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)

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

1.5 Reference to Questionnaire(s) on SLM Approaches (documented using WOCAT)

Construction of trenches in cropland. [Uganda]

Farmer field facilitators mobilized and sensitized the land users on the need to control soil erosion in banana plantations and to conserve moisture in the soil.

• Compiler: Wilson Bamwerinde
• 05/16/2013 midnight

2.1 Short description of the Technology

Definition of the Technology:

Digging trenches on a gentle slope in banana plantation in Rwerazi.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

Trenches dug at 2 ft. wide and 20m long in a banana plantation . Twelve trenches at a distance of 10m each in about 7 acres to control water runoff and soil erosion.

Purpose of the Technology: Trenches to contain and collect heavy water runoff. To reduce loss of top soil and increase soil fertility for perennial crops, thus increasing productivity.

Establishment / maintenance activities and inputs: Kagera TAMP initiative for the use of trenches by land users of Rwerazi matoke association , with hoes, spades, pangas digging trenches of 2ft deep , 2.5 ft wide and 20m long at a space of 10m in a banana planation.

The trenches are of 2 types, Fanya juu and Fanya kin.

Natural / human environment: The area is gentle sloping susceptible to water runoff leading to enough loam sopils in in good banana planation.

2.5 Country/ region/ locations where the Technology has been applied and which are covered by this assessment

Country:

Uganda

Region/ State/ Province:

Uganda

Further specification of location:

Ntungamo-Rukoni

Specify the spread of the Technology:

• evenly spread over an area

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

• 1-10 km2

Comments:

Total area covered by the SLM Technology is 2 km2.

The technology is practiced in Rwerazi and Kitwe town council among farmer field school members in those localities.

Map

×

2.6 Date of implementation

If precise year is not known, indicate approximate date:

• 10-50 years ago

2.7 Introduction of the Technology

Specify how the Technology was introduced:

• through projects/ external interventions

Comments (type of project, etc.):

-Introduced through UNIFA & FAO Kagera /TAMP projects.
-Training in use of trenches in 1991 and group cohesion in 1995.

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

• reduce, prevent, restore land degradation

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

Cropland

• Annual cropping
• Perennial (non-woody) cropping

Perennial (non-woody) cropping - Specify crops:

• banana/plantain/abaca

Number of growing seasons per year:

• 2

Specify:

Longest growing period in days: 150 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.

Comments:

Major land use problems (compiler’s opinion): Increased runoff and lack of soil and water conservation would lead to loss of productive top soil, desertification leading to soil infertility and climatic change.

Type of cropping system and major crops comments: Technology is effective in banana plantation.

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

• cross-slope measure

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

structural measures

• S3: Graded ditches, channels, waterways
• S4: Level ditches, pits

Comments:

Main measures: structural measures

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

soil erosion by water

• Wt: loss of topsoil/ surface erosion

chemical soil deterioration

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

water degradation

• Ha: aridification

Comments:

Main type of degradation addressed: Wt: loss of topsoil / surface erosion

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

Main causes of degradation: soil management (To prevent degradation of land & water banana planation.)

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:

Main goals: mitigation / reduction of land degradation

Secondary goals: prevention of land degradation

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

4.2 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

other/ national currency (specify):

Ugshs

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

2600.0

4.3 Establishment activities

4.4 Costs and inputs needed for establishment

Comments:

Duration of establishment phase: 1 month(s)

4.5 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

Comments:

The land user does not meet the maintenance costs of old existing trenches but establishes /digs new trenches after every 2 years when the old trenches are filled with silt. He believes that old filled trenches should not be worked upon as they are filled with manure and nutrients. By digging new trenches ,the land user meets the new establishment and construction costs.

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

Comments:

Machinery/ tools: Hoes,spades, pick axe are used to construct and maintain the trenches.

The costs are the total costs for construction and maintenance of the technology for each land user for area of about 1 ha and were estimated as of 19/04/2013.

4.7 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

-Human labor is scarce.
-High cost of labor.
-Land users require constant monitoring & mobilization.

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

Indicate if the Technology is specifically applied in:

• concave situations

Comments and further specifications on topography:

Altitudinal zone: The technology is carried out in areas of 1000 to 1500 m.a.s.l.
Slopes on average: Gentle (The technology is appropriate in gentle sloping areas)

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

Indicate other relevant characteristics of the land users:

Population density: 100-200 persons/km2
Annual population growth: 2% - 3%
30% of the land users are rich (Income records 1,750,000 shs monthly.).
40% of the land users are average wealthy (average monthly income of less than 1,000,000shs).
30% of the land users are poor.

Off-farm income specification: most land users' income is from farm.
Level of mechanization: Manual work (family and hired casual labour depending on season)
Market orientation: Mixed (300 bunches sold, 30 eaten monthly on average)

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:

• individual

Water use rights:

• individual

Comments:

Land inherited untitled land from his father and others have individual and freehold.

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

Water cycle/ runoff

Soil

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:

Land users have had increased banana bunch size and improved quality

6.5 Adoption of the Technology

Comments:

Comments on acceptance with external material support: Some land users got external assistance ,others individually implemented the activity.

20% of land user families have adopted the Technology without any external material support

Comments on spontaneous adoption: 20% of land users in Rwerazi matooke group voluntarily implement the technology . 66.7% are not implementing the technology.

There is a moderate trend towards spontaneous adoption of the Technology

Comments on adoption trend: As most of land users still lack some of the inputs and material support.

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

7.1 Methods/ sources of information