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

When were the data compiled (in the field)?

25/5/2017

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:

Lowlands have relatively high water tables and contain sufficient soil moisture to permit potatoes growing. Potatoes can grow in such areas compared to other staple crops like cassava.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

Northern Uganda is mainly semi-arid, receiving rainfall amounts ranging from 600-1000 mm annually. Under these conditions, cultivation of crops is restricted to drought resistant ones such as cassava, sorghum, simsim and ground nuts. Farmers have realized that potatoes are a potential food security crop because they can endure more soil moisture that is available in the lowlands during the dry season. Thus, cultivation of potatoes in wetlands is becoming common because wetlands retain water for longer periods and potatoes, when cultivated, ensure food security during the dry season, a time when other crops are not available, thus bridging the food deficit months.

Sometimes the water in the swamp is more than the potatoes can tolerate. To address this challenge, mounds are made in the garden and the potato vines are planted on the mound rather than in the valley. The size of the mound is approximately one meter wide. The optimum spacing between mounds is also one meter. Potato vines are planted usually at the start of the dry season because this is when the water in the wetlands begins to recede. This is either in June or December. The vines are obtained from neighboring farmers. Weeding is done by manually removing the weeds with either hands or with a hoe. Most of the cultivars in the area are harvested after four months.

The major benefits of this potato growing is to ensure food availability during the dry season when most crops are not available. It also protects the soil as cover-crop, from soil erosion, food security maintaining the tuber for early planting the next season. The major input needed are tuber, labour and land. The benefits of planting potatoes include preventing soil erosion, food and income security. The land user finds the potato crop easy to manage, maturing faster, and being a source of food and income at the same time. Vines from the potato gardens are also used as forage for cows and goats.

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 land users' innovation

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

• adapt to climate change/ extremes and its impacts
• mitigate climate change 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

3.4 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• rotational systems (crop rotation, fallows, shifting cultivation)
• ground water management

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

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

Comments:

Other Land related challenge is climate change in terms of increased dry spells

3.8 Prevention, reduction, or restoration of land degradation

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

• adapt to land degradation

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

4.2 Technical specifications/ explanations of technical drawing

Mounds are to be 0.3 m high and 1.0 m wide. On these mounds potato vines are planted.
Conventional crop management practices are followed including weeding and spraying if needed.

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.	Making mounds	Structural	At the start of the season (dry season)
2.	Planting	Agronomic	Once at the start of the establishment
3.	Weeding	Agronomic	After one month from planting
4.	Harvesting	Agronomic	After 5 months from planting

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	Making mounds	Acre	1.0	200000.0	200000.0	100.0
Labour	Weeding	Acre	1.0	50000.0	50000.0	100.0
Labour	Harvesting	Acre	1.0	100000.0	100000.0	100.0
Plant material	Vines	Heaps	20.0	10000.0	200000.0	100.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology					550000.0

4.6 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing/ frequency
1.	Planting	Agronomic	Once at the start of the establishment
2.	Weeding	Agronomic	One month after planting
3.	Harvesting	Management	Five months after planting

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

If possible, break down the costs of maintenance according to the following table, specifying inputs and costs per input. If you are unable to break down the costs, give an estimation of the total costs of maintaining the Technology:

50000.0

	Specify input	Unit	Quantity	Costs per Unit	Total costs per input	% of costs borne by land users
Labour	Planting	Acre	1.0	200000.0	200000.0	100.0
Labour	Weeding	Acre	1.0	100000.0	100000.0	100.0
Labour	Harvesting	Acre	1.0	150000.0	150000.0	100.0
Plant material	Vines	Heaps	20.0	10000.0	200000.0	100.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology					650000.0

4.8 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

Purchase of tuber during the month of December

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

Indicate if the Technology is specifically applied in:

• convex situations

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

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 rainfall		increase	not 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)?

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
Does not require expert knowledge to be implemented
Potato are an important staple crop that farmers rely on for food and income
Potato vines can also be used as fodder after harvesting the crop

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?
Too much sub surface water after the wet season can spoil the subsequent crop due to dumping-off	Avoid planting the crop when the water levels are still high in the lowland
Some potato cultivars are sensitive to high moisture content	Select the suitable cultivar to plant in the lowlands, seek advise from extension staff

7.1 Methods/ sources of information