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

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 technology is land friendly and has sustained the Maasai pastoralists livelihood so far.

2.1 Short description of the Technology

Definition of the Technology:

In this new technology the Maasai people set aside some acres of land, fence it and plant grass where the land is bear or allow natural standing grass to germinate then harvest it and store as hay for future use. This also helps in preventing soil erosion and surface run off.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

The Technology is applied in a natural environment where grass is grow for livestock consumption and sometime for sale in case there is plenty. The main elements of this simple technology is using both existing and experts knowledge to grow grass and conserve it as hay as well as retaining underground water and conserving fertile soils. Identification and fencing of land, planting of grass where necessary has been key in the technology. The purpose of the technology is to regenerate more pasture in arid and semi-arid areas hence sustaining people livelihoods. To maintain the activity, simple tools like sickles, panga, ropes, hay boxes/hole and construction of hay ban/store. The technology helps to provide hay/pasture throughout the season, prevent livestock deaths and providing sustainable source of income for the Maasai. Once there is sustainable income, children will be enrolled in schools and will be able to complete their studies. There will be no livestock migration hence reduced livestock deaths due to diseases and hunger. Land user like continuous supply of hay for livestock, increased production and increased income at the household level. They sometimes do not like to work as labourers as they consider that as lot of work.

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

2.7 Introduction of the Technology

Specify how the Technology was introduced:

• through projects/ external interventions

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

• improve production
• reduce, prevent, restore land degradation
• conserve ecosystem
• reduce risk of disasters
• 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 land is used for grazing livestock either on open fields or for keeping livestock in fenced secured places, where it is fed with hay (this only happens during dry seasons).

Number of growing seasons per year: 2
April-May and October-December

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

Comments:

The Maasai used to graze their livestock on open grass land during the group ranch tenure system. There were not specific places designated for grazing during the rainy or dry season everybody grazed where they wanted.

3.4 Water supply

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

• rainfed

Comments:

This is a semi-arid area with two raining seasons (April-May and October-December) under normal situation but the area can miss rain for an entire year.

3.5 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• area closure (stop use, support restoration)
• pastoralism and grazing land management

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

Comments:

Land use is changed from normal grazing land to fenced area designated for hay production.

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

Comments:

The technology address soil and water conservation which increases pasture generation hence safe livelihoods

3.8 Prevention, reduction, or restoration of land degradation

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

• reduce land degradation
• restore/ rehabilitate severely degraded land

Comments:

Most of the land, where the technology is applied on has been degraded hence reducing its production

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):

Kenyan Shilling (KES)

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

100.31

4.3 Establishment activities

	Activity	Timing (season)
1.	Land identification	6 hours
2.	Fencing of identified land	5 or more days depending on land size
3.	Land preparation for reseeding	7 days or more
4.	Reseeding	3 hours
5.	Continuous management and weeding	Through out the period when the grass is in the field before harvesting
6.	Harvesting	12 hours or more
7.	Hay storage	4 hours

Comments:

Each step of the process is important and is given attention for production to be complete

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	fencing	person days	5.0	500.0	2500.0	100.0
Labour	preparation of land and seeding	person days	8.0	500.0	4000.0	100.0
Labour	fertilization and weeding	peson days	7.0	500.0	3500.0	100.0
Labour	harvesting	person days	1.0	500.0	500.0	100.0
Equipment	building of hay storage facility	person days	5.0	500.0	2500.0	100.0
Equipment	hay bale press (as seen in the picture)	machine hour	2.0
Plant material	grass seeds	kg	8.0
Fertilizers and biocides	manure
Construction material	fencing material poles	pieces
Construction material	fencing material wire mesh	meters
Construction material	storage facility (corrugated metal sheets for roof, cement for base, poles and wire mesh for sides etc
Total costs for establishment of the Technology					13000.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology in USD					129.6

4.5 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

	Activity	Timing/ frequency
1.	Reparation of fence	require repair may be once every season
2.	Land preparation	Done every raining season
3.	Seeds section	One on the onset of the planting season
4.	Harvesting of hay	Hay is harvested once it is ready
5.	Safe storage of hay	Done once (building the store)

4.7 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

Purchase of materials at the beginning of the project.

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

Indicate if the Technology is specifically applied in:

• concave situations

Comments and further specifications on topography:

The land is flat with little vegetation cover. The area receives minimal rainfall

5.3 Soils

5.4 Water availability and quality

Is flooding of the area occurring?

No

Comments and further specifications on water quality and quantity:

Water quality is poor and its storage is poor too

5.5 Biodiversity

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

Indicate other relevant characteristics of the land users:

Most of them are illiterate hence require continuous training and demonstration

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, titled

Land use rights:

• individual

Water use rights:

• communal (organized)

Comments:

Most of the water sources are communally own. So rules are set to govern water use.

5.9 Access to services and infrastructure

6.1 On-site impacts the Technology has shown

Socio-economic impacts

Production

Water availability and quality

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		increase	moderately
other gradual climate change		increase	moderately

Climate-related extremes (disasters)

Climatological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
drought	not well

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

• > 50%

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

• 11-50%

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
Advantages of producing, managing and storing hay has been seen to improve livestock production hence improving income for the Maasai.
Production of hay also enhance skills and knowledge for the Maasai pastoralists.
Hay can also be produced and sold to other people which means additional income for the household.

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
Production of hay also enhance skills and knowledge for the Maasai pastoralists.
Advantages of producing, managing and storing hay has been seen to improve livestock production hence improving income for the Maasai.
Hay can also be produced and sold to other people which means additional income for the household.
This is a way to adapt to the changing environment for maasai pastoralists be it land tenure, limited mobility, climate variability and change (droughts), social and physical infrastructure etc.

7.1 Methods/ sources of information