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 the land is greener - Case Studies and Analysis of Soil and Water Conservation Initiatives Worldwide (where the land is greener)

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

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) - Italy

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

Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Ethiopia (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development) - Ethiopia

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

When were the data compiled (in the field)?

01/07/2003

The compiler and key resource person(s) accept the conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT:

Yes

1.5 Reference to Questionnaire(s) on SLM Approaches

2.1 Short description of the Technology

Definition of the Technology:

Rehabilitation of communal grazing lands, through planting of improved grass and fodder trees and land subdivision, to improve fodder and consequently livestock production.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

This case study focuses on the highly populated, humid highland regions of Ethiopia that experience serious shortages of pasture. Due to rapid population growth, communal grazing areas are increasingly being converted into cropland. This has led to enormous pressure on the little remaining grazing land, through overstocking of dairy cows and oxen, and thus overgrazing, resulting in considerably decreased productivity.
Improved grazing land management is vital to increase food security and alleviate poverty, as well as to bring environmental rewards. To address these problems, the national SWC programme in Ethiopia initiated a grazing land management project over a decade ago. Implementation of the technology includes the initial delineating of the grazing land, and then fencing to exclude open access. This is followed by land preparation, application of compost (and, if necessary, inorganic fertilizers) to improve soil fertility, then planting of improved local and exotic fodder species, including multipurpose shrubs/trees such as Leucaena sp. and Sesbania sp. and the local desho grass (Pennisetum sp.). Desho has a high nutritive value and regular cuts are ensured. It is planted by splits, which have high survival rates and establish better than grasses which are seeded. Other grass seeds, as well as legumes, including alfalfa (lucerne: Medicago sativa) and clovers in some cases, are mixed with fodder tree seeds and then broadcast.
Maintenance activities such as weeding, manuring and replanting ensure proper establishment and persistence. Fodder is cut and carried to stall-fed livestock. Once a year, grass is cut for hay, which is stored to feed animals during the dry season. Experience shows that such grazing land is best managed when individually owned and used. In the study area, the community has distributed small plots (<0.5 ha) of communal grazing land to individual users to develop, manage and use.
The overall purpose of the intervention is to improve the productivity of grazing land and control land degradation through the introduction of productive techniques and improved fodder species, which consequently improve livestock production. Commercialisation of animals and marketing of their products increases the income of farmers. The government provides technical assistance, close follow-up, and some inputs for initial establishment. Land users are trained in compost/ manure application, planting of seeds, splits and seedlings, and general maintenance.

2.3 Photos of the Technology

2.5 Country/ region/ locations where the Technology has been applied and which are covered by this assessment

2.7 Introduction of the Technology

Specify how the Technology was introduced:

• through projects/ external interventions

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

• reduce, prevent, restore land degradation
• conserve ecosystem

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

Comments:

Major land use problems (compiler’s opinion): Population growth has resulted in a substantial reduction in land holdings (<0.5 ha per family) and this in turn has led inevitably to encroachment onto communal grazing lands for cultivation. Livestock numbers on the other hand have remained unchanged, and this has led to overstocking of the few areas left. Livestock production, which accounts for 40% of the average household income, is thus reduced and farmers’ income declines correspondingly.

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

Grazing land: Ge: Extensive grazing land

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:

• 1

Specify:

Longest growing period in days: 210 Longest growing period from month to month: March - September

3.4 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• area closure (stop use, support restoration)
• improved ground/ vegetation cover
• improved plant varieties/ animal breeds

3.5 Spread of the Technology

Comments:

Total area covered by the SLM Technology is 20 km2.

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

Comments:

Main measures: agronomic measures, vegetative measures, management measures

Type of agronomic measures: manure / compost / residues

Type of vegetative measures: scattered / dispersed

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

Comments:

Main type of degradation addressed: Wt: loss of topsoil / surface erosion, Wg: gully erosion / gullying, Cn: fertility decline and reduced organic matter content, Bc: reduction of vegetation cover, Bs: quality and species composition /diversity decline

3.8 Prevention, reduction, or restoration of land degradation

Specify the goal of the Technology with regard to land degradation:

• reduce land degradation

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

4.2 Technical specifications/ explanations of technical drawing

Splits of desho grass (Pennisetum pedecillatum) are plantet in lines, using a hand hoe, after good seedbed preparation. Spacing between grass splits is 10 x 10 cm. The white line is a boundary between two households' plots (width of plot: 15-20 m). Trees are planted at rirregular spacing (around 5 m apart), layout is not specified.

Technical knowledge required for field staff / advisors: high

Technical knowledge required for land users: moderate

Main technical functions: improvement of ground cover, control of dispersed runoff, increase in soil fertility

Secondary technical functions: increase of infiltration, improvement of soil structure, control of concentrated runoff

Manure / compost / residues
Material/ species: animal manure, leaf litter, wood ash, soil

Scattered / dispersed
Vegetative material: T : trees / shrubs, G : grass

Trees/ shrubs species: Leucaena sp., Sesbania sp.

Grass species: Desho grass (Pennisetumsp.), alfalfa (lucerne: Medicago sativa)

Other type of management: change of intensity level

4.4 Establishment activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing
1.	Delineation of the area to be conserved and establishment of a fence	Vegetative	before the onset of rain
2.	Subdivision of communal land into individual plots of 0.3–0.5 ha.	Vegetative
3.	Planting material preparation in nurseries: grass splits (desho)	Vegetative
4.	Good seedbed preparation	Vegetative	(at the onset of the rains).
5.	Planting of grass splits and tree/shrub species in lines; sowing of grass	Vegetative	(early in the rainy season).
6.	Weeding.	Vegetative

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	ha	1.0	320.0	320.0	100.0
Equipment	Animal traction	ha	1.0	17.0	17.0	100.0
Equipment	Tools	ha	1.0	5.0	5.0	50.0
Plant material	Seedlings	ha	1.0	5.0	5.0
Plant material	Grass splits (tillers)	ha	1.0	450.0	450.0	100.0
Fertilizers and biocides	Fertilizer	ha	1.0	60.0	60.0	100.0
Fertilizers and biocides	Compost/manure	ha	1.0	140.0	140.0	100.0
Construction material	Deadwood for fencing	ha	1.0	55.0	55.0	100.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology					1052.0

Comments:

Duration of establishment phase: 12 month(s)

4.6 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing/ frequency
1.	Compost/manure preparation. Material used includes animal manure,	Agronomic	/ initial establishment
2.	Compost application	Agronomic	/ one month after planting, initial establishment
3.	Cut-and-carry, to stall-fed animals, begins when fodder is ready.	Vegetative	(after 2–3 months growth) /2 -4 times
4.	A final cut for hay is taken early in the dry season when the grass has matured well.	Vegetative	(end of October) /
5.	Weeding	Vegetative	/each year.
6.	Compost/manure application, mixed with soil, during seedbed preparation (only where plants have died and need replacement and fertilisation).	Vegetative
7.	Enrichment planting and gap filling	Vegetative	after a year / repeated each year.

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	ha	1.0	35.0	35.0	100.0
Equipment	Tools	ha	1.0	4.0	4.0	100.0
Plant material	Seeds	ha	1.0	30.0	30.0	100.0
Plant material	Seedlings	ha	1.0	2.0	2.0	100.0
Fertilizers and biocides	Fertilizer	ha	1.0	15.0	15.0	100.0
Fertilizers and biocides	Compost/manure	ha	1.0	35.0	35.0	100.0
Construction material	Deadwood for fencing	ha	1.0	5.0	5.0	100.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology					126.0

Comments:

Seedlings are given by the government for initial establishment. For further extension of area and replanting, the
land users set up their own nurseries. After 2-3 years maintenance costs decrease substantially as the grass cover closes up and maintenance activities such as replanting/enrichment planting and compost application are reduced or cease. The local daily wage is about US$ 0.70 a day, but varies depending on the intensity of the work. In this calculation the standard rate has been applied.
Farmers usually cannot afford fertilizers. Milk production compensates for some of the high investment costs (previously, production was low).

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

Comments and further specifications on topography:

Landforms: Also hill slopes (ranked 2) and foot slopes (ranked 3)
Slopes on average: Also hilly (ranked 2) and rolling (ranked 3)

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.

Soil fertility: Medium (ranked 2) and low (ranked 3)
Soil drainage/infiltration: Good

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

Indicate other relevant characteristics of the land users:

Off-farm income specification: source of off-farm income includes petty trade and weaving

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:

• state

Land use rights:

• open access (unorganized)
• individual

6.1 On-site impacts the Technology has shown

Socio-economic impacts

Production

Income and costs

Other socio-economic impacts

Socio-cultural impacts

Ecological impacts

Soil

Other ecological impacts

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

Comments:

50 land user families have adopted the Technology with external material support

Comments on acceptance with external material support: 50 households who accepted the technology in the initial phase, did so with incentives. They were provided with planting materials (seeds, seedlings, grass splits) and hand tools.

There is a strong trend towards spontaneous adoption of the Technology

Comments on adoption trend: The rate of spontaneous adoption is very high. At present over 500 households have taken up the technology and the total area covered is about 20 km2.

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view
Increased national income due to export of animals and their products.

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
Availability of fodder (grass, hay, shrubs) in sufficient quantities, and all year round How can they be sustained / enhanced? Increase the area under such development.
Reduction in soil loss and land degradation How can they be sustained / enhanced? Maintain adequate cover by planting more grass.
Introduction of high yielding species as well as increase in land productivity and livestock production How can they be sustained / enhanced? ntroduce bigger variability of quality species and improve maintenance activities such as weeding and cultivation.
Improved diet: livestock by-products such as milk, butter and cheese are essential food items required by the households How can they be sustained / enhanced? Keep on increasing/improving quantity/quality of livestock feed.
Increased income through commercialisation and marketing of animals and their by-products. Meets financial needs for paying taxes, school fees, clothes etc.
Rehabilitation of communal grazing lands is both a technical and social challenge. Here is a promising example from Ethiopia that is spreading quickly. The key is subdivision of land into individual plots where cut-and-carry of grass and stall-feeding of livestock is practiced. This is only a possible option, however, where rainfall is favourable. land use rights: individual for cropland, open access (unorganised/communally used) for grazing land, except for the case study area where the rights to rehabilitated grazing land are given to individuals

6.8 Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks of the Technology and ways of overcoming them

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view	How can they be overcome?
At the initial stage of establishment it is very labour intensive	Use of improved land preparation methods such as oxen ploughing.
Substantial cash for inputs, particularly seedlings, is required	Produce seedlings of improved species and making compost in backyards.
Needs high fertilizer application	Focus more on organic fertilizers.
High pressure on remaining grazing areas	Keep animals in stall (stable) or park, at least part of the day and during the night, and introduce cut-and-carry more widely.

7.2 References to available publications

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Adane Dinku, Chencha Wereda, Natural Resources Management Annual Report,. 2001 and 2002.