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)

CDE Centre for Development and Environment (CDE Centre for Development and Environment) - 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?

No

2.1 Short description of the Technology

Definition of the Technology:

Laying grass (Poaceae) on perennial cropped land to reduce weeds, retain soil moisture and improve soil fertility.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

Mulching using grass (Poaceae) on banana cropped land is a common practice usually promoted by farmers in Northern Uganda with the aim of increasing soil fertility, reducing the likelihood of weed problems growing around perennial plants, increase production and household income.
The farmer identifies a field planted with banana approximately 2 acres of land measuring at least 80 metres wide and 240 metres long located on a gentle sloping area of (3-5%), and mulch using grass which is grown in the planted banana garden. The mulch grass used comes from the same field carried away from other fields.
Using a panga the farmer uses 5 people paid on daily basis to cut and carry the grass and lay the grass at a distance of not more than 20- 40 cm to enable the suckers grow and to allow manure too close to the plant after grass decomposition and helps weeds control,
With this technology, the farmer uses locally obtained grass mulch which is easily comes from the banana field that would considered a waste. Secondly the associated costs are only related to transport and labour are low both in the short and long term since the mulch used is obtained from the same field. Costs for labour and transport are incurred only when the mulch material is carried from other areas. Some others costs are for weeding which would be borne by the farmer.
However, the farmer need to know that organic mulches usually need to be applied in a loose or partially-rotted state or the first stages of decomposition, otherwise they can lead to nitrogen being taken from the soil, or anaerobic decomposition which can lead to ‘sour mulch’ which turns acidic and damages the plants it is supposed to be protecting. This advice can best be extended to the farmer by extension workers and expert farmers who the farmer needs to be if close contact during implementation of this technology.

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

Indicate year of implementation:

2010

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 land users' innovation
• through projects/ external interventions

Comments (type of project, etc.):

The farmer was supported with training by National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADS).

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

• improve production
• reduce, prevent, restore land degradation
• adapt to climate change/ extremes and its impacts
• create beneficial economic impact

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

Comments:

The farmer has a plantation of 0.5 acres planted next to the banana plantation.

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

• integrated soil fertility management
• water harvesting

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
• restore/ rehabilitate severely degraded land

Comments:

Due to the decomposition of the mulched grass material.

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

4.2 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

Specify how costs and inputs were calculated:

• per Technology area

other/ national currency (specify):

UGX

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

3400.0

4.3 Establishment activities

	Activity	Timing (season)
1.	Select the site planted with banana	Before establishment
2.	Look for pangas to cut the grass	Once before establishment
3.	look for labour to cut and carry the grass	Before establishment
4.	Cut and curry grass using labour	During establishment
5.	Lay the grass in the soil	During establishment

Comments:

More workload for cutting, carrying and drying grass.

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	persons days for cutting, carrying and laying grass	persons	5.0	150000.0	750000.0	100.0
Equipment	Hoe	pieces	5.0	10000.0	50000.0	100.0
Equipment	Panga	Pieces	5.0	7000.0	35000.0	100.0
Plant material	Suckers in case the farmer want to add mulching	Suckers	200.0	5000.0	1000000.0	100.0
Other	Transport	Lorry	1.0	100000.0	100000.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology					1935000.0

Comments:

Transport costs are incurred if the farmer obtains the grass from other area .

4.5 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

	Activity	Timing/ frequency
1.	Add mulch to the banana field after decomposition	Twice a year

Comments:

The farmer may not need to incur additional costs if does not want to add mulch in the garden. This reduces labour costs.

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	Persons days for adding mulch	Persons	3.0	150000.0	450000.0	100.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology					450000.0

4.7 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

Labour for cutting , carrying and laying grass and seedlings take the most costs. However this means that if the farmer does not need to add more suckers.

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

Indicate if the Technology is specifically applied in:

• concave 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

Indicate other relevant characteristics of the land users:

The farmer is a carpenter from which he derives his additional income.

5.7 Average area of land used 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:

• open access (unorganized)

Comments:

Presence of a community bore hole

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

Water cycle/ runoff

Soil

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)

Gradual climate change

Gradual climate change

	Season	increase or decrease	How does the Technology cope with it?
annual temperature		decrease	very well
seasonal temperature	wet/ rainy season	increase	well
annual rainfall		decrease	moderately

Climate-related extremes (disasters)

Biological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
insect/ worm infestation	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:

Mulching using grass reduced workload in the short run associated with less costs in the long run .The labour that would be used for weeding and its associated costs reduce since no weeding is required when the banana is mulched. Mulching reduces weeds and increases water moist which increases banana production due to decomposed mulched material (grass).

6.5 Adoption of the Technology

• 1-10%

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

5

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

• 0-10%

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.):

Planting fertilizer trees (Calliandra).

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view
Control weeds and improve soil fertility after decomposition.
Uses local available grass materials within the banana (musa) garden for mulching which would be considered a waste.
Cost effective. Low labour and transport costs since the grass mulch is locally obtained within the same field.

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
Appropriate for farmers with low income.
Is scalable, requires low labour and input costs.

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?
Harbours insects which attack young suckers.	Apply pesticides.
The technology is easily affected by roaming animals searching for pasture during the dry season when there is normally shortage of pasture.	Put in place byelws on controlled grazing Integrate fertilizer trees (calliandra and Grivellea) in the practice as an alternative.

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view	How can they be overcome?
Mulching can increase the risk of diseases especially if the grasses are obtained from outside the garden.	First use the grass in the same field.
Mulching alone may not be a solution to increase production. The farmer needs also to mange well the banana by cutting banana leaves which can also act as mulching material.	Knowledge and skills be provided by the extension agent.

7.1 Methods/ sources of information