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 Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO) - Uganda

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

When were the data compiled (in the field)?

14/10/2017

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

Comments:

If the technology is well practiced, it promotes soil and water conservation in a cocoa plantation.

2.1 Short description of the Technology

Definition of the Technology:

Trenches commonly referred to as contour trenches and running perpendicular to a slope increase water infiltration and reduce soil erosion as a way of conserving soil.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

Farmers today face a lot of problems in practicing agriculture and one of them is soil erosion. In hilly areas like Bundibugyo, soil and water runoff is reported to be of paramount importance to farmers growing cocoa on steep slopes. To counteract the problems associated with such cultivation farmers have come up with a strategy of constructing contour trenches. Contour trenches are dug structures, perpendicular to the slopeline, of a certain depth and width in a field of any kind. In this way runoff soil, together with run-off water is caught in such structures and thereby, kept on the field.

In this plantation, the technology reduces water runoff, increases water infiltration and also improves soil fertility. As reported by a cocoa farmer, trenches should be dug in dry season. The numbers of trenches in the plantation depends on the size and the slope of the land. Normally in an acre, 10-15 trenches can be constructed. On establishment of these trenches in hilly area, they are 1m deep, 0.5m wide and 30m long on average along horizontal contour lines. Necessary materials to construct these trenches include a measuring tape, ropes, spades, and hoes.

The soils can be stabilized such that they are not washed into the trenches again. Some grasses are therefore planted on the sides of the trenches. After allocating suitable places for trenches, labour is locally available. However, some farmers who grow cocoa don’t want to dig trenches because it is laborious and requires larger land sizes.

Management is relatively cheaper as it only involves, emptying the trenches periodically.

2.3 Photos of the Technology

2.4 Videos 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:

• more than 50 years ago (traditional)

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
• reduce risk of disasters
• adapt to climate change/ extremes and its impacts

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

Comments:

In hilly areas, trenches are dug to reduce the speed of running water. This is a way of maintaining soil fertility by keeping water and soil in the field.

3.3 Further information about land use

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

• rainfed

Comments:

The area receives much rainfall of over 1500mm-2500mm. Being a hilly area, there is a lot of soil erosion.

Number of growing seasons per year:

• 2

Specify:

March and August

3.4 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• improved ground/ vegetation cover
• integrated soil fertility management
• water harvesting

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:

• 0.1-1 km2

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

Trenches are normally established during the dry season on small pieces of land usually an 1 acre.
Slopes range from 16 -30 % in areas with high rainfall. The dimension of the trenches are 1m deep, 0.5m wide and 30m long.

4.3 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

Specify how costs and inputs were calculated:

• per Technology area

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

3600.0

4.4 Establishment activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing
1.	Identify areas which are prone to soil erosion	Other measures	During dry seosons and after strong rains
2.	Get tools and labour	Other measures	During dry seseons
3.	Define the size of the trench	Management	In dry seseons
4.	Dig standard trenches (30m) long	Structural	In dry seseon
5.	Remove soil that has been washed into the trenches	Management	After strong rains

Comments:

Establishment activities are mostly done by family labour or hired labour.

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 trenches	persons	15.0	10000.0	150000.0	100.0
Equipment	Hiring a hoe	piece	1.0	1000.0	1000.0	100.0
Equipment	Hiring a slasher	piece	1.0	1000.0	1000.0	100.0
Equipment	Hiring a spade	piece	1.0	1000.0	1000.0	100.0
Equipment	Hiring a wheel barrow	piece	1.0	10000.0	10000.0	100.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology					163000.0

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

All costs are covered by the land user.

Comments:

The initial costs are cost-efficient compared to returns. Planting materials like elephant grass planted on the downslope sides of the trenches can be obtained freely.
Total costs for establishing trenches are slightly expensive. However, maintenance costs are comparatively low.

4.6 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing/ frequency
1.	Clearing trenches after long rains	Management	Every after heavy rains

Comments:

Most of these management activities are done after strong rains.

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	Clearing trenches after rains	Man day	15.0	10000.0	150000.0	100.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology					150000.0

Comments:

This cost is estimated but could even be less. This makes the technology easily adopted by all cocoa farmers in hilly areas.

4.8 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

Labour as some farmers cannot meet all costs.

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

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:

• individual

5.9 Access to services and infrastructure

6.1 On-site impacts the Technology has shown

Socio-economic impacts

Production

Income and costs

Ecological impacts

Water cycle/ runoff

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)

Hydrological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
flash flood	very well

Biological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
epidemic diseases	moderately

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:

Maintenance costs of the trenches are comparatively low.

6.5 Adoption of the Technology

• more than 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?

Yes

If yes, indicate to which changing conditions it was adapted:

• climatic change/ extremes

Specify adaptation of the Technology (design, material/ species, etc.):

Making more trenches in the cocoa growing areas.

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view
Improve on production in areas where technology is applied
Restore land degraded
Improves on soil fertility

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
Restores degraded land at a lower costs
Improves livelihood among farmers
With trenches, the soils are always moist providing suitable conditions for the growth of the crop

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?
Establishing trenches is expensive	Involve group work
Sometimes making trenches is tiresome hence it may be difficult for ladies to do	Involving hired labour

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view	How can they be overcome?
Requires much labor for making trenches	Involve hired labour
Trenches alone cannot solve soil degradation	Apply grasses along the trenches like calliandra and elephant grass among others
Trenches are always filled up with soil during water run off hence making it expensive to clear all the time	Always make deeper and wider trenches that can accomodate big volumes of sediments and water

7.1 Methods/ sources of information

7.2 References to available publications

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Environmental impacts of Cocoa production and processing in Ghana :Life cycle assessment approach by Augustine Ntiamoah,2008

Available from where? Costs?

http://www.cocoaconnect.org/sites/default/files/publication/Environmental%20impact%20of%20cocoa%20life%20cycle%20assessment.pdf