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)

Tear Fund Switzerland (Tear Fund Switzerland) - Switzerland

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

When were the data compiled (in the field)?

07/09/2016

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:

So far, where this technology has been applied, the water runoff has been reduced and the soils have been stabilised

1.5 Reference to Questionnaire(s) on SLM Approaches

2.1 Short description of the Technology

Definition of the Technology:

A bench terrace is an artificial horizontal strip dug across a steep landscape, with a riser ranging between 30 and 45 degrees. Bench terraces are constructed in series and help to minimize land degradation by rainwater runoff

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

A typical bench terrace takes the shape of a bench with a width of 3 to 5 meters and the height ranging from 1 to 2 meters, depending on the steepness of the slope, and the length is determined by the size of the plot, but typically 20 to 25 meters.
The top of the terrace riser is planted with a grass strip (referred to as a hedge row) commonly elephant grass or starria grass at a spacing of 200mm. The lower part of the riser is stabilized by planting creeping plant like couch grass to avoid erosion.
The technology is applied in already existing degraded farmlands, which are individually owned. An average farm size is less than half an acre.
This technology reduces the speed of water running down the slope during a downpour thereby reducing soil erosion and increasing water retention.
Areas which are prone to degradation by erosion are identified and later, the farmers are trained on benefits of this technology, how to construct and how to maintain the terraces by planting hegde rows.
This technology helps maintain the good top soil, which would have otherwise been washed down the slope into the valley, increases water retention, provides a flat ground for farm practices. All these ultimately increase crop yields.
What the land users dislike about this technology is that it is labour intensive. These labour intensive activities are done individually, on individual pieces of land using simple hand tools (hoes, spades and pick axes).

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

Indicate year of implementation:

2015

2.7 Introduction of the Technology

Specify how the Technology was introduced:

• through projects/ external interventions

Comments (type of project, etc.):

The technology was introduced under the Integrated Water Resources Management Project to support farmers to mazimise land productivity

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

• improve production
• reduce, prevent, restore land degradation
• conserve ecosystem
• protect a watershed/ downstream areas – in combination with other Technologies
• reduce risk of disasters
• adapt to climate change/ extremes and its impacts
• mitigate climate change and its impacts
• create beneficial economic impact
• create beneficial social impact

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

3.3 Further information about land use

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

• rainfed

Number of growing seasons per year:

• 2

Specify:

September to January and March to June

3.4 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• improved ground/ vegetation cover
• integrated soil fertility management
• cross-slope measure

3.5 Spread of the Technology

Specify the spread of the Technology:

• evenly spread over an area

Comments:

This technology is implemented among farmers in a given area but is adopted by more farmers

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

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:

• reduce land degradation

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

4.2 Technical specifications/ explanations of technical drawing

Dimensions are shown on the drawings

4.3 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

Specify how costs and inputs were calculated:

• per Technology area

other/ national currency (specify):

Ugandan Shilling

Indicate exchange rate from USD to local currency (if relevant): 1 USD =:

3300.0

4.4 Establishment activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing
1.	Mark out the plot of land to be terraced	Structural	After harvest of crops
2.	Delineation of contours using the A-frame	Structural	After harvest of crops
3.	Excavation (cut) and build up bench terrace by filling	Structural	After harvest of crops
4.	Stabilising the riser by planting creeping grass and hedge rows	Vegetative	Onset of rains

4.5 Costs and inputs needed for establishment

	Specify input	Unit	Quantity	Costs per Unit	Total costs per input	% of costs borne by land users
Labour	Construction of bench terraces in an area of 1 acre	person days	324.0	2.1	680.4	30.0
Equipment	Forked hoes	pieces	1.0	5.0	5.0
Equipment	Pick axes	pieces	1.0	5.0	5.0
Equipment	Spades	pieces	1.0	5.0	5.0
Plant material	Starria grass cuttings	sack	80.0	7.0	560.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology					1255.4

If land user bore less than 100% of costs, indicate who covered the remaining costs:

Kigezi Diocese Water and Sanitation Programme

Comments:

The cost of this technology is beyond the financial capacity of the land user hence the need for a subsidy

4.6 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing/ frequency
1.	Repair of damaged parts after heavy downpours	Structural	After rainy season
2.	Maintenance of the hedge rows by triming and replanting empty spaces	Vegetative	Continuous

4.7 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	Repair of broken parts of the terrace	days	4.0	2.1	8.4	100.0
Labour	Trimming of hedge rows	days	8.0	2.1	16.8	100.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology					25.2

Comments:

The initial investment of the equipment is adequate for maintenance at least for some years

4.8 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

Establishment costs depend on the steepness of the slope, structure and deepness of the subsoil.

The maintenance costs depend of the degree of damage. Damages vary depending on the severity of rainfall. Soils that are more sandy are more likely to be swept than those that are clayey. The location of the terrace (whether up hill or down hill) will determine how badly the terrace will be damaged and hence the costs of repair. The steepness of the slope will also affect the extent to which the terraces are damaged

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

Indicate if the Technology is specifically applied in:

• not relevant

5.3 Soils

5.4 Water availability and quality

Is water salinity a problem?

No

Is flooding of the area occurring?

Yes

Regularity:

episodically

Comments and further specifications on water quality and quantity:

Water quantity and quality is dependent on human activities and rainfall patterns

5.5 Biodiversity

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

5.7 Average area of land owned or leased 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:

• individual

Water use rights:

• communal (organized)

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	Type of climatic change/ extreme	How does the Technology cope with it?
annual temperature		increase	not known
seasonal temperature	dry season	increase	not known
seasonal temperature	wet/ rainy season	increase	not known
annual rainfall		decrease	not known
seasonal rainfall	wet/ rainy season	decrease	not known

Climate-related extremes (disasters)

Meteorological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
local rainstorm	well
local thunderstorm	well
local hailstorm	well

Climatological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
land fire	well

Hydrological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
general (river) flood	very well
flash flood	very well
landslide	very well

Biological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
epidemic diseases	moderately
insect/ worm infestation	not known

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:

The adoption rate of this technology is gradual as people keep appreciating the benefits

6.5 Adoption of the Technology

• single cases/ experimental

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

24 households (15 households were experimental and 9 have adopted)

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

• 90-100%

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
Reduction of erosion damage by capturing or slowing down surface runoff
Trap and retain sediments from the slope above and accelerates re-vegetation process on the bare slopes
Creates a flat leveled ground for easier cultivation
The planted hedgerows provide fodder for the animals

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
Increases soil moisture since the trapped water is retained as surface runoff is minimized

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?
Bench terraces cannot be constructed on slopes with sandy or rocky soils because they can collapse	N/A

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view	How can they be overcome?
Bench terraces may cause sloughing if too much water infiltrates the soil	Suitable runoff outlets are created to carry away the excess runoff

7.1 Methods/ sources of information

7.2 References to available publications

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Kigezi Diocese Water and Sanitation Programme, IWRM Annual Report (April 2015 - March 2016)

Available from where? Costs?

www.kigezi-watsan.ug

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Empowering communities through Water SMART agricultural practices

Available from where? Costs?

www.kigezi-watsan.ug

Title, author, year, ISBN:

IWRM Pilot Report

Available from where? Costs?

www.kigezi-watsan.ug

7.3 Links to relevant information which is available online

Title/ description:

Bench terraces

URL:

www.fao.org/docrep/006/ad083e/ad083e07.htm