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Technologies
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increasing groundnuts pod number in a soil heap [Tanzania, United Republic of]

technologies_994 - Tanzania, United Republic of

Completeness: 69%

1. General information

1.2 Contact details of resource persons and institutions involved in the assessment and documentation of the Technology

Key resource person(s)

SLM specialist:
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. Description of the SLM Technology

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

Country:

Tanzania, United Republic of

Region/ State/ Province:

Dodoma

Further specification of location:

Mpwapwa

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. Classification of the SLM Technology

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

  • improve production

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

Cropland

Cropland

  • Annual cropping
Main crops (cash and food crops):

major cash crop: Groundnuts

major food crop: Maize and sorghum

other: Millet

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

agronomic measures

agronomic measures

  • A6: Others
structural measures

structural measures

  • S11: Others

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

soil erosion by water

soil erosion by water

  • Wt: loss of topsoil/ surface erosion
chemical soil deterioration

chemical soil deterioration

  • Cn: fertility decline and reduced organic matter content (not caused by erosion)
water degradation

water degradation

  • Ha: aridification
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. Technical specifications, implementation activities, inputs, and costs

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
Indicate size and area unit:

ha

Specify currency used for cost calculations:
  • US Dollars
Indicate exchange rate from USD to local currency (if relevant): 1 USD =:

800.0

Indicate average wage cost of hired labour per day:

1.90

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. Natural and human environment

5.1 Climate

Annual rainfall
  • < 250 mm
  • 251-500 mm
  • 501-750 mm
  • 751-1,000 mm
  • 1,001-1,500 mm
  • 1,501-2,000 mm
  • 2,001-3,000 mm
  • 3,001-4,000 mm
  • > 4,000 mm
Specifications/ comments on rainfall:

Also < 250 mm

Agro-climatic zone
  • sub-humid
  • semi-arid

5.2 Topography

Slopes on average:
  • flat (0-2%)
  • gentle (3-5%)
  • moderate (6-10%)
  • rolling (11-15%)
  • hilly (16-30%)
  • steep (31-60%)
  • very steep (>60%)
Landforms:
  • plateau/plains
  • ridges
  • mountain slopes
  • hill slopes
  • footslopes
  • valley floors
Altitudinal zone:
  • 0-100 m a.s.l.
  • 101-500 m a.s.l.
  • 501-1,000 m a.s.l.
  • 1,001-1,500 m a.s.l.
  • 1,501-2,000 m a.s.l.
  • 2,001-2,500 m a.s.l.
  • 2,501-3,000 m a.s.l.
  • 3,001-4,000 m a.s.l.
  • > 4,000 m a.s.l.
Comments and further specifications on topography:

Slopes on average: Also flat

Landforms: Also hill slopes

5.3 Soils

Soil depth on average:
  • very shallow (0-20 cm)
  • shallow (21-50 cm)
  • moderately deep (51-80 cm)
  • deep (81-120 cm)
  • very deep (> 120 cm)
Soil texture (topsoil):
  • coarse/ light (sandy)
  • medium (loamy, silty)
Topsoil organic matter:
  • low (<1%)
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

Market orientation of production system:
  • subsistence (self-supply)
  • mixed (subsistence/ commercial
Off-farm income:
  • > 50% of all income
Relative level of wealth:
  • average
  • rich
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

  • < 0.5 ha
  • 0.5-1 ha
  • 1-2 ha
  • 2-5 ha
  • 5-15 ha
  • 15-50 ha
  • 50-100 ha
  • 100-500 ha
  • 500-1,000 ha
  • 1,000-10,000 ha
  • > 10,000 ha
Comments:

Average area of land owned or leased by land users applying the Technology: Also 1-2 ha

5.8 Land ownership, land use rights, and water use rights

Land ownership:
  • state
Land use rights:
  • communal (organized)

6. Impacts and concluding statements

6.1 On-site impacts the Technology has shown

Socio-economic impacts

Production

crop production

decreased
increased

fodder production

decreased
increased
Income and costs

farm income

decreased
increased

Socio-cultural impacts

community institutions

weakened
strengthened

national institutions

weakened
strengthened

Ecological impacts

Soil

soil moisture

decreased
increased

soil cover

reduced
improved
Other ecological impacts

soil fertility

decreased
increased

6.2 Off-site impacts the Technology has shown

downstream flooding

increased
reduced

6.4 Cost-benefit analysis

How do the benefits compare with the establishment costs (from land users’ perspective)?
Short-term returns:

very positive

Long-term returns:

very positive

How do the benefits compare with the maintenance/ recurrent costs (from land users' perspective)?
Short-term returns:

very positive

Long-term returns:

very positive

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. References and links

7.2 References to available publications

Title, author, year, ISBN:

First farmers innovators Workshop report. 1998.

Available from where? Costs?

INADES Formation Tanzania

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