraded land

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

4.2 Technical specifications/ explanations of technical drawing

1. Terrain analysis:
The first step in the construction is the terrain analysis: what is the size of the terrain, the relief, the environment (vegetation, buildings, water courses) and which are the resources (water, biochar, vegetation, animals, organic residues) present in place? Specific needs and social aspects, the neighbourhood and land holdings must also be considered.

2. Elaborating a land use plan:
The second step is the elaboration of a land use plan: definition of the position of the garden beds, of the protection measures (against wind, sun and heat), and of the vegetables to grow.

3. Construction of the garden beds:
After the preparatory work, the actual construction of the garden beds begins.
- A trench of approximately 10 cm depth is dug (width of 1-1.20 m, length undefined),
- The ligneous materials (decomposing wood, of larger or smaller volume) are arranged to create a mound. Holes between the materials should be filled-up with earth.
- The organic matter is added in layers in the following order: dry straw, animal waste, pulse crops and organic matter rich in NPK.
- Charcoal powder can be added between the layers of rich organic matter, or even better, mixed with the latter.
- A layer of earth of approximately 10 cm is added as cover.
- During the process of construction, every layer should be watered.

The establishment of multiple garden beds is done as described in figure 2 above. The garden beds are installed in alternation with an extension to redirect the surface runoff towards the structures. The water is forced around the structures, which will facilitate the infiltration of the water and the deposition of sediments. As a result, the water is captured in the garden bed, and erosion is reduced. A more detailed description with illustrations is given below.

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):

Haiti Gourde

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

68.0

4.4 Establishment activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing
1.	Outlining of raised garden beds	Other measures	year-round
2.	Collection of materials	Other measures	year-round
3.	Digging a basin along the contour	Structural	year-round, preferably at the start of the rainy season
4.	Building the different layers (wood, dry straw, fresh straw, pulse crops and organic matter rich in NPK, earth, charcoal powder)	Structural	year-round, preferably at the start of the rainy season
5.	Replanting of vegetable seedlings	Agronomic	year-round, preferably at the start of the rainy season
6.	Watering	Agronomic	year-round, preferably at the start of the rainy season

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	Skilled labour (technical support)	person-days	0.5	3000.0	1500.0
Labour	Unskilled labour (construction)	person-days	1.0	250.0	250.0	100.0
Equipment	Tools (spade, pickaxe)	piece	1.0	5.0	5.0	100.0
Plant material	Seedlings of cabbage	seedling	10.0	10.0	100.0
Plant material	Seedlings of spinach	seedling	20.0	5.0	100.0
Plant material	Seedlings of tomato	seedling	10.0	5.0	50.0
Construction material	Decomposing wood	batch	1.0	200.0	200.0	100.0
Construction material	Earth	batch	1.0	50.0	50.0	100.0
Construction material	Dry straw	batch	1.0	100.0	100.0	100.0
Construction material	Fresh straw	batch	1.0	100.0	100.0	100.0
Construction material	Animal waste	Bag	1.0	100.0	100.0	100.0
Construction material	Charcoal/biochar	kg	50.0	2.0	100.0	100.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology					2655.0

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

Swiss Red Cross

Comments:

The land users have the necessary tools (5 HTG are budgeted to compensate for the use of their own tools). The construction materials are also locally available, and are generally considered as waste.

4.6 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing/ frequency
1.	watering	Agronomic	3 days
2.	weeding	Agronomic	2 weeks
3.	mulching	Agronomic	2 months
4.	refertilisation	Agronomic	5 years

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	Annual maintenance	person-days	15.0	250.0	3750.0	100.0
Equipment	Watering device	piece	1.0	150.0	150.0	100.0
Plant material	Seed and seedlings	various	1.0	250.0	250.0	100.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology					4150.0

Comments:

The indicated costs for the seed and the seedlings are the costs on the local market, but the land users reproduce these from existing plants, that they received from the project for the first implemented raised bed.

4.8 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

The labour (and the technical support for the first 3-4 structures of raised beds).

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?

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
• individual, titled

Land use rights:

• individual

Water use rights:

• open access (unorganized)
• individual

5.9 Access to services and infrastructure

6.1 On-site impacts the Technology has shown

Socio-economic impacts

Production

Ecological impacts

Water cycle/ runoff

Soil

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)

Climate-related extremes (disasters)

Meteorological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
tropical storm	moderately
local rainstorm	very well
local thunderstorm	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%

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

>300 households

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

• 50-90%

Comments:

Small quantities of seed were given.

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
Strongly increased yield
Improved product quality (size, taste)
Shortened crop cycle

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
Increased production (several times)
Improved nutrition
Income generation for the farmers
Shortened production cycle

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?
More work than traditional techniques. The latter are focused on agricultural production in fields (maize, pearl millet, sweet potato, peas/beans), and require considerably less daily maintenance.	By having the gardens close to the house for follow-up and support.

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view	How can they be overcome?
Complexity of the technique	Regular education, follow-up and continuous support

7.1 Methods/ sources of information

7.2 References to available publications

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Terra Preta: Production. Guide des méthodes de la production de Terra Preta dans les jardins potagères. Karl Harald Bier. 2013.

Available from where? Costs?

Welthungerhilfe

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Pas de la mise en place d'un Jardin Colline TP. Karl Harald Bier. Swiss Red Cross

Available from where? Costs?

info@redcross.ch

7.3 Links to relevant information which is available online

Title/ description:

Terra Preta - Charbon bio - Climatefarming, Hans-Peter Schmidt, 2008, ISSN 1663-0521

URL:

http://www.ithaka-journal.net/climatefarming-fr1?lang=fr