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

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.

2.1 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, most agriculture takes place in mountainous or hilly areas, as 63% of the country’s surface comprises slopes with gradients of 20% or more. In the region of Léogâne, the vast majority of cultivated land is located on very steep, south-facing slopes where solar radiation is high. Land users typically do not have access to modern farming equipment. Slopes are too steep for animal traction; therefore, the soil is prepared manually with machetes, picks and hoes.
In Léogâne, pigeon peas, sweet potatoes, maize, beans and groundnuts are commonly cultivated crops. Since land users do not have access to herbicides, they weed manually. Before planting, land users carry out primary cultivation by breaking the soil with hoes or pickaxes. They then make ridges/ bunds along the contour lines. After planting, they must weed 1-3 times per season, depending on the crop. Once ploughed, the soil is loose and, early in the season before the crop canopy has developed, the land has little vegetation cover. These conditions make the soil extremely vulnerable to heavy rains, leading to surface runoff and thus degradation by water erosion. Accelerated floods containing massive sediment loads cause damage to roads, crops, and settlements downstream. By cultivating this way, land users degrade their natural resources of land, vegetation, soil, and water which provide the principal capital for Haiti’s subsistence-based, agrarian societies. Despite clear drawbacks, this technology is widely spread in Léogâne due to the benefit of quick returns. Haiti is highly food insecure, which is why its vulnerable population prefers fast production and easy technical application in preference to long-term benefits.

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:

• 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)

3.1 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

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)

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

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

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

4.1 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):

HTG

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

62.0

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.

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

Indicate if the Technology is specifically applied in:

• not relevant

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.

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

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:

Age of land users: young - old

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:

• open access (unorganized)
• leased

Water use rights:

• open access (unorganized)
• communal (organized)

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

Biodiversity: vegetation, animals

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?
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)?

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?

• 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.

7.1 Methods/ sources of information

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