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)

Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry, and Fisheries of Uganda (MAAIF) - Uganda

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

When were the data compiled (in the field)?

18/04/2000

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:

mulching of perrenial crops (Banans and pineapples) to conserve moisture

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

Dry vegetation is used to mulch bananas and pineapples.

Purpose of the Technology: To conserve soil moisture which is a major constraint in the area.

Establishment / maintenance activities and inputs: Maintenance: Termites usually destroys the mulch material, this mulch materials are replaced.

Natural / human environment: the technology is an agronomic measure applied on perrenial crops in a semi arid area. Mainly to conserve soil moisture which is very limiting. The soil type is predominantly sandy free drained shallow and medium to low fertility.

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.):

through the farmers own intiative.

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

• improve production
• conserve ecosystem

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

Comments:

Major land use problems (compiler’s opinion): Soil erosion, Fertility decline, hard pan.

Major land use problems (land users’ perception): Soil erosion, fertility decline, underlying gravel

3.3 Further information about land use

Number of growing seasons per year:

• 2

Specify:

Longest growing period in days: 90 Longest growing period from month to month: Mar - Jun Second longest growing period in days: 60 Second longest growing period from month to month: Aug - Dec

3.4 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• improved ground/ vegetation cover

3.5 Spread of the Technology

Specify the spread of the Technology:

• evenly spread over an area

If the Technology is evenly spread over an area, indicate approximate area covered:

• 10-100 km2

Comments:

Total area covered by the SLM Technology is 30 m2.

Area includes all farmers who have adopted

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

Comments:

Secondary types of degradation addressed: Cn: fertility decline and reduced organic matter content

3.8 Prevention, reduction, or restoration of land degradation

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

• reduce land degradation

4.2 Technical specifications/ explanations of technical drawing

Technical knowledge required for field staff / advisors: moderate

Technical knowledge required for land users: low

Main technical functions: increase / maintain water stored in soil

Secondary technical functions: improvement of ground cover, increase of infiltration

Mulching
Material/ species: grass leaves, stovers
Quantity/ density: 6'' depth
Remarks: full cover on the beds across the slopes

Manure / compost / residues
Material/ species: cowdung, ash, fym, water

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	Labour	ha	1.0	30.0	30.0	100.0
Equipment	Animal traction	ha	1.0	5.0	5.0	100.0
Equipment	Tools	ha	1.0	500.0	500.0
Equipment	Machine use	ha	1.0	60.0	60.0	100.0
Plant material	Seedlings	ha	1.0	190.0	190.0	100.0
Fertilizers and biocides	Compost manure	ha	1.0	360.0	360.0	100.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology					1145.0

Comments:

Duration of establishment phase: 12 month(s)

4.6 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing/ frequency
1.	Clear site, make channels, dig holes for bananas, place compost	Agronomic	dry season / once
2.	Plant grass	Agronomic	first rains / each cropping season
3.	Collecting of mulch	Agronomic	dry season / each cropping season
4.	Mulching	Agronomic	dry / frequently

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	Labour	ha	1.0	10.0	10.0	100.0
Plant material	Seedlings	ha	1.0	70.0	70.0	100.0
Fertilizers and biocides	Compost/manure	ha	1.0	360.0	360.0	100.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology					440.0

Comments:

Machinery/ tools: hoes, machette, plough, spade, tape measure, garden rake

dimension of structure is 32 * 40 M, plot size is 20 * 5 M, channels are 0.6 * 0.6 M deep, banana holes are 0.3 * 0.3 M

4.8 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

labour and tool are expensive

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: Low
Soil drainage/infiltration: Good
Soil water storage capacity: Very low

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

Indicate other relevant characteristics of the land users:

Population density: 50-100 persons/km2
Annual population growth: 1% - 2%
1% of the land users are rich and own 5% of the land.
2% of the land users are average wealthy and own 10% of the land.
75% of the land users are poor and own 75% of the land.
22% of the land users are poor and own 10% of the land.
Off-farm income specification: only petty trade

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
• individual, titled

Land use rights:

• individual

6.1 On-site impacts the Technology has shown

Socio-economic impacts

Production

Income and costs

Other socio-economic impacts

Socio-cultural impacts

Ecological impacts

Soil

Climate and disaster risk reduction

Other ecological impacts

6.2 Off-site impacts the Technology has shown

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: trend growing moderately

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view
improved soil moisture
added nutrients
maintenance of soil fertility
soil conservation
weedin cost reduced

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
increase in soil moisture
additional nutrients How can they be sustained / enhanced? adding fermented urine
improved fertility How can they be sustained / enhanced? add manure
soil conservation
suppression of weeds

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?
same as above

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view	How can they be overcome?
financial constraints	obtain grants
labour constrains	use termite repellants
mulch destroyed by termites