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)

Name of the institution(s) which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Technology (if relevant)

Name of the institution(s) 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)

Farmer field schools on integrated plant nutrient systems [Nepal]

Participatory and collaborative learning through the farmer field school approach

• Compiler: Richard Allen
• 01/19/2009 midnight

Farmer-to-farmer diffusion [Nepal]

Wider diffusion of sustainable soil management technologies through a demand responsive farmer-to-farmer diffusion approach

• Compiler: Richard Allen
• 01/19/2009 midnight

2.1 Short description of the Technology

Definition of the Technology:

Cultivation of fodder crops on marginal lands and terrace risers

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

Fodder plays a major role in the crop-livestock-manure-soil nutrient cycle on farms in the middle mountains of the Himalayas. Livestock convert fodder shrubs and grasses from the forest, crop residues, and other fodder into manure through digestion. However, in the middle hills of Nepal the lack of availability of good quality fodder often limits not only, the productivity of livestock, but also reduces the nitrogen content of animal dung if, for example, only cereal crop residues, are fed to the animals.
In earlier times, livestock were left to graze in the forests and on community lands. The animals sought out their own food and were only assembled for milking and to protect them from wild animals. With the introduction of stall-feeding, the demand for fodder has increased greatly with a subsequent large increase in women’s workload as it is they who are responsible for collecting the fodder.
Most fodder is collected in forest areas, and most livestock manure is applied to arable land, in particular to rainfed fields. This results in a net transfer of nutrients from forest areas to arable lands. It is estimated that, in this way, about 3 to 7 ha of forest land is needed to maintain 1 ha of arable land without degrading the state of the forest. In addition to reducing the availability of forest resources, the widespread closure of community forests has diminished access to fodder during certain times of the year. All this is putting serious pressure on the remaining unprotected forest resources.
Marginal lands and terrace risers offer an opportunity to reduce this pressure. The planting of grasses and shrubs suitable for fodder on these areas not only increases fodder availability but also reduces erosion and landslides that originate in these areas. If leguminous fodder species are planted, they increase soil fertility by increasing the nitrogen content in soils.

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:

Nepal

Specify the spread of the Technology:

• evenly spread over an area

Map

×

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

• improve production
• reduce, prevent, restore land degradation

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

Cropland

• Annual cropping

Annual cropping - Specify crops:

• fodder crops - grasses
• fodder crops - other

Comments:

Major land use problems (compiler’s opinion): Increasing livestock numbers causing the degradation of unprotected forest areas. The closure of large areas of community managed forests to grazing and fodder collection is putting more pressure on unprotected forest areas and increasing the demand for alternative sources of fodder and better quality fodder.

3.5 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• integrated crop-livestock management
• improved ground/ vegetation cover

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

vegetative measures

• V2: Grasses and perennial herbaceous plants

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)

3.8 Prevention, reduction, or restoration of land degradation

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

• reduce land degradation

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

4.2 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

Specify currency used for cost calculations:

• USD

4.3 Establishment activities

4.4 Costs and inputs needed for establishment

4.5 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

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

Comments:

Cost as in January 2007

4.7 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

Cost ofseeds or saplings/seedlings depends on species.

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

Comments and further specifications on topography:

Slopes on average: Also moderate (6-10%), rolling (11-15%) and hilly (16-30%)

Landforms: Also footslopes

Altitudinal zone: Also 1000-1500 m a.s.l. and 1500-2000 m a.s.l.

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

Indicate other relevant characteristics of the land users:

Off-farm income specification: In most farm households, off-farm income plays at least a minor and increasingly a major role. Occasional opportunities for off-farm income present themselves in the form of daily labour wages. Some households’ members receive regular salaries, whilst an increasing number of Nepalis are working in India, the Middle East, Malaysia, and elsewhere and sending remittance incomes home.

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
• individual, titled

Land use rights:

• leased
• individual

Comments:

sharecropping between owner and tenant

6.1 On-site impacts the Technology has shown

Socio-economic impacts

Production

Income and costs

Other socio-economic impacts

Ecological impacts

Biodiversity: vegetation, animals

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

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

• 51-90%

Comments:

Comments on spontaneous adoption: 80% of the Sfarmers exposed to this technology by SSMP adopted it. 30% farmers with or without direct reference to fodder promotion) have planted a variety of new fodder species About 10% of local farmers not involved in SSMP have adopted the technology.

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

7.2 References to available publications

Title, author, year, ISBN:

NAF; SSMP (2002) Agroforestry Training Manual (in Nepali). Kathmandu: Nepal Agroforestry Foundation and Sustainable Soil Management Programme

Available from where? Costs?

SSMP