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

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

2.1 Short description of the Technology

Definition of the Technology:

Enhancement of sustainable land management by capitalizing on the rapid growth, short gestation nature and multiple benefits of small ruminants kept under zero grazing in a banana based farming system.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

Multiplier banana fertilization is a system where rapid growing small ruminants (preferably dairy goats) of low gestation period are kept under zero grazing within a banana based (Kibanja) farming system and their excrement are used in complementing other fertilization of the banana fields. Dairy goats also improve diet of the rural poor and diversify their income. The animals were initially supported by SLM projects as quick win income generating motivation/incentives to farmer who spent their valuable time in SLM activities of long term benefit realization. In multiplier fertilization, a farmer starts only with a few numbers of animals (as kick start). Usually 2 female dairy goats and one improved male goat (buck) suffice. Goat dung collected from the shed is used to perform selective and on spot application of manure to banana plants. Because of their rapid growth and short gestation nature, goats multiplies and increase in number within few years and at the same time in multiplier terms farmers spread and apply manure to more banana plants. Farmers begin with a small animal shed of usually carrying capacity of 4 to 6 goats and can expand it as goat increases. Goats feed on products cut and carried outside or within the kibanja farm. Animals also feed on domestic residuals (e.g. banana peels), food supplements and water for their maximum performance. Goat dung is collected weekly from the shed and is piled in layers, covered with grass and kept shaded under banana canopies to allow microbial action and minimize nutrient loss through volatilization. Depending on the growth stage of banana, dry manure is applied on sport and selectively after every three months of microbial decay. The numbers of animal increases year after year at the same time farmer benefit from the use/sale of animal product (milk in the short term and meat in the long term) and in multiplier manner continue expanding manure application to other banana plants. Manure from goats contributes in improved banana productivity. Benefits accrued from goats also motivate and induce farmers’ patience in terms of their participation in SLM interventions of long term benefit realization.

Purpose of the Technology: Purposes: improved banana productivity, livelihood diversification, income of the rural poor and soil ecosystem through fertility and organic matter replenishment.

Establishment / maintenance activities and inputs: Establishment activities includes, kick start support of farmers with goats (two dairy goats and an improved buck), construction of the goat shed (100% borne by land user to inculcate self-initiative and ownership) and purchase of working tools (spade, rake, hand hoe).
Recurrent activities largely includes, fetching fodders and feeding the animals (cut and carry products outside or within the kibanja), weekly cleaning of the goat shed and manure collection, manure heaping and grass covering for microbial decay/reducing nutrient volatilization, spreading/cooling, monthly on spot and selective application of manure to banana plants, milking of the animals, disease control/deworming and providing supplements.

Natural / human environment: Multiplier banana manure application is used in kibanja farming system in sub humid tropical highland plateau/plains of 1000 -1500m a.s.l. with annual rainfall between 1000 – 1500mm, moderate soil depth and medium loam textural class.
Is used by small scale land users both men and women individual households. In Kibanja farm, land ownership is largely individual not titled and is acquired through inheritance. Production system is mixed (both for subsistence and commercial).

2.3 Photos of the Technology

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:

Tanzania/Kagera

Further specification of location:

Missenyi Disrict/ Kiziba division/ Kitobo ward/ Kyazi village

Specify the spread of the Technology:

• evenly spread over an area

If precise area is not known, indicate approximate area covered:

• < 0.1 km2 (10 ha)

Comments:

The technology is implemented in Kibanja cropping land use type by individual farmers who received support of diary goats from the Trans-boundary Agro-ecosystem Management Project (TAMP) as quick win and environmental sound motivation for farmers who spend their valuable time in implementation of SLM intervention of long term benefit realization.

Map

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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.):

Started in December 2012 as part of environmental sound income generating activities promoted and supported by the Trans-boundary Agro-ecosystem Management Project (KAGERA TAMP).

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

• improve production
• reduce, prevent, restore land degradation
• create beneficial economic impact

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

Cropland

• Annual cropping
• Perennial (non-woody) cropping
• Tree and shrub cropping

Annual cropping - Specify crops:

• cereals - maize
• root/tuber crops - sweet potatoes, yams, taro/cocoyam, other
• root/tuber crops - potatoes

Tree and shrub cropping - Specify crops:

• coffee, open grown

Number of growing seasons per year:

• 2

Specify:

Longest growing period in days: 120, Longest growing period from month to month: September to December Second longest growing period in days: 90 Second longest growing period from month to month: March to May

Grazing land

Intensive grazing/ fodder production:

• Cut-and-carry/ zero grazing

Animal type:

• goats

Comments:

Major land use problems (compiler’s opinion): Without land conservation there will be inadequate/poor soil fertility and organic matter content, low soil moisture holding capacity, poor health of banana and their increased vulnerability to pest and diseases especially the most devastating Banana Xanthomonas Wilt (BXW).

Major land use problems (land users’ perception): Banana Xanthomonas Wilt, weak banana plants and low 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

• integrated soil fertility management

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

agronomic measures

• A2: Organic matter/ soil fertility
• A7: Others

Comments:

Type of agronomic measures: mixed cropping / intercropping, mulching, green manure, legume inter-planting, manure / compost / residues

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

chemical soil deterioration

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

biological degradation

• Bl: loss of soil life
• Bp: increase of pests/ diseases, loss of predators

water degradation

• Ha: aridification

Comments:

Main causes of degradation: soil management (Low soil fertilization/manure application), crop management (annual, perennial, tree/shrub) (Poor banana husbandry practces), population pressure (High land requirement and continuous utilization without fallowing.), poverty / wealth (low investment capacity), education, access to knowledge and support services (Shortage of staff, inadequate extension services and provision of subsidies.), governance / institutional (Low bylaws/law enforcements (e.g. on BXW control))

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:

and rehabilitation / reclamation of denuded land

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

4.2 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

other/ national currency (specify):

Tanzanian shillings

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

1700.0

4.3 Establishment activities

Comments:

Lifespan of the goats and tools: 5 years
Lifespan of the shed: 3 years

4.4 Costs and inputs needed for establishment

Comments:

Duration of establishment phase: 1 month(s)

4.5 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

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

Comments:

Machinery/ tools: Spade, rake, hand hoe, machete and bucket.
The costs were calculated per unit of kick start animal flock (three dairy goats) needed annually per individual farmer household.

4.7 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

Labour is the most determinant factor affecting the costs.

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 depth on average: Moderately deep (about 60cm)
Soil texture: Medium (highly clay loam)
Soil fertility: Low (due to excessive nutrient uptake without replenishment)
Top soil organic matter: Low (low crop remains)
Soil drainage/infiltration: Good (no water logging)
Soil water storagce capacity: Very high (nature of soil is loamy)

5.4 Water availability and quality

Comments and further specifications on water quality and quantity:

Availability of surface water: Medium (water is available in nearby natural water spring. There is reduction of water flow during the dry season)
Water quality (untreated): Good drinking water as it comes from a natural spring

5.5 Biodiversity

Comments and further specifications on biodiversity:

Soil microorganisms e.g earthworms and ants.

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

Indicate other relevant characteristics of the land users:

Land users applying the Technology are mainly common / average land users
Population density: 200-500 persons/km2
Annual population growth: 1% - 2%; 1%

6% of the land users are rich and own 30% of the land.
64% of the land users are average wealthy and own 64% of the land.
30% of the land users are poor and own 6% of the land.

Off-farm income specification: Some have established small kiosk at the village center and most have additional income items of regular support, assistance and cash transference from children or family members who work or have big business in cities, town and in some cases in diaspora.
Market orientation: Mixed (Banana and goats/milk are produced for both sell and home consumption)
Level of mechanization: Manual work (land form and agroecological nature of the kibanja farm cause hand hoe to be the best means of cultivation)

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:

• individual, not titled

Land use rights:

• communal (organized)
• individual

Water use rights:

• open access (unorganized)

Comments:

Land is largely acquired by inheritance. Traditionally water is open accessed for public use through customary law.

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

Soil

Biodiversity: vegetation, animals

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

Climate-related extremes (disasters)

Meteorological disasters

Climatological disasters

Hydrological disasters

Other climate-related consequences

Other climate-related consequences

Comments:

Storage of crop remains, hay making for animal to have enough food and produce more meat, milk as well as manure.

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:

goats give quick win benefits because have short gestation period, usually gives twin kidding twice per year. Their average lactation period is 250 days and a single goat can produce average of 750 litres of milk per year worthy about 441 American dollars.

6.5 Adoption of the Technology

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

317 households and 23% of the area covered

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

• 11-50%

Comments:

4% of land user families have adopted the Technology with external material support
317 land user families have adopted the Technology with external material support
Comments on acceptance with external material support: The project supported procurement of goats.

31% of land user families have adopted the Technology without any external material support
317 land user families have adopted the Technology without any external material support
Comments on spontaneous adoption: goat keeping is part of tradition and culture.

There is a moderate trend towards spontaneous adoption of the Technology
Comments on adoption trend: Some neighboring farmers have started adoption.

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

6.8 Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks of the Technology and ways of overcoming them

7.1 Methods/ sources of information