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)

Inades Formation Tanzania (Inades Formation Tanzania)

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

When were the data compiled (in the field)?

22/12/1999

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:

raising a heap of soil around the plant to increase surface area in contact with soil for more pods

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

A cropland is selected which has a loamy type of soil cleaning starts in september ( Land clearing). This is followed by deep tillage using hand hoe just after the 1st rains. This is usually done in November to December during deep tillage (12) all organic matters such as crop remains and weeds are incorporated. Sowing is followed and is done in November - December at 8" by 8" spacing sometimes spacing is reduced to 6"x6" and at 4" to 6" deep. First weeding is done by the end of December. This is usually done using the edge of a wornout hand doe then comes the innovation stage, that is the second weeding done in January dsuring 2nd seeding, heap of intercultivated soil is raised around the grounnuts plant to burry up to half of height of leaf stem in this way even that part of leaf stem incontact with the soil is forced to produce roots and ultimately pods. This doubles the yield. Harvesting is usually done in February and March. Rain season starts on november to early May the rest of the months is dry season. She usually harvest 20 bags of pods groundnuts per acre where others harvest 8-10 hag/acre. Maintenance is to prevent gully erosion by constructing contour bunds hence protect the environment.

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)

Comments (type of project, etc.):

from the land user

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): decline of soil fertility and increased drought

Major land use problems (land users’ perception): same as above

3.3 Further information about land use

Number of growing seasons per year:

• 1

Specify:

Longest growing period in days: 120; Longest growing period from month to month: Feb - May; Second longest growing period in days: 90; Second longest growing period from month to month: Oct - Dec

3.4 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• rasinig soil heap

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

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, Ha: aridification

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

4.2 Technical specifications/ explanations of technical drawing

Technical knowledge required for field staff / advisors: high

Technical knowledge required for land users: low

Secondary technical functions: increase of infiltration, increase / maintain water stored in soil

Mulching
Material/ species: soil

4.3 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

Specify how costs and inputs were calculated:

• per Technology area

Specify currency used for cost calculations:

• US Dollars

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

800.0

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	persons/day/ha	113.0	1.9	214.7	100.0
Equipment	Tools	ha	1.0	3.75	3.75	100.0
Plant material	Seeds	ha	1.0	18.75	18.75	100.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology					237.2

Comments:

Duration of establishment phase: 0 month(s)

4.6 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing/ frequency
1.	Land clearing	Agronomic	before rains / seasonally
2.	deep tillage, sowing	Agronomic	onset of rains / seasonally
3.	1st weeding, 2nd weeding	Agronomic	mid season / seasonally
4.	harvest	Agronomic	end of season / seasonally

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	Preparing, weeding, harvesting	ha	1.0	215.0	215.0	100.0
Plant material	Seeds	ha	1.0	18.75	18.75	100.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology					233.75

Comments:

labour and the cost of seed

4.8 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

labour during tillage

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

Comments and further specifications on topography:

Slopes on average: Also flat

Landforms: Also hill slopes

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 depth on average: Also very shallow

Soil fertility is medium - low

Soil drainage / infiltration is medium

Soil water storage capacity is medium - low

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

Indicate other relevant characteristics of the land users:

Population density: 10-50 persons/km2

Annual population growth: 2% - 3%

2% of the land users are very rich and own 10% of the land.
5% of the land users are rich and own 20% of the land.
50% of the land users are average wealthy and own 50% of the land.
20% of the land users are poor and own 15% of the land.

Off-farm income specification: with poor harvest, farmers embark on other activities like charcoal burning

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:

• state

Land use rights:

• communal (organized)

6.1 On-site impacts the Technology has shown

Socio-economic impacts

Production

Income and costs

Socio-cultural impacts

Ecological impacts

Soil

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

• 1-10%

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

19 households covering 10 percent of stated area (10 percent of all land users)

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

• 90-100%

Comments:

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

Comments on spontaneous adoption: survey results

There is a little trend towards spontaneous adoption of the Technology

Comments on adoption trend: research is doing some research in the farm

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view
selection of good seed variety How can they be sustained / enhanced? maintain the local kongwa seeds
close spacing for groundnuts How can they be sustained / enhanced? construct contour bunds to optimise water harvesting
selection of smooth soils
harvest rain water by deep tillage and intercultivation

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
increase the surface area of the crop in contact with soil for morepods production How can they be sustained / enhanced? continue maintaining heaps of soils
The deep tillage enhances soil water retention capacity How can they be sustained / enhanced? continue deep tillage each season and adding more organic matter
close spacing for increased crop production
harvesting of rainwater to improve soil moisture

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?
lack of improved tools
invasion of livestock to graze on crop remains

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view	How can they be overcome?
the soil heaps have to be constructed each season	design special tools to reduce drudgery
easier soil are not available	manipulate existing soils by adding OM and smooth sands

7.2 References to available publications

Title, author, year, ISBN:

First farmers innovators Workshop report. 1998.

Available from where? Costs?

INADES Formation Tanzania