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)

Strengthening national-level institutional and professional capacities of country Parties towards enhanced UNCCD monitoring and reporting – GEF 7 EA Umbrella II (GEF 7 UNCCD Enabling Activities_Umbrella II)

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

National Soil Services Centre, Department of Agriculture, Ministry of Agriculture & Livestock (NSSC) - Bhutan

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:

As per the responses made by the land users (cooperative representatives), the rehabilitation of fallow land through agroforestry has been a successful SLM indicator towards mitigating and adapting land degradation, securing food, and ultimate livelihood enhancement.

2.1 Short description of the Technology

Definition of the Technology:

Fallow is arable land deliberately set aside due to challenges faced in cultivation. The rehabilitation of lands left fallow for decades through the adoption of agroforestry has been one success story of the Khengrig Namsum Cooperative in the central region of Bhutan. The integration of perennial trees (fruit and high-value trees) and seasonal crops creates environmental, economic, and social benefits.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

Fallow land is the term for arable fields either partially or completely left unused and unproductive, owing to reasons such as labour shortages, lack of irrigation, human-wildlife conflict and/or the plots being far away from the settlements. Land rehabilitation is a promising approach towards mitigating the fallow land issue. Thus, the Khengrig Namsum Cooperative (KNC), a registered firm under the Department of Agriculture Marketing and Cooperatives, Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MoAL), Bhutan has ventured into rehabilitating 235 acres (94 ha) of fallow lands since 2016, through the adoption of agroforestry. The KNC was founded by Mr. Thinley Wangdi (the current chairman), with the motive of improving the livelihoods of the people of Zhemgang Dzongkhag through locally grown farm produce.
The KNC with funds from the Global Environment Facility - Small Grant Program (GEF–SGP) through the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), Bhutan, revived the fallow through agroforestry (intercropping of banana and bamboo plants). The KNC intervened in three strategic locations, benefitting 36 households. This particular agroforestry approach was not only aimed towards enhancing livelihoods but also to diversify production: through banana chips production and bamboo product development.
Upon securing the funds, implementation started with the procurement of planting and fencing materials, hands-on training, and then planting and fencing activities. Installation of electric fencing was done to reduce human-wildlife conflict. There was specific training on product development. Moreover, the KNC was able to link up with nearby schools for the school feeding programme, to supply fruits and vegetables. The cooperative demonstrates skills in processing its own products and enabling better access to renewable natural resources in the locality. On the contrary, not having proper cold storage facilities has negative impacts on processing units and has resulted in unreliable market coupling.

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 implementation of activity in Rebati and Brumbi started in 2016, whereas for Jiwongolia, it started in the year 2019. The Global Environment Facility - Small Grant Program (GEF-SGP) under the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) has funded the program in the Rebati and Brumbi communities. Likewise, the Bhutan Foundation and the HELVETAS have funded the programme in Jiwongolia. The fallow land rehabilitation program was the initiative of Khengrig Namsum Cooperative.

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

• improve production
• reduce, prevent, restore land degradation
• preserve/ improve biodiversity
• 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):

• Agroforestry

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)

Land use mixed within the same land unit:

No

Comments:

The land use has changed in the case of Brumbi and Jiwongolia, where these places were fallow (forest) earlier. A few pockets of Jiwongolia were used as pastureland by the nearby communities. With the intervention from Khengrig Namsum Cooperative (KNC), these areas were brought under cultivation through an agroforestry approach. The land use system in Rebati however has remained the same. The KNC intervened in this community through the facilitation of banana seedlings, mainly intending to ensure the supply of bananas for their banana chip production.

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

• agroforestry

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

Comments:

The land users have noted that the implementation of agroforestry technology has proven highly effective in mitigating surface runoff and gully erosion, especially in the area of Jiwongolia. This issue was exacerbated by the drainage outlet from the nearby highway motor road.

3.8 Prevention, reduction, or restoration of land degradation

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

• prevent land degradation
• reduce land degradation

Comments:

Agroforestry plays a crucial role in both preventing and alleviating land degradation. Lands that are incorporated into agroforestry practices are effectively managed and optimized for various uses, resulting in increased ground coverage throughout the year and appropriate nutrient management. The stewardship of these productive lands through agroforestry not only mitigates land degradation in areas already affected by it but also serves as a preventive measure in potential sites susceptible to land degradation

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):

Ngultrum (Nu.)

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

80.0

4.3 Establishment activities

	Activity	Timing (season)
1.	Explored funds from UNDP through development of project proposal, led by the chairman	2016
2.	Forest clearing and development using tractor at Brumbi and Rebati	December 2016 - November 2018
3.	Electric fencing	February 2017 - May 2017
4.	Procurement of fruit seedlings (local banana and bamboo) from Bhur nursery, Sarpang Dzongkhag	May 2017 - July 2018
5.	Hands-on-training on fruit tree plantations (KNC members and other farmers) and product development from bamboo	May 2017 - November 2018
6.	Plantation of banana seedlings and bamboo	June 2018

Comments:

The plantation of bananas and bamboo in Rebati was done at the periphery of the community, not encroaching on the actual cultivated agricultural fields. Whereas, in Brumbi and Jiwongolia, mass plantation was carried out.

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	Labor	person days	1440.0	451.0	649440.0	100.0
Equipment	Land preparation	Lumpsum	1.0	725432.0	725432.0
Plant material	Cost of seedlings (local banana and bamboo)	Lumpsum	1.0	979170.0	979170.0
Construction material	Electric fencing	Lumpsum	1.0	267410.0	267410.0
Construction material	Plantation of bamboo and banana	Lumpsum	1.0	231594.0	231594.0
Other	Project administration and participation	Lumpsum	1.0	182042.0	182042.0
Other	Project signboard and installation	Lumpsum	1.0	19500.0	19500.0
Other	Formulation of by-laws and agreements	Lumpsum	1.0	72301.0	72301.0
Other	Hands-on-training on plantations and product development	Lumpsum	1.0	100781.0	100781.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology					3227670.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology in USD					40345.88

Comments:

The expenditure amounts are reflected as 'lumpsum' as the listed activity head comprises many sub-activities with different units of expression, which are not at all possible to mention completely.

4.5 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

	Activity	Timing/ frequency
1.	Replacement of electric fence poles	Every after three years (winter)
2.	Replacement of solar batteries	replaced once (1 battery)
3.	Replacement of fruit plants	Every season

4.6 Costs and inputs needed for maintenance/ recurrent activities (per year)

Comments:

The replacement of poles and fruit seedlings has not incurred any cost as these activities are carried out by the land users as an when required.

4.7 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

The most important factors affecting the costs while implementing this technology is land preparation and plantation of seedlings.

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

Indicate if the Technology is specifically applied in:

• concave situations

Comments and further specifications on topography:

The slope of the area ranges from about 6 - 15%.

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.

Moisture content 2.25%, organic matter 3.27%, Organic carbon 1.90%, pH 6.42, electrical conductivity 213.47 µs/cm, nitrogen 0.10%, phosphorus 0.66 ppm, Potassium 138.73 mg/100ml, texture sand.
The soil analysis was conducted at the Science Laboratory of College of Natural Resources, Royal University of Bhutan, Lobesa, Punakha.

5.4 Water availability and quality

Is water salinity a problem?

No

Is flooding of the area occurring?

No

5.5 Biodiversity

Comments and further specifications on biodiversity:

The lush surroundings at the periphery, abundant vegetation cover, and the noticeable presence of agroforestry practices all point to a significant level of diversity in species and habitats

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

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

• Family land ownership

Land use rights:

• leased
• individual

Water use rights:

• communal (organized)

Are land use rights based on a traditional legal system?

Yes

Specify:

The land use rights in Bhutan is traditional legal system guided by formal land act and land rules and regulations.

Comments:

The 230 acres land of Rebati (150) and Brumbi (80) have the the family ownership, whereas the 5 acres land of Jiwongolia is on lease (state land).

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

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?
annual temperature		increase	very well
annual rainfall		decrease	very well

Climate-related extremes (disasters)

Meteorological disasters

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

Climatological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
heatwave	very well
extreme winter conditions	very 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)?

Comments:

The agroforestry with banana and bamboo plantations has been advantageous with both short-term and long-term benefits. For instance, banana gives fruiting in less than a year (9 months) after plantation.

6.5 Adoption of the Technology

• > 50%

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

36 households and one cooperative (KNC)

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

• 0-10%

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
Increased production area. The reversion of fallow land through agroforestry significantly increased the production area for the land users.
Increased income. The easy access to the raw materials for KNC and easy market access for the land users leads to improved income for the KNC staff and land users supplying bananas to the cooperative.
The technology is easy to implement as bananas and bamboo are perennial providing continuous income to the land users with little maintenance required. The land users need not be involved in agronomic practices such as land preparation and sowing every year.

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
Restoration of cultivable land lost to forest encroachment.

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?
Loss of cooperative members due to better opportunities, which ultimately would affect sustainability.	Provide timely incentives and adequate facilities.

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view	How can they be overcome?
Youths do not prefer to work in agriculture as it is viewed as laborious.	Introduce fully mechanized and smart farming systems to attract youth.

7.1 Methods/ sources of information

7.3 Links to relevant online information

Title/ description:

Rehabilitation of fallow land through agroforestry, UNDP, 2020

URL:

https://www.undp.org/bhutan/stories/rehabilitation-fallow-land-through-agroforestry

Title/ description:

Background on Fallow Land Bank, NLCS, n.d.

URL:

https://flb.nlcs.gov.bt/index.php/background-on-fallow-land-bank/

Title/ description:

Khenrig Namsum Cooperative, HELVETAS Bhutan, 2019

URL:

http://csogrant.bt/khenrig-namsum-cooperative/

Title/ description:

WFP Bhutan Country Brief, OCHA services, 2023

URL:

https://reliefweb.int/report/bhutan/wfp-bhutan-country-brief-february-2023

Title/ description:

KNC-Zhemgang, Bhutan, n.d.

URL:

https://www.bhutan-network.org/portfolio/knc-zhemgang-bhutan/