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)

National Agriculture and Forestry Research Institute (NAFRI) - Lao People's Democratic Republic

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:

Turn the land in slope area that spring water flow through to the ponds water harvesting and reduces leaching on soil surface

2.1 Short description of the Technology

Definition of the Technology:

The methods for construction of earthen pond on slope area in adjacent to the village where it forms perennial water channels with clay soil which is unsuitable for other agricultural purposes. Therefore, Oxfam encouraged the construction of communal pond to create the interest for many households to build their own ponds.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

With the slope mountainous area, the top soil's soil nutrients and organisms are leached by heavy rain during wet season (July-November). This land was mainly used for Bong tree plantation (Nothaphoebe umbelliflora) and a variety of fruit trees; however, farmers have to wait for many years to be able to get small harvest from these trees. In 2004, an Oxfam Project promoted and encouraged local community to construct a communal mud-pond with a size of 50 x 40 m on steep terrains near the village. The project utilized the water resource potential by digging a pond for the villager's use as year round gravity fed water supply system. The project initially provided fish fingerlings (tilapia, silver barb: scientific name is Barbonymus gonionotus, and grass carp: scientific name is Ctenopharyngodon idella). The village residents realized immediately the significant benefits of the pond. Besides raising fishes in the pond, local people could use water for household gardening and as a source of drinking water for livestock (cow, water buffalo, pig, duck, etc). The pond is easy to manage and maintain whilst it is also more convenient to collect aquatic resources in proximity to the village. Typically, the potential site condition for pond construction is steep mountainous terrain with average slope of 10 -15 degrees. The soil property should be clay or silt clay which can hold the water.
Later after the community pond has been constructed some villagers who had potential land left constructed their individual ponds to improve their own production. This because they have seen the benefit of communal pond which can provide approximately 200 - 300 kg of fish per years. The individual pond construction reduced finally also conflicts caused by different issues of the community pond.
The construction of the pond is not very complicated. First, the water valves from GFS (provided by the Poverty Reduction Fund) turned off the sources water from the upstream area. Bush clearing, tree felling, stump removal and vegetation stockpiling (for burning) was then required on construction areaof the pond The pond size should be designed at a size of approx. 30 x 20m. Next step, the manual excavation works (by using hoes and shovels) should ba undertaken at upper section of the canal. The ground has to be excavated with an average depth between 0.5 – 1m and with the excavated soil pond dyke has to be alligned arround the pond area (square shape). The dykes soil has to be compressed to very compact barriers to prevent water leaking and dyke erosion (even small holes in dyke can rapidly enlarge, leading to the potential future damages and dyke bursting). The pond dyke’s height is 1.2m in hight and 2m wide with dyke slopes from the foot to the edge (where it also provides a walkway for feeding fishes or gardening) is approximately 45%. The design of the thick dyke is to ensure its stability from soil erosion as a result from a certain fish species that pierces the dyke slopes and rapid water flow. If the pond dyke is designed with fewer slopes, it will be susceptible to soil erosion. At least a drainage outlet is required with a P100 pipe for 4m long. The pipe should be installed with 1m height from the pond bottom at the outlet. This pipe will drain water and prevent overflow that may cause damage to the dyke. The pond area later need to be leveled by using hoes and shovels cut the undulating area. Then should be kept the pond bottom dry for at least one week to allow time for pond repair as well as to increase the production of the pond bottom, after that fill the water into the pond by turn on the inlet valves that have been turn off earlier. This pond construction method may require intensive labors and extensive time to complete. Funding for construction tools and construction method are still insufficient. However, this is the effective way to maximize water from perennial stream for integrated management and its benefits are considerable especially for fish consumption in household and selling for generate household income.

2.3 Photos 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:

2007

If precise year is not known, indicate approximate date:

• 10-50 years ago

2.7 Introduction of the Technology

Specify how the Technology was introduced:

• through projects/ external interventions

Comments (type of project, etc.):

Through an Oxfarm project encouragement

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

• reduce, prevent, restore land degradation
• create beneficial social impact

• reduce conflicts

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

Comments:

Number of growing seasons per year: 1
Livestock density: 2 pigs, 2 goat, 10 Poultry

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

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

• Yes (Please fill out the questions below with regard to the land use before implementation of the Technology)

Comments:

Before the application of the Technology the area was covered by several types of vegetation, and also by fruit trees of very low yield. It has taken a long period until the first harvest was possible. This compared to the short term benefits of fish raising.

3.4 Water supply

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

• rainfed

3.5 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• cross-slope measure
• water harvesting

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:

• adapt to land degradation

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 unit

other/ national currency (specify):

kip

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

8400.0

4.3 Establishment activities

	Activity	Timing (season)
1.	weeding and cleaning the area	before onset of rain, January - Mach
2.	Burning the vegetation	before onset of rain
3.	Making pond dyke and add outlet pipe	before onset of rain
4.	Fill the water into the pond	beginning of rain

4.4 Costs and inputs needed for establishment

	Specify input	Unit	Quantity	Costs per Unit	Total costs per input	% of costs borne by land users
Labour	labor for digging an individual fish pond (for individual fish pond )	person-day	180.0	35000.0	6300000.0	100.0
Equipment	hoe	piece	4.0	50000.0	200000.0	100.0
Equipment	shovel	piece	5.0	30000.0	150000.0	100.0
Equipment	knife	piece	2.0	30000.0	60000.0	100.0
Construction material	pipe	m	80.0	15000.0	1200000.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology					7910000.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology in USD					941.67

4.5 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

	Activity	Timing/ frequency
1.	Drainage	After harvesting, the end of rainy season
2.	Clean the pond bottom	After drainage
3.	Repair the pond dyke	Before on set of rain
4.	Refill the pond

4.6 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	labor for drainage	person-day	1.0	35000.0	35000.0	100.0
Labour	clean the pond bottom	person-day	2.0	35000.0	70000.0	100.0
Labour	labor for repair pond dyke	person-day	3.0	35000.0	105000.0	100.0
Labour	refill the pond	person-day	1.0	35000.0	35000.0	100.0
Equipment	hoe	piece	2.0	50000.0	100000.0	100.0
Equipment	shovel	piece	2.0	30000.0	60000.0	100.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology					405000.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology in USD					48.21

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

ທືນຜູ້ນຳໃຊ້ທີ່ດິນ 100%

4.7 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

Most important factors is labor for digging the pond

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 used by land users applying the Technology

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

Land ownership:

• communal/ village
• individual, titled

Land use rights:

• individual

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

Water availability and quality

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	increase or decrease	How does the Technology cope with it?
annual temperature		increase	moderately
seasonal temperature	wet/ rainy season	decrease	well
seasonal temperature	dry season	increase	very well
annual rainfall		increase	well
seasonal rainfall	wet/ rainy season	increase	well
seasonal rainfall	dry season	decrease	not well

Climate-related extremes (disasters)

Meteorological disasters

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

Climatological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
cold wave	not well
drought	not well

Hydrological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
flash flood	not well
landslide	moderately

Biological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
epidemic diseases	moderately

Other climate-related consequences

Other climate-related consequences

	How does the Technology cope with it?
reduced growing period	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)?

6.5 Adoption of the Technology

• 11-50%

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

5 households in Tangko village have their own private fish pond and some of them are taking the initiative to increase the number of individual fish pond where possible.

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

• 51-90%

6.6 Adaptation

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

Yes

other (specify):

Conflict mitigation

Specify adaptation of the Technology (design, material/ species, etc.):

At the beginning in 2004 only a community pond has been constructed. Later villagers started to construct also individual ponds to mitigate social tensions caused by weak coordination of maintenance work concerned with this community pond.

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view
As the individual fish ponds are located close to the house it is easily for the land users to go fishing and maintain whenever they want. This serves time.
All year round availability of water
Increased in food and nutrition security for household members

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
The villagers will be able to produce fish also for the next generation

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?
Onset of heavy rain can damage the pond dykes and leading to erosion
Floods in rainy season	Use bigger pipe for outlet
The technology is labour intensive regarding repair of the dykes	Use concrete dyke to make the dyke stronger

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view	How can they be overcome?
The land user have not real experience and knowledge on pond construction (with regard to flash floods)	Organize training course on pond construction
The pond owner have no experience and knowledge on fish propagation. But not being able to propagate fish properly by themselves may increase their expenses in agriculture needlessly.	Organize training course to get fish breeding and propagation expertise

7.1 Methods/ sources of information