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)

Book project: Water Harvesting – Guidelines to Good Practice (Water Harvesting)

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

Pilot Program for Climate Resilience, Tajikistan (WB / PPCR)

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

Deutsche Welthungerhilfe (Welthungerhilfe) - Tajikistan

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 use of an earth tank lined with a polyethylene sheet to retain rainwater collected from the roof of the house.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

An earth retention tank is a simple low cost structure that can be used to retain rain water from the rooftop. A hole is prepared and lined with a polyethylene sheet to prevent leakage. The top of the hole is covered with a metal lid for access. The roof of the house is fitted with a plastic guttering that captures the rainwater and funnels the water via a plastic pipe into the earth tank. The water in the earth tank then can be utilised for the irrigation of crops (especially during the hot dry summer months), sanitation, and potentially drinking water.

Purpose of the Technology: The population in Southern Tajikistan consists largely of subsistance farmers and are thus highly reliant upon their kitchen garden plots. As the population in the area continues to expand, the pressure on the land increases. The latter is already in a poor state, because it is becoming degraded through deforestation, overgrazing and general over exploitation. There is much precipitation during the rainy season from autumn until spring in Southern Tajikistan, but the scarcity of water from late spring to the end of autumn poses a problem with water shortages.
During the rainy season, a lot of water is lost as surface runoff, this water can be saved in a retention tank to be utilised during the dry season. It can be used to water crops to help increase yields as well as crop diversity and quality. The additional water can also be used for sanitation, drinking water and watering of livestock.

Establishment / maintenance activities and inputs: For the establishment of such a retention tank several steps are needed. In preparation, a rough estimation of the potential volume of harvested rainwater needs to be calculated. Thereafter, a location for the tank needs to be selected so that expenses are minimised and it is easy to access. The establishment of ponds near big trees is not recommended, because the polyethylene layer might be punctured by the roots.

Natural / human environment: The actual steps of constructing the tank involve:
(1) digging the pond, (2) plastering the inside walls with a fine soil and water mixture to smooth them, (3) lining the pond’s walls with double polyethylene layer, (4) connecting the inside polyethylene sheets with the pond coverage through a piece of cord, so that it can be taken out of the pond any time to be cleaned of sediments, (5) covering the pond with any available material such as a soil, water and straw mixture, reinforced by several poles, leaving an opening of 0.25 x 0.25m to extract water, (6) finally connecting the roof to the pond with a plastic pipe. To avoid dirty water flowing from the roof into the pond, the pipe should only be connected to the pond some time after the rainfall has started.

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.):

The technology was developed through a Welthunger Hilfe Project and promotion in the local communities started in 2008.

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

• improve production

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

Comments:

Major land use problems (compiler’s opinion): Inefficient natural resource management, which is mainly visual because people throw potential organic fertilisers away instead of spreading them on the fields. Incorrect ploughing techniques which leads to the acceleration of erosion, deforestation and waste of fuel materials in inefficient stoves and ovens. Overgrazing leading to pasture degradation.

Major land use problems (land users’ perception): lack of water

Constraints of settlement / urban

3.4 Water supply

Comments:

Number of growing seasons per year:

1

Specify:

Longest growing period in days: 180Longest growing period from month to month: March - November

3.5 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• water harvesting

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

Comments:

Main measures: structural measures

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

Comments:

Main type of degradation addressed: Ha: aridification, Hs: change in quantity of surface water, Hp: decline of surface water quality

Main causes of degradation: soil management (Inproper land management), deforestation / removal of natural vegetation (incl. forest fires) (Cutting trees and shrubs), overgrazing, inputs and infrastructure: (roads, markets, distribution of water points, other, …) (poor water supply)

Secondary causes of degradation: population pressure (the population is increasing over time.), poverty / wealth (lack of funds)

3.8 Prevention, reduction, or restoration of land degradation

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

• restore/ rehabilitate severely degraded land

Comments:

Main goals: rehabilitation / reclamation of denuded land

Secondary goals: prevention of land degradation, mitigation / reduction of land degradation

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

4.2 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

other/ national currency (specify):

TJSomoni

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

4.5

4.3 Establishment activities

	Activity	Timing (season)
1.	Manual digging of pond;smoothing and plastering;covering pond	once in the beginning
2.	polyethylene sheet and pipe procurement, preparation and placement;	once in the beginning

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	Manual digging of pond	Persons/day	2.0	30.0	60.0	100.0
Labour	Placing sheet	Persons/day	0.1	30.0	3.0	100.0
Construction material	Wooden poles for pond	poles	4.0	5.0	20.0	100.0
Construction material	Earth	tons	0.1	45.0	4.5	100.0
Construction material	Polyethylene sheet	square meters	10.0	2.3	23.0	50.0
Construction material	Cord	meter	20.0	0.025	0.5	50.0
Construction material	Plastic pipe	meter	5.0	2.0	10.0	100.0
Construction material	Bucket	pieces	1.0	4.5	4.5	100.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology					125.5
Total costs for establishment of the Technology in USD					27.89

Comments:

Duration of establishment phase: 24 month(s)

4.5 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

	Activity	Timing/ frequency
1.	Cleaning of pond (washing out sediments)	once every year
2.	Changing polyethylene sheet;covering	once every 2 years
3.	Changing polyethylene sheet;covering	once per 2 years

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	Cleaning of pond (washing out sediments)	Persons/day	0.1	45.0	4.5	100.0
Labour	Changing polyethylene sheet (every 2 years)	Persons/day	1.0	10.0	10.0	100.0
Construction material	Polyethylene sheet	square meters	10.0	2.3	23.0	100.0
Construction material	Cord	square meters	1.13	8.85	10.0	100.0
Construction material	Earth	tons	0.05	45.0	2.25	100.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology					49.75
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology in USD					11.06

Comments:

The above costs were calculated for the building of one retention tank. One household could have several ponds in one kitchen garden.

4.7 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

The type of earth in Tajikistan is very good for making the retention ponds, the labour is provided by the land user, and the plastic pipes can be manufactured out of empty plastic bottles. The polythene sheet and cord have to be purchased from the shop.

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

Comments and further specifications on topography:

Altitudinal zone: Mainly communities in this range

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 is medium and if it is not overused the fertility can be increased.

Topsoil organic matter: Usually locals collect cow dung and use it as fuel.

Soil drainage / infiltration is medium

Soil water storage capacity is medium because the loess material contains clay material

5.4 Water availability and quality

Comments and further specifications on water quality and quantity:

Ground water table can also be below 50 m.

Availability of surface water is so poor du to deforestation the natural water balance is disturbed.

5.5 Biodiversity

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

Indicate other relevant characteristics of the land users:

Land users applying the Technology are mainly common / average land users

Population density: < 10 persons/km2

Annual population growth: 1% - 2%

100% of the land users are poor.

Off-farm income specification: In this example the farmer's son has migrated to Russia.

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:

• state
• individual, titled

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

Water availability and quality

Income and costs

Socio-cultural impacts

Ecological impacts

Water cycle/ runoff

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	well

Climate-related extremes (disasters)

Meteorological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
local rainstorm	well
local windstorm	well

Climatological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
drought	not well

Hydrological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
general (river) flood	not well

Other climate-related consequences

Other climate-related consequences

	How does the Technology cope with it?
reduced growing period	well

Comments:

To minimise the damage to the polyethylene waterproofing layers and, reduce evaporation rates, pond is covered. As the pond is dug into earth the temperature remains fairly stable. If precipitation decreases less water can be harvested.

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:

Before the implementation of this technology, one family would spend an avarage of $44.5 on one truck of water per month. A pond costs around $25 to build, and should provide families with around 4 months worth of water after the rainy season.

6.5 Adoption of the Technology

• > 50%

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

600 households (in an area of 10-100km^2)

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

• 11-50%

Comments:

58% of land user families have adopted the Technology with external material support

350 land user families have adopted the Technology with external material support

Comments on acceptance with external material support: In the initial stages of the project, they were provided with 50% of the costs of the polyethylene sheets and cord only.

42% of land user families have adopted the Technology without any external material support

250 land user families have adopted the Technology without any external material support

Comments on spontaneous adoption: After observing the benefits of the technology and the high cost benefit ratio, many people in the community and surrounding villages have replicated this technology themselves.

There is a strong trend towards spontaneous adoption of the Technology

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view
Easy and quick to establish, and maintain.

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
It is a low cost technology and can be made from many locally available materials. How can they be sustained / enhanced? To disseminate these ideas in areas with water scarcity through local Extension Service providers / NGOs or local inhabitants.
It reduces the time and effort to collect water and also the cost to buy water. How can they be sustained / enhanced? Promotion of different water saving methods and technologies by interested and line departments.
More water available for gardening and household purposes
Increases access to water for drinking and sanitation purposes. How can they be sustained / enhanced? Construction of larger and/or more tanks.
Provides water for irrigation during the hot dry months, therefore improving crop diversity and yields. How can they be sustained / enhanced? Training and education on kitchen garden farming techniques to optimise the use of the extra water supply.

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?
The polyethylene only lasts for 2-4 years.	To increase the number of layers or use a thicker polyethylene sheet

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view	How can they be overcome?
The plastic layers have a limited lifespan.	To find thicker and more hardy materials, or apply multiple layers.
Th waterproof layer can easily be degraded by mice and large insects.

7.1 Methods/ sources of information

7.2 References to available publications

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Brochure - Converting drought prone areas into productive gardens! Low cost options to improve rainwater harvesting in Southern Tajikistan rain fed areas …. and beyond! 2009

Available from where? Costs?

Welthungerhilfe, Temurmalik office,

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Training film - Simple ways to improve management of kitchen gardens in Southern Tajikistan rain fed areas …. and beyond. 2009

Available from where? Costs?

Welthungerhilfe, Temurmalik office

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Welthungerhilfe project final narrative report (144-912) - 2010

Available from where? Costs?

Welthungerhilfe, Temurmalik office