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)

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

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

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

2.1 Short description of the Technology

Definition of the Technology:

The aim of this practice is to improve the preservation and storage of potato tubers in rural areas.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

Ventilated storehouses are designed to store cash-crops and seed potatoes in conditions suitable for minimising damage and to hold back stock until market prices rise. The facilities are mudbrick, thatched outbuildings with external dimensions of 7.5 metres long by 5.9 metres wide. The stock quantity is 5,000 to 10,000 kilograms. The preservation period is six months, compared to three months using a traditional system. The loss rate is less than 20%.

Establishment / maintenance activities and inputs: No plant-health treatments are used. Every two weeks, checking for damaged tubers is required (to control rot).
Roles of the actors involved: The PCDA (Agricultural Competitiveness and Diversification Programme) funds, monitors and provides support. The promoter owns the site and provides a 25% personal contribution. The research and oversight bodies (ROBs) provide advisory support, monitor activities on the ground and deliver reports.

Natural / human environment: Given its economic benefits, most promoters have adopted this storage system. Others have built storehouses of this kind without any subsidies from the PCDA.

2.3 Photos of the Technology

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

2.6 Date of implementation

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.):

Since 2007, through Agricultural Competitiveness and Diversification Programme (PCDA)

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

• create beneficial economic impact
• create beneficial social impact

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

Land use mixed within the same land unit:

Yes

Specify mixed land use (crops/ grazing/ trees):

• Agro-silvopastoralism

Cropland

• Annual cropping

Annual cropping - Specify crops:

• root/tuber crops - potatoes

• rice

Number of growing seasons per year:

• 1

Specify:

Longest growing period in days: 120 Longest growing period from month to month: August-November

Settlements, infrastructure

• Settlements, buildings

Comments:

Major cash crop: Potato
Major food crop: Potato, rice

Major land use problems (compiler’s opinion): lack of storage possibility for highly perishable produce

Mixed: (eg agro-pastoralism, silvo-pastoralism): Yes

Livestock density: 1-10 LU /km2

3.4 Water supply

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

• mixed rainfed-irrigated

3.5 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• post-harvest measures

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

management measures

• M7: Others

Comments:

Main measures: management measures

Specification of other management measures: Ventilated storehouse

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

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

4.2 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

other/ national currency (specify):

CFA Franc

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

517.0

4.3 Establishment activities

4.5 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

4.7 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

Investment costs: 584,000 CFA francs (1,136 Dollar): crates – 400,000 CFA francs, storehouses – 184,000 CFA francs.
Preservation costs: each kilogram of stored potato will incur an extra cost of 53 CFA francs (0.10 Dollar).
Break-even point in terms of revenue: once turnover moves beyond 105,510 CFA francs, the conservation activities begin to become profitable.
Break-even point in terms of quantity: a minimum stock of 313 kilograms must be stored for the activity to be profitable.

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

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
Soil drainage/infiltration: Medium and poor
Soil water storage capacity: Medium

5.4 Water availability and quality

Comments and further specifications on water quality and quantity:

Availability of surface water: Also poor/ none

5.5 Biodiversity

Comments and further specifications on biodiversity:

Species diversity: medium, low

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

Indicate other relevant characteristics of the land users:

Population density: < 10 persons/km2

Annual population growth: 2% - 3%

10% of the land users are rich.
50% of the land users are average wealthy.
30% of the land users are poor.
10% of the land users are poor.

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

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

Comments:

The irrigated land is allocated by the chief

5.9 Access to services and infrastructure

6.1 On-site impacts the Technology has shown

Socio-economic impacts

Income and costs

Other socio-economic impacts

Socio-cultural impacts

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

Climate-related extremes (disasters)

Meteorological disasters

Climatological disasters

Hydrological disasters

Other climate-related consequences

Other climate-related consequences

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:

There is a moderate trend towards spontaneous adoption of the Technology

Comments on adoption trend: Given its economic benefits, most promoters have adopted this storage system. Others have built storehouses of this kind without any subsidies from the PCDA.

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

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

7.1 Methods/ sources of information

7.2 References to available publications

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Agricultural Competitiveness and Diversification Programme (PCDA)/Rural Economy Institute (IER): Référentiel technico-économique conservation de la pomme de terre en cases aérées [Technical and economic reference document on preserving potatoes in ventilated storehouses]