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

Comments:

The farmer confessed that when he uses dry banana leaves, the leaves rot and provides manure which is utilized by bananas retaining the moisture content in the soil.

2.1 Short description of the Technology

Definition of the Technology:

Dry banana leaves are spread in the soil for growing banana plantation for improving soil fertility and moisture content retention.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

Locally obtained dry banana leaves is a low cost mulching material used by farmers in Northern Uganda to mulch soil in order to grow banana with the aim of improving soil fertility and soil moisture content retention.
The land user identifies a banana plantation usually 0.5 to 2 acres planted with sweet banana, Bogoya, Fear 17 varieties and spread the banana leaves across the banana plantation usually below 40-60 cm to the mother plant using 2-4 people per day, hoes and pangas.
Mulching is preferred because it uses locally available banana leaves within the plantation. It does not require high maintenance costs to pay for labor, digging and transport. Costs would be incurred transporting the mulching material. In addition to conserving moisture in the soils, it reduces water runoff to avoid erosion and improves the soil as the mulch material rots.
However, it is important for the land user to be aware that mulching using banana leaves serve as breeding place for banana weevils and if the land user places the mulch too close to the mother plant it will affect the growth of the young suckers. This therefore means land users who need to use this low cost mulching material need to first work out proper procedures with the extension worker on how to mulch banana plantation before mulching.
To sustain this technology, the land users can integrate cultivating multipurpose tree species (Calliandra and Grivellea) to additionally stabilize the soils and improve soil fertility when the tree mature and leaves litter.

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:

2012

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

Comments (type of project, etc.):

Supported by Nothern Uganda Social Action Fund (NUSAF) with training on how to mulch using banana leaves.

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

• improve production
• reduce, prevent, restore land degradation
• mitigate climate change and its impacts

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

Comments:

The land user grows coffee and Banana for home consumption and sale.

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

• minimal soil disturbance
• integrated soil fertility management
• water harvesting

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

Comments:

Technology involves spreading/ laying out of the mulching material for soil moisture retention and soil fertility improvement.

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

Comments:

Decomposition of mulched material increases fertility in turn responding to reduced land degradation.

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 =:

3200.0

4.3 Establishment activities

	Activity	Timing (season)
1.	Site selection	Once before before establishment
2.	look for inputs (labour)	Once before establishment
3.	Cut the banana leaves	During establishment
4.	Lay the banana leaves	During establishment

Comments:

Cutting banana leaves and spreading them can be a routine activity that the farmer continues to do.

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 employed on monthly basis	persons	10.0	70000.0	700000.0	100.0
Equipment	Hoes	Pieces	10.0	10000.0	100000.0	100.0
Equipment	Pangas	Pieces	5.0	7000.0	35000.0	100.0
Other	Training costs (transport)	sessions	3.0	30000.0	90000.0	100.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology					925000.0

Comments:

The money that the farmer use for these activities is income received from the sale of banana.

4.5 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

	Activity	Timing/ frequency
1.	Re-mulching	Twice a year

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 on monthly basis	Persons	4.0	150000.0	600000.0	100.0
Fertilizers and biocides						100.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology					600000.0

Comments:

High costs of labour for estsblishment activities with more tasks compared to maintenance costs which are rather low.

4.7 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

Labour for cutting and laying the banana leaves is the most important factor affecting costs.

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

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:

• communal/ village

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

Socio-cultural impacts

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)

Gradual climate change

Gradual climate change

	Season	increase or decrease	How does the Technology cope with it?
annual temperature		increase	moderately
seasonal temperature	dry season	increase
annual rainfall		increase	moderately

Climate-related extremes (disasters)

Climatological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
drought	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:

Benefits are low in the short term with more labour costs for cutting and laying grass mulch while in the long run, less labour costs and more benefits (reduced soil erosion, increased production) resulting from decomposed mulch material.

6.5 Adoption of the Technology

• 1-10%

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

4

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:

• changing markets

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

Established a local collection centre for marketing bananas to avoid exploitation.

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view
Good for soil moisture retention and soil fertility improvement.
Maintenance costs are low in the long run.
Uses locally available mulch material which is easily accessible in the plantation.

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
The technology is appropriate for both small scale and large scale land users with a banana plantation.
The technology can easily be promoted and replicated by other farmers in other areas.
Once established, its easy to manage and mentain as long as labour is available at affordable cost.

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?
Prolonged drought affects the banana which may affect the quantity and quality of mulching material.	Integrate agrofrestry trees within the banana plantation (Grivellea and Calliandra).
Labour Intensive associated with high costs in case the farmer has 10 acres and more.	Work in groups and exchange labour.
Wind affects banana production which may affect the quality of mulching material.	Promote agroforestry trees (Callindra, Grivellea 0 within the technology to acts as soil fertility improving trees and wind breaks.

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view	How can they be overcome?
Prolonged drought affects the Banana yield and therefore may not be a solution to poor farmers,	Promote agroforestry tree planting (calliandra, Grivellea) that addresses climatic change issues.
Requires a lot of labour.	Engage labour on monthly basis.
Attract thieves who may want to eat and sell.	Strengthen Community local bylaws. If found stealing or encroaching pay 2 times the equivalent of what has been stolen.
The technology is mostly affected by wind.	Promote agroforestry trees as wind breakers on the farm.

7.1 Methods/ sources of information