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)

Scaling-up SLM practices by smallholder farmers (IFAD)

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

CDE Centre for Development and Environment (CDE Centre for Development and Environment) - Switzerland

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

Comments:

Reclaimed pastures from crop land are used for grazing the cows.

2.1 Short description of the Technology

Definition of the Technology:

Dairy cattle (Friesian) are grazed on indigenous pastures to promotes conservation of the indigenous grass species (guinea grass), which protects the soil against soil erosion and promotes biodiversity.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

Indigenous pasture-based dairy farming is a balance between managing the pasture and the cows to maximize sustainable profit and promotes conservation of the indigenous grass species which protects the soil against soil erosion and promotes biodiversity. Northern Uganda has tropical savannah climate which receives moderate amount of rainfall ranging from 750-1000mm per annum. This is sometimes characterised by prolonged dry spells which hamper other economic activities like crop production. Therefore, to avoid the climatic shocks, this technology was introduced by the land user to diversify his economic activity other than only relying on crop production. The land user is a typical subsistence farmer whose major source of income depends on dairy farming to support his livelihood.
In this SLM technology, indigenous pastures are conserved for dairy farming. This is due to the existence of savannah grassland vegetation which provide abundant pastures for cattle grazing. This has favoured the rearing of Friesian cow on a flat landscape. A 30x40meters land was highly preserved for this technology. Five (5) cows are kept on this grazing field occupied by natural pasture (elephant grass) that the land user conserve. These grass are nutritious and the cows healthily and freely graze on them during wet and dry season. However, their movement is controlled by the headsman to avoid crop damage.
In order to maintain these grasses, during dry season, the land user creates a fire line around the conserved grazing area. This is to prevent the spread of wild fire from the nearby bush since it is a serious occurrence in the community. The conserved grass dries up during dry season but the dairy cows graze on it and can still produce high volume of milk as during the wet season. A cow produces daily 15 to 20 litters, they are milked twice a day and the milk is taken to town for sale. Soda ash are given to the cows to raise their appetite for pastures and water. Cows are source of milk, which is sold to generate revenue to the farmer for school fees, medications and cow dung is applied in orchard gardens and tree plantations to boost soil fertility.
To establish this technology, One Friesian cow were donated to the land user by a government project and a grazing field was secured which used to be for crop growing. Water tank placed on the grazing field. The grasses were conserved for the cow and shrub trees also protected for shade. With the help of artificial insemination, more calves were produce and today the land user have five cows that freely graze the area although their movement is controlled by the headsman.
This technology conserve grasses which cover the soil from the effects of soil erosion, reduce incidence of wild fire in the area, the shrubs trees are also protected to provide shade to the cows in the grazing field which promotes farmer managed natural regeneration and the grazing cows spread dung around the field which boost soil fertility.
During dry spells pasture growth is retarded and also becomes less nutritious that makes the cows to become skinny and water shortages. Besides, these cows are prone to pests and disease attacks that requires constant monitoring and treatment.

2.3 Photos of the Technology

2.4 Videos of the Technology

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

2.6 Date of implementation

Indicate year of implementation:

2012

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.):

knowledge provided by Dairy Development Authority (DDA).

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

• improve production
• reduce, prevent, restore land degradation
• conserve ecosystem
• preserve/ improve biodiversity
• adapt to climate change/ extremes and its impacts
• create beneficial economic impact

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

Comments:

Specify:

cows are milk on a daily basis and one cows generates 15-20 litres of milk
Livestock density (if relevant):

Five (5) cows

artificial insemination done to acquire a calf.

3.3 Has land use changed due to the implementation of the Technology?

3.4 Water supply

Water supply for the land on which the Technology is applied:

• rainfed

Comments:

pastures depends on rain for growth

Water supply for the land on which the Technology is applied:

rainfed

Comments:

pastures depends on rain for growth
Number of growing seasons per year:

2

3.5 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• agroforestry
• pastoralism and grazing land management
• improved plant varieties/ animal breeds

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

Comments:

crop production garden was converted into a grazing ground.

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

Comments:

Dairy farming protects the soil from human induced activities like crop cultivation which exposes the top soils for erosion.

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:

promotes soil conservation

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

4.2 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

Specify how costs and inputs were calculated:

• per Technology area

other/ national currency (specify):

UGX

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

3718.0

4.3 Establishment activities

	Activity	Timing (season)
1.	clearing thony trees	dry season
2.	regeneration of pastures	dry season
3.	constructing cattle shade	dry and wet

Comments:

Dairy farming is easy to manage by a a farmer.

4.4 Costs and inputs needed for establishment

Comments:

Its quite expensive at the initial stage of technology establishment but maintenance is easy.

4.5 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

	Activity	Timing/ frequency
1.	Slashing the over grown grass	dry and wet
2.	constant removal of thony trees	dry and wet
3.	Refilling the water tank	wet and dry season
4.	Rotational pegging	Dry and wet seasons
5.	Taking/returing of cows to kraal every evening	dry and wet seasons
6.	Replacing ropes to tie the cows during pegging	dry and wet seasons

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

Comments:

The management is easy by the farmer.

4.7 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

The labour for firebreaks during dry seasons and maintaining the farm.

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

Indicate if the Technology is specifically applied in:

• not relevant

Comments and further specifications on topography:

generally flat landscape.

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.

fertile soil that support plant growth

5.4 Water availability and quality

Is water salinity a problem?

No

Is flooding of the area occurring?

No

Comments and further specifications on water quality and quantity:

water is safe for animal consumption.

5.5 Biodiversity

Comments and further specifications on biodiversity:

cows,goats,wild rats and plant species like shrub trees, grass all coexist in the area.

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

Indicate other relevant characteristics of the land users:

the land user supply a dairy in town where his farm milk are sold.

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:

• communal (organized)

Comments:

need to acquire land title for security purposes.

5.9 Access to services and infrastructure

6.1 On-site impacts the Technology has shown

Socio-economic impacts

Production

Water availability and quality

Income and costs

Socio-cultural impacts

Ecological impacts

Soil

Biodiversity: vegetation, animals

Climate and disaster risk reduction

6.2 Off-site impacts the Technology has shown

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

	Season	increase or decrease	How does the Technology cope with it?
annual temperature		increase	moderately
seasonal temperature	dry season	increase	moderately
annual rainfall		decrease	moderately
seasonal rainfall	wet/ rainy season	decrease	moderately

Climate-related extremes (disasters)

Meteorological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
local rainstorm	moderately
local thunderstorm	moderately
local hailstorm	moderately

Climatological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
heatwave	moderately
drought	moderately
land fire	moderately

Biological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
epidemic diseases	moderately
insect/ worm infestation	moderately

Comments:

the dairy animals are healthy

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:

Dairy cows produces a calf once a year after artificial insemination.

6.5 Adoption of the Technology

• 1-10%

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

05 household

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

• 0-10%

Comments:

Farmers uses their own capital.

6.6 Adaptation

Has the Technology been modified recently to adapt to changing conditions?

Yes

If yes, indicate to which changing conditions it was adapted:

• climatic change/ extremes

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view
Soils are protected from the effects of erosion.
Cow dungs are used as manure on orchard gardens.

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
Conservation of soil and improved soil fertility.
Vegetation modifies the micro climate through the conserved pastures.
Land protections from degradation by erosion.

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?
Pests and diseases that affects the cows.	Spraying and treatments.
Inadequate pastures during dry seasons.	Supplement with maize brands,banana leaves, and hey.

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view	How can they be overcome?
Water shortage during dry season.	Planning to build a better and larger tank.
Failure of artificial insemination.	Need to acquire a Friesian bull.

7.1 Methods/ sources of information