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Technologies
Inactive

Weeded/ ploughed crop [Haiti]

Culture sarclée (engl.: weeded/ ploughed crop) or culture érosive (engl. erosive crop)

technologies_3224 - Haiti

Completeness: 90%

1. General information

1.2 Contact details of resource persons and institutions involved in the assessment and documentation of the Technology

Key resource person(s)

SLM specialist:
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

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?

Yes

Comments:

This technique is not sustainable. It causes land degradation.

2. Description of the SLM Technology

2.1 Short description of the Technology

Definition of the Technology:

Some crops such as corn, beans or potatoes, require weeding especially if no herbicides are applied. Weed control is done by manual ploughing with pickaxes and hoes.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

In Haiti, 63% of the surface has steep slopes of more than 20% and only 20% of the country has slopes less than 10%. Flat farmland is limited. In the Mornes (mountainous region) in Léogâne the vast majority of cultivated land is located on very steep slopes. Land users usually do not have access to modern farming equipment and the slopes are steep for animal traction plows. Therefore, the soil is prepared manually with machetes, picks and hoes.
In Léogâne, pigeon peas, sweet potatos, corn, beans and peanuts are commonly cultivated crops that require weeding. Since land users do not have access to herbicides, they weed by ploughing the soil.
In order to plant, the land users loosen the soil with the hoe or the pickaxe. Then, they make ridges/ terraces along the contour lines. Once the planted, they must weed 1-3 times per season, depending on the crop.
From the point of view of sustainable land management, this technology has no advantages. After ploughing, the soil is loose and has almost no vegetation cover. These conditions make the soil vulnerable to heavy rains, leading to soil erosion and degradation. When it is practiced in watersheds, there are harmful consequences such as erosion of arable land, massive sediment deposits, and flood damage on roads, cops and settlements downstream. By applying this technology, land users degrade their principal capital: the land. Although it is harmful, this technology is widely spread in Léogâne. This is due to the quick benefits received by fast productionat a) the land users want a fast production (i.e. need to make progressive terracing and wait until vetiver grasses havehas rooted) and easy technical application.

2.3 Photos of the Technology

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

Country:

Haiti

Region/ State/ Province:

Département d'Ouest

Further specification of location:

Léogâne

Specify the spread of the Technology:
  • applied at specific points/ concentrated on a small area

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. Classification of the SLM Technology

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

  • improve production
  • adapt to steep slopes

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

Land use mixed within the same land unit:

No


Cropland

Cropland

  • Annual cropping
  • Perennial (non-woody) cropping
Annual cropping - Specify crops:
  • cereals - maize
  • legumes and pulses - beans
  • oilseed crops - groundnuts
  • root/tuber crops - sweet potatoes, yams, taro/cocoyam, other
  • pigeon peas
Number of growing seasons per year:
  • 2
Specify:

March-May/ June and October-November

Is intercropping practiced?

Yes

If yes, specify which crops are intercropped:

pigeon peas and sweet potatoes

3.3 Has land use changed due to the implementation of the Technology?

Has land use changed due to the implementation of the Technology?
  • Yes (Please fill out the questions below with regard to the land use before implementation of the Technology)
Forest/ woodlands

Forest/ woodlands

  • (Semi-)natural forests/ woodlands
Type of (semi-)natural forest:
  • subtropical humid forest natural vegetation
  • tropical rain forest natural vegetation
Are the trees specified above deciduous or evergreen?
  • deciduous
Products and services:
  • Fruits and nuts
  • Other forest products
  • Grazing/ browsing
  • Nature conservation/ protection
  • Protection against natural hazards
Comments:

In order to cultivate slopes with this technology, trees had to cut down.

3.4 Water supply

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

3.5 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

  • none, as this is not a SLM technology

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

management measures

management measures

  • M1: Change of land use type
other measures

other measures

Specify:

This is not a SLM technology, but land operators try to plant on contour lines and make small terraces.

Comments:

M1: changements dans l'utilisation des terres, des forêts / arbustes aux terres cultivées

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

soil erosion by water

soil erosion by water

  • Wt: loss of topsoil/ surface erosion
  • Wg: gully erosion/ gullying
  • Wo: offsite degradation effects
biological degradation

biological degradation

  • Bc: reduction of vegetation cover
  • Bh: loss of habitats
  • Bq: quantity/ biomass decline
  • Bs: quality and species composition/ diversity decline
  • Bl: loss of soil life
water degradation

water degradation

  • Ha: aridification
  • Hs: change in quantity of surface water
  • Hg: change in groundwater/aquifer level
other

other

Specify:

This technology does not address any degradation type, it causes them (Wt, Wg, Wo, Bc, Bh, Bq, Bs, Bl, Ha, Hs and Hg)

3.8 Prevention, reduction, or restoration of land degradation

Specify the goal of the Technology with regard to land degradation:
  • not applicable
Comments:

This technology does not address any degradation type, it causes them

4. Technical specifications, implementation activities, inputs, and costs

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

Technical specifications (related to technical drawing):

The height (h) of the terraces depends on the depth of the topsoil and the slope. The steeper the slope, the greater the difference in the levels of the terraces (h). On mild slopes, the terraces are rather ridges. The width of terraces (l) is +/- 1m, this, however, depends on crop: peanuts need less space than corn or potatoes.

Author:

Joana Eichenberger

Date:

02/07/2018

4.2 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

Specify how costs and inputs were calculated:
  • per Technology area
Indicate size and area unit:

0.5ha

other/ national currency (specify):

HTG

If relevant, indicate exchange rate from USD to local currency (e.g. 1 USD = 79.9 Brazilian Real): 1 USD =:

62.0

Indicate average wage cost of hired labour per day:

200

4.3 Establishment activities

Activity Timing (season)
1. Soil preparation March / April (before the rainy season)
2. Ridging, construction of small terraces March / April (before the rainy season)
3. Sowing March / April (before the rainy season)

4.4 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 person-days 30.0 200.0 6000.0 100.0
Equipment Hoe pieces 1.0 5.0 5.0 100.0
Equipment Pickaxe pieces 1.0 5.0 5.0 100.0
Equipment Machete pieces 1.0 5.0 5.0 100.0
Plant material Corn grains bought at the market milk powder tin 2.5 87.5 218.75 100.0
Plant material Beans bought at the market milk powder tin 12.0 350.0 4200.0 100.0
Plant material Peanuts bought at the market milk powder tin 12.0 125.0 1500.0 100.0
Other Coffee for labourers cup 30.0 25.0 750.0 100.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology 12683.75
Total costs for establishment of the Technology in USD 204.58
Comments:

Labour: the land users are organized in so-called Konbits, a form of traditional organization of work built around a philosophy based on the bases of mutual aid and the living together of the peasants. The participants in a Konbit do not expect anything from the harvest to which they contributed. The process is completely altruistic, the organizer of the Konbit can offer something as compensation, but the essence of Konbit is the service. In Léogâne the organizer of the Konbit normally offers a cup of coffee per day worked.

The price of seed depends heavily on the time of year and on the type of seed. The use of urea as fertilizer is not controlled. In Fondwa, there are people who use it if they find any.

Land users have the necessary tools (the 5 HTGs are budgeted as compensation cost for using their own tools).

4.5 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

Activity Timing/ frequency
1. Weeding 1-3 during cultivation (March - June)
Comments:

Between CRS agronomists, weeded/ ploughed culture is also known as a lazy culture, because it is not labour intense.

4.6 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 (land users and family) person-days 15.0 200.0 3000.0 100.0
Equipment Hoe pieces 1.0 5.0 5.0
Equipment Machete pieces 1.0 5.0 5.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology 3010.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology in USD 48.55
Comments:

Land users have the necessary tools (the 5 HTGs are budgeted as compensation cost for using their own tools).

4.7 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

The price of seeds: If some seeds from the last harvest are kept, there is no need to buy many seeds the next season. The price of the seeds varies seasonally. At the time of the harvest prices are low, and in March (the beginning of the planting season) they are higher. By planting crops that regrow every season or trees with a long economic life, money can be saved on the cost of seeds.

If the land users take care of their tools, they can last up to 6 years.

5. Natural and human environment

5.1 Climate

Annual rainfall
  • < 250 mm
  • 251-500 mm
  • 501-750 mm
  • 751-1,000 mm
  • 1,001-1,500 mm
  • 1,501-2,000 mm
  • 2,001-3,000 mm
  • 3,001-4,000 mm
  • > 4,000 mm
Specifications/ comments on rainfall:

The windward sides (north-facing slopes) receive more rain than the leeward sides.

Léogâne has a tropical climate with a rainy season ranging from April to November (with two peaks in April-May and August-October) and a dry season from the end of November to March. The relative decrease in rainfall in June and July is called the "mid-summer drought". Due to climate change, the rainy season tends to start later than it used to.

Agro-climatic zone
  • sub-humid

Mean annual temperature: 25-27°C

5.2 Topography

Slopes on average:
  • flat (0-2%)
  • gentle (3-5%)
  • moderate (6-10%)
  • rolling (11-15%)
  • hilly (16-30%)
  • steep (31-60%)
  • very steep (>60%)
Landforms:
  • plateau/plains
  • ridges
  • mountain slopes
  • hill slopes
  • footslopes
  • valley floors
Altitudinal zone:
  • 0-100 m a.s.l.
  • 101-500 m a.s.l.
  • 501-1,000 m a.s.l.
  • 1,001-1,500 m a.s.l.
  • 1,501-2,000 m a.s.l.
  • 2,001-2,500 m a.s.l.
  • 2,501-3,000 m a.s.l.
  • 3,001-4,000 m a.s.l.
  • > 4,000 m a.s.l.
Indicate if the Technology is specifically applied in:
  • not relevant

5.3 Soils

Soil depth on average:
  • very shallow (0-20 cm)
  • shallow (21-50 cm)
  • moderately deep (51-80 cm)
  • deep (81-120 cm)
  • very deep (> 120 cm)
Soil texture (topsoil):
  • coarse/ light (sandy)
  • medium (loamy, silty)
Soil texture (> 20 cm below surface):
  • coarse/ light (sandy)
  • medium (loamy, silty)
Topsoil organic matter:
  • low (<1%)
If available, attach full soil description or specify the available information, e.g. soil type, soil PH/ acidity, Cation Exchange Capacity, nitrogen, salinity etc.

Geology: Volcanic rocks (basalt, very disaggregated) and sedimentary rocks.

5.4 Water availability and quality

Ground water table:

5-50 m

Availability of surface water:

poor/ none

Water quality (untreated):

poor drinking water (treatment required)

Is water salinity a problem?

No

Is flooding of the area occurring?

No

5.5 Biodiversity

Species diversity:
  • low
Habitat diversity:
  • low

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

Sedentary or nomadic:
  • Sedentary
Market orientation of production system:
  • mixed (subsistence/ commercial)
Off-farm income:
  • less than 10% of all income
Relative level of wealth:
  • poor
Individuals or groups:
  • individual/ household
Level of mechanization:
  • manual work
Gender:
  • men
Age of land users:
  • youth
  • middle-aged
Indicate other relevant characteristics of the land users:

Age of land users: young - old

5.7 Average area of land used by land users applying the Technology

  • < 0.5 ha
  • 0.5-1 ha
  • 1-2 ha
  • 2-5 ha
  • 5-15 ha
  • 15-50 ha
  • 50-100 ha
  • 100-500 ha
  • 500-1,000 ha
  • 1,000-10,000 ha
  • > 10,000 ha
Is this considered small-, medium- or large-scale (referring to local context)?
  • small-scale

5.8 Land ownership, land use rights, and water use rights

Land ownership:
  • individual, not titled
Land use rights:
  • open access (unorganized)
  • leased
Water use rights:
  • open access (unorganized)
  • communal (organized)

5.9 Access to services and infrastructure

health:
  • poor
  • moderate
  • good
education:
  • poor
  • moderate
  • good
technical assistance:
  • poor
  • moderate
  • good
employment (e.g. off-farm):
  • poor
  • moderate
  • good
markets:
  • poor
  • moderate
  • good
energy:
  • poor
  • moderate
  • good
roads and transport:
  • poor
  • moderate
  • good
drinking water and sanitation:
  • poor
  • moderate
  • good
financial services:
  • poor
  • moderate
  • good

6. Impacts and concluding statements

6.1 On-site impacts the Technology has shown

Socio-economic impacts

Production

crop production

decreased
increased

crop quality

decreased
increased

risk of production failure

increased
decreased

product diversity

decreased
increased

production area

decreased
increased

land management

hindered
simplified
Water availability and quality

drinking water availability

decreased
increased

drinking water quality

decreased
increased
Income and costs

expenses on agricultural inputs

increased
decreased

farm income

decreased
increased

Socio-cultural impacts

food security/ self-sufficiency

reduced
improved

SLM/ land degradation knowledge

reduced
improved

Ecological impacts

Water cycle/ runoff

water quantity

decreased
increased

water quality

decreased
increased

surface runoff

increased
decreased

groundwater table/ aquifer

lowered
recharge

evaporation

increased
decreased
Soil

soil moisture

decreased
increased

soil cover

reduced
improved

soil loss

increased
decreased

soil accumulation

decreased
increased

soil crusting/ sealing

increased
reduced

soil organic matter/ below ground C

decreased
increased
Biodiversity: vegetation, animals

Vegetation cover

decreased
increased

biomass/ above ground C

decreased
increased

plant diversity

decreased
increased

beneficial species

decreased
increased

habitat diversity

decreased
increased
Climate and disaster risk reduction

flood impacts

increased
decreased

landslides/ debris flows

increased
decreased

drought impacts

increased
decreased

impacts of cyclones, rain storms

increased
decreased

micro-climate

worsened
improved

6.2 Off-site impacts the Technology has shown

water availability

decreased
increased

reliable and stable stream flows in dry season

reduced
increased

downstream flooding

increased
reduced

downstream siltation

increased
decreased

groundwater/ river pollution

increased
reduced

damage on neighbours' fields

increased
reduced

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 increase or decrease How does the Technology cope with it?
seasonal rainfall not well at all

Climate-related extremes (disasters)

Meteorological disasters
How does the Technology cope with it?
tropical storm not well at all
local rainstorm not well
Climatological disasters
How does the Technology cope with it?
drought not well at all
Hydrological disasters
How does the Technology cope with it?
landslide not well
Comments:

Hard to say if seasonal precipitation increases or decreases. However, they vary more strongly than before.

6.4 Cost-benefit analysis

How do the benefits compare with the establishment costs (from land users’ perspective)?
Short-term returns:

very positive

Long-term returns:

very negative

How do the benefits compare with the maintenance/ recurrent costs (from land users' perspective)?
Short-term returns:

very positive

Long-term returns:

very negative

6.5 Adoption of the Technology

  • > 50%
Of all those who have adopted the Technology, how many did so spontaneously, i.e. without receiving any material incentives/ payments?
  • 91-100%

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
Fast production
Know-how available
Easily implementable
Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
No advantages

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?
Negative impacts on soil Apply in combination with progressive terraces with vetiver grass hedges.
Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view How can they be overcome?
Unsustainable: causes soil degradation and has harmful impacts on watersheds causing downstream flooding and siltation. Promote benefits of progressive terraces with vetiver grass hedges among the land users.

7. References and links

7.1 Methods/ sources of information

  • field visits, field surveys
  • interviews with SLM specialists/ experts

Jean Cars Dessin

  • compilation from reports and other existing documentation
When were the data compiled (in the field)?

13/10/2017

7.2 References to available publications

Title, author, year, ISBN:

McLain, R. J., Stienbarger, D. M., & Sprumont, M. O. (1988). Land tenure and land use in southern Haiti: Case studies of the Les Anglais and Grande Ravine du Sud watersheds. Land Tenure Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison.

7.3 Links to relevant online information

Title/ description:

Ministère de l’Agriculture des Ressources Naturelles et du Développement Rural (2019): Programme National de Développement de l’Élevage pour la Réhabilitation de l’Environnement 2009-2014

URL:

http://agriculture.gouv.ht/view/01/IMG/pdf/Texte_elevage-environnement_MARNDR_20100-3.pdf

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