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

When were the data compiled (in the field)?

09/05/2017

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:

Taungya agro-forestry system (citrus,maize and cassava) involves the planting of crops in young tree plantations. The food crops are normally planted with trees to provide shade for the young seedlings especially during the dry season; the crop litter acts as mulch and compost after decomposition thereby regulating soil temperature, and improving soil moisture retention.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

The Taungya Agroforestry farming practice is promoted in Northern Uganda that allows farmers to cultivate food crops in young tree plantations for increased production, food security, soil fertility improvement and household income. The practice was started in Malaysia in 1896 and because of the increase in average annual temperatures in Uganda, it is gradually gaining momentum in Uganda.

This technology was established on 1.6 ha of land out of 10 ha owned by the farmer. It lies on a gentle slope and stretched to the wetland. On one field citrus (citrus sinensis) was planted as the major crop the other crops grown include; maize (zea mays) local variety and cassava an improved variety (manihot esculenta) NASE14.

The citrus is grown for purely commercial purposes, the maize and cassava grown for food security and also provides shade for the young citrus trees especially during the dry season.

Establishing the system involved bush clearing and ox ploughing. Digging planting holes, applying manure and drainage channels dug after the seedlings had firmly established.

The citrus seedlings were planted in 90 cm × 90 cm × 45 cm (width × length × depth) planting holes, excavated to conserve soil moisture during prolonged dry spells. The citrus spacing was 8 m × 8 m.

Within the citrus field, 30cm × 30 m mini drainage channels were made to drain excess water during the rainy season. The cassava was planted at 1 m × 1 m between the spaces of the citrus seedlings and then the maize was staggered within the field. Approximately 500 citrus seedlings were planted within the 1.6 ha.

In Taungya systems, the annual crops provide shade for the young trees and generate leaf litter which acts as mulch for moisture conservation and also enhances soil fertility. Taungya systems also increase household income because they allow crop diversification within the same field. The drainage channels reduce flood incidences on the field.

The system has a few challenges, for example during harvesting of cassava the citrus roots can be damaged, which affects their performance.

Establishing the drainage channels was labor intensive, thus the channels fall short of the recommended 60 cm recommended width.

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:

2016

2.7 Introduction of the Technology

Specify how the Technology was introduced:

• through projects/ external interventions

Comments (type of project, etc.):

Government programme of Operation Wealth Creation

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

• improve production
• create beneficial economic impact

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

If land use has changed due to the implementation of the Technology, indicate land use before implementation of the Technology:

rice cultivation

3.3 Further information about land use

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

• rainfed

Comments:

Although the land is near the valley bottom the land user depends on rainfall.

Number of growing seasons per year:

• 2

Specify:

Maize is grown twice in a season but citrus is a perenial crop, the channels were dug in the first season.

3.4 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• agroforestry
• water diversion and drainage

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:

• < 0.1 km2 (10 ha)

Comments:

The agro forestry system occupies 1.6 ha of land

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

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:

The drainage channels were constructed to prevent flooding

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

4.2 Technical specifications/ explanations of technical drawing

The citrus was planted in a planting hole of, width(75cm), length(75cm), depth (30cm) at a spacing 3×3m. The cassava is an improved NARO ( National Agricultural Research Organisation) NASE14 planted at a spacing of 1m×1m. The maize, a local variety was planted staggeringly in the field. The drainage channels are narrow and measured at 30cm(width)×15cm(depth)×30m(length).

4.3 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

Specify how costs and inputs were calculated:

• per Technology area

other/ national currency (specify):

UGX

Indicate exchange rate from USD to local currency (if relevant): 1 USD =:

3650.0

4.4 Establishment activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing
1.	Bush clearing	Management	July 2016
2.	Ploughing	Agronomic	August 2016
3.	Digging planting basins	Agronomic	August 2016
4.	Manure application	Agronomic	September 2016
5.	Planting	Agronomic	September 2016
6.	Digging planting basins	Structural	September 2016
7.	Digging trenches	Structural	April 2017

Comments:

The Citrus was planted in 2016, cassava ,maize and the drainage channels were excavated

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	Bush clearing	people	5.0	75000.0	375000.0	100.0
Labour	Digging trenches	people	5.0	20000.0	100000.0	100.0
Labour	Ploughing	people	4.0	100000.0	400000.0	100.0
Labour	Diging basins	people	550.0	1000.0	550000.0	100.0
Equipment	Planting	holes	550.0	500.0	275000.0	100.0
Plant material	Citrus	plants	550.0	3000.0	1650000.0
Plant material	Cassava	bag	8.0	20000.0	160000.0
Fertilizers and biocides	Manure	bag	20.0	5000.0	100000.0
Other	Transport		10.0	60000.0	600000.0	100.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology					4210000.0

If land user bore less than 100% of costs, indicate who covered the remaining costs:

Planting material was given by Operation Wealth Creation but establishment costs were borne by land users

4.6 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing/ frequency
1.	Weeding	Agronomic	twice/season
2.	Spraying with fungicide	Agronomic	once/month

Comments:

The citrus has just established there maintenance activities are still few

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	Weeding	acres	4.0	80000.0	320000.0	100.0
Labour	Spraying	acres	4.0	20000.0	80000.0	100.0
Equipment	Spray pump	piece	1.0	120000.0	120000.0	100.0
Fertilizers and biocides	Pesticides	Litres	1.0	20000.0	20000.0	100.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology					540000.0

If land user bore less than 100% of costs, indicate who covered the remaining costs:

All costs were borne by the land user

4.8 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

Availability of labour

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

Indicate if the Technology is specifically applied in:

• not relevant

5.3 Soils

5.4 Water availability and quality

Is water salinity a problem?

No

Is flooding of the area occurring?

Yes

Regularity:

episodically

Comments and further specifications on water quality and quantity:

Drinking water is got from the borehole

5.5 Biodiversity

Comments and further specifications on biodiversity:

The farm has a diversity of crops including cassava, bananas and maize.

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

Indicate other relevant characteristics of the land users:

He owns a fish pond and a maize processing mill and he keeps records of all incomes and expenditure

5.7 Average area of land owned or leased by land users applying the Technology

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

• customary

• customary

Water use rights:

• communal (organized)

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

Biodiversity: vegetation, animals

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	Type of climatic change/ extreme	How does the Technology cope with it?
annual temperature		increase	well
annual rainfall		decrease	well

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:

It is only the maize that matures first therefore in the short term establishment costs are negative. Cassava and citrus are long term crops therefore benefits are realized much later.

6.5 Adoption of the Technology

• single cases/ experimental

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

• 90-100%

6.6 Adaptation

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

No

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view
The kind of ago-forestry improves food security
There is an increase in incomes from the sale of crops
The technology is good at reducing soil erosion.

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
The technology encourages optimal utilisation of land
Reduction of water logging

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?
Citrus takes long to mature	Inter-crop with annuals

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view	How can they be overcome?
Costly in terms of purchase of different seed varieties	Join farmers associations for agricultural loan to pay after harvest and sale.
If the cassava is not properly spaced it can interfere with root movement	Plant the trees away from drainage channel

7.1 Methods/ sources of information

7.3 Links to relevant information which is available online

Title/ description:

Evaluation of agroforestry systems for maize (Zea mays) productivity in South Africa

URL:

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/02571862.2018.1459898