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)

Uganda Landcare Network (ULN) - Uganda

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

When were the data compiled (in the field)?

12/5/2017

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:

A banana plantation established in an area surrounded by natural woodland vegetation is protected from excessive drought and winds, ensuring continuous production and increased income throughout the year

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

Strong dry winds in the plains of northern Uganda can be a serious challenge during dry periods, destroying perennial crops and farm structures. To overcome this challenge, farmers maintain blocks of natural vegetation around their plantations. In the case of this technology, the farmer has maintained natural vegetation around his banana plantation. Within the plantation there are other crops such as vegetables. The trees in the natural vegetation provide shade to the crops and act as wind breaks to the banana plantation.

The size of the plantation is approximately 2 acres. On either side of the plantation is a strip of natural vegetation with a variety of trees species but mainly drought-tolerant species such as Cobretum molle, Albizia coriaria and Accia seyal. Under these trees are grasses which are some times used for livestock. The distance between the banana plantation and the natural woodland is approximately 3 meters and the natural vegetation is approximately 5 meters wide. During the dry season the tall grass from the natural vegetation, if not used for livestock, is harvested and used as mulch in the banana plantation. This also serves to reduce the fire hazard that may spread from the natural vegetation into the plantations. It is also from the farmer's natural vegetation that sometimes poles are cut and used to support heavy bunches of growing bananas.

Generally, the technology does not require a lot of inputs, since bananas are a perennial crop requiring no regular purchase of seeds/seedlings. The major inputs that require regular supply are grass mulch and manure. The farmer usually gets the grass mulch from the natural woodland next to the bananas. He obtains the manure from either of his five cows in the Kraal or purchases additional animal manure from neighbors. On average the farmer adds three tons of manure each year and about a ton of mulch per year. The advantage is that mulch also decomposes easily and adds to the soil carbon and therefore the fertility of the soil. The labor for the work in the plantation is mainly household-based.

To be able to maintain his technology, the farmers need to have adequate labor to maintain a clear separation between the banana plantation and the natural woodland. The farmers also requires labor to manage the grass in the natural woodland so that it does not out grow to pose a fire risk and provide habitat for other dangerous animals like snakes and rodents.

This technology is suitable in areas where grazing is not a major farming activity because livestock can easily cross from the woodland into the banana plantation and destroy it in a very short time.

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:

2009

2.7 Introduction of the Technology

Specify how the Technology was introduced:

• through land users' innovation

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

• reduce risk of disasters
• adapt to climate change/ extremes and its impacts

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

3.3 Further information about land use

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

• rainfed

Number of growing seasons per year:

• 2

Specify:

March to May and September to November

3.4 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• agroforestry
• windbreak/ shelterbelt
• improved ground/ vegetation cover

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)

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

Comments:

The area is fenced using local material such as poles from the woodland and sometimes live fences

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

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

4.2 Technical specifications/ explanations of technical drawing

Distance between banana plantation and woodland is approximately 5 meters with short grass (~ 3-5 cm height)
The width of the woodland is ~5 m
The banana plantation is ~ 2 acres

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):

Uganda Shillings

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

3500.0

4.4 Establishment activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing
1.	Slaching	Agronomic	Three times every season
2.	Manure application	Agronomic	At start of theraininy eason
3.	Mulching	Agronomic	At start of dry season

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	Slashing	Days	60.0	5000.0	300000.0	100.0
Labour	Manure application	Days	20.0	5000.0	100000.0	100.0
Labour	Mulching	Days	20.0	5000.0	100000.0	100.0
Plant material	Dry grass	Ton	1.0	100000.0	100000.0	100.0
Fertilizers and biocides	Animal manure	Ton	2.0	150000.0	300000.0	100.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology					900000.0

4.6 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing/ frequency
1.	Slashing	Agronomic	Three times a season
2.	Manure application	Agronomic	At start of rainy season
3.	Mulching	Agronomic	At start of dry season

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	Slashing	Days	60.0	5000.0	300000.0	100.0
Labour	Manure application	Days	20.0	5000.0	100000.0	100.0
Labour	Mulching	Days	20.0	5000.0	100000.0	100.0
Plant material	Dry grass	Ton	1.0	100000.0	100000.0	100.0
Fertilizers and biocides	Manure	Ton	2.0	150000.0	300000.0	100.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology					900000.0

4.8 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

Purchase and application of manure

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?

No

5.5 Biodiversity

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

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

Land ownership:

• individual, not titled

Land use rights:

• individual

Water use rights:

• individual

5.9 Access to services and infrastructure

6.1 On-site impacts the Technology has shown

Socio-economic impacts

Production

Income and costs

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

Climate-related extremes (disasters)

Meteorological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
local windstorm	moderately

Climatological disasters

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

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:

The farmer is able to realize some benefits within the first few years of establishment. However with time, benefits become more.

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?

• 0-10%

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 practices needed can be performed by the farmers without technical input
Multiple products from the gardens since bananas are continuous fruiters and the woodland provides continuous supply of fuel wood for domestic use

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
The woodland acts as a buffer against destruction by winds since bananas are very fragile crops under strong winds
The cost to maintaining the technology is generally, low, with no major external inputs

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?
The woodland adjacent to the banana plantation can acts as hiding place for wild animals as well as pests and diseases	Ensure that the woodland is properly cleared, maintaining low grass and not allowing the branches to overlap between trees
Land shortage cannot allow the expansion of the woodland buffer, thereby limiting effectiveness of the buffer	Alter the species composition of the woodland to include tall trees among the shorter ones

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view	How can they be overcome?
Bananas are susceptible to pests and diseases that may come from the woodland	Maintain proper plant hygiene in the banana plantation and use pesticides where necessary
Maintaining a banana plantation requires a lot of labor to apply manure and mulch	Apply mulch only when necessary
Bananas are easily damaged by drought, which is a common occurrence in northern Uganda	Maintain heavy mulch during the dry season to conserve soil moisture and ensure crop survival

7.1 Methods/ sources of information