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)

Resilient in Pastoralist Areas (RIPA)

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

International Development Enterprises - Ethiopia (iDE-Ethiopia) - United States

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:

The technology is a regenerative practice friendly to the environment.

2.1 Short description of the Technology

Definition of the Technology:

Panicum coloratum is a palatable tropical grass with high biomass production potential. It is grown in the irrigated fodder development areas of Dassenech district. Panicum is a fast-growing perennial which can be repeatedly harvested once it reaches maturity. It mitigates the issues of recurrent livestock feed shortage in dry periods – which are becoming worse with climate change.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

Irrigated fodder production is carried out by pastoralist groups in arid areas of South Omo. Among a number of fodder grasses, Panicum coloratum is a fast-growing species. Panicum is grown as livestock fodder, particularly for the dry season when feed availability is in short supply. It mitigates the issues of recurrent livestock feed shortages which are becoming worse with climate change. Also, growing fodder grass allows resource-poor pastoralist communities to generate income from the sale of fresh fodder, hay, and seed. Irrigating at least twice a week, good weed management, and fertilization ensure sustained production.

In Dassenech district of Southwest Ethiopia, Panicum’s annual fresh biomass and dry matter production potential is over 63 and 18 tons/ha, respectively. It can reach its first harvest after about 60 days and subsequently can be harvested every 45 days. Panicum germinates and establishes readily on any soil type under both irrigated and rainfed conditions. It is also drought tolerant and resilient to climate variability, and does particularly well on alluvial soils with high fertility. Panicum is mainly used for grazing, but it is also suitable for cut-and-carry feeding systems. Each member of the pastoralist group grows panicum on 0.04 ha of land. In the flood lowlands of the Omo River basin, panicum is known for tolerating periodic flooding, salinity, & disease.
Previously, the land users were unfamiliar with this particular grass and its associated management practices. Also, irrigating on a regular schedule and keeping the grass free from roaming animals adds a work burden to the pastoralist community. However, the Resilience in Pastoral Areas (RIPA) project has introduced and familiarized the community with fodder production and management practices. The project also assists in linking the output to sustainable market. In this regard, the contribution of the RIPA project of the International Development Enterprises (iDE) is immense. The pastoralists appreciate their livestock’s access to year-round feed, as well as the generation of income from the sale of fresh fodder, hay, and seed. Fodder production also creates year-round employment opportunity. However, the community's reliance on government and civic organization support for land preparation and access to irrigation water (conveyance services) might be considered a threat to ensuring sustainability of fodder development by the pastoralist groups.

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:

2021

2.7 Introduction of the Technology

Specify how the Technology was introduced:

• through projects/ external interventions

Comments (type of project, etc.):

Resilient Initiatives in Pastoralist Areas project of the International Development Enterprises has implemented fodder development along with other perennial crops such as banana as part of promoting resilient agriculture in the dry areas of South Omo Zone of SNNPRS.

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

• improve production
• reduce, prevent, restore land degradation
• reduce risk of disasters
• adapt to climate change/ extremes and its impacts
• create beneficial economic impact

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

Land use mixed within the same land unit:

No

Comments:

The site is pastoralist area who used to rely on flood retreat agriculture in the past. However, due to the construction of Gibe III hydroelectric power dam, the spill over during plenty of rain remain still as artificial lake over thousands of hectare for long period of time. As a result, the conventional agriculture practices abandoned. Thus, a shift to irrigation agriculture is in the process at least to produce fodder crops and other perennial crops such as banana for consumption and market.

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)

Land use mixed within the same land unit:

No

Comments:

The area used to receive short rain twice a year. However, rainfall distribution is unreliable. So, the introduced perennial fodder and banana production persist throughout the year using irrigation.

3.4 Water supply

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

• full irrigation

Comments:

Fodder and tropical fruit crop production is entirely practiced using full irrigation from Omo river.

3.5 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• pastoralism and grazing land management
• improved ground/ vegetation cover
• minimal soil disturbance

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

Comments:

Perennial fodder production contributes to SLM through permanent soil cover.

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

Comments:

As a perennial crop, the grass covers the ground permanently and reduces moisture loss to excessive evaporation in the dry areas.

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 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

Specify how costs and inputs were calculated:

• per Technology area

other/ national currency (specify):

Ethiopian Birr (ETB)

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

53.438

4.3 Establishment activities

	Activity	Timing (season)
1.	Clearing and land preparation	Any season for irrigated fodder production,
2.	Planting/sowing	During the start of season for irrigation fodder production.
3.	Fertilizing	At planting and at boot height.
4.	Irrigating the farm	Twice a week.
5.	Weeding	Twice starting 3- 4 weeks post planting.
6.	Harvesting the grass (fodder)	During harvest maturity.
7.	Hay making (bailing)	Post harvest.
8.	Seed collection, drying and cleaning	Harvesting season and post harvest.

Comments:

As fodder development is based on irrigation, it can be started any time/season of the year.

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	Clearing and land preparation	PDs	12.0	200.0	2400.0	50.0
Labour	Planting/sowing	PDs	5.0	100.0	500.0	100.0
Labour	Irrigating the farm	PDs	14.0	200.0	2800.0	100.0
Labour	Weeding (twice a season)	PDs	10.0	100.0	1000.0	100.0
Equipment	Spade	Pcs	1.0	500.0	500.0
Equipment	Hoes	Pcs	1.0	300.0	300.0
Plant material	Seed	kg	4.0	300.0	1200.0
Fertilizers and biocides	NSP	kg	50.0	50.0	2500.0
Other	Seed collection, drying and cleaning	PDs	10.0	200.0	2000.0	100.0
Other	Harvesting and hay making	PDs	10.0	200.0	2000.0	100.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology					15200.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology in USD					284.44

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

Other than cost of labor, some inputs and material costs are covered by the RIPA project of the iDE.

Comments:

Irrigation-based fodder development is in the pilot phase. There is growing interest among the government organization (Woreda Office of Agriculture) to adopt and scale up the promising development. Please note, the cost is estimated only for a season or one round of production. Once reaches its first harvest, Panicum can be harvested every other 45 days onward. Of course, it needs the application of necessary management practices, every season.

4.5 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

	Activity	Timing/ frequency
1.	Cleaning irrigation ditch	During off-season or before the start of next growing season.
2.	Fertilizer (NSP)	Twice: at the beginning of the season & when the fodder reaches boots height.
3.	Irrigating the farm	Twice a week.
4.	Weeding (2x)	Based on the density or prevalence of weeds.
5.	Seed collection, drying and cleaning	When the seed reaches harvest maturity.
6.	Harvesting and hay making	At harvest and post harvest.

Comments:

As there is no structure such as fodder banks, maintenance cost is not documented.

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	Cleaning irrigation ditch	PDs	5.0	200.0	1000.0	100.0
Labour	Irrigating the farm	PDs	12.0	200.0	2400.0	100.0
Labour	Weeding (at least twice during the growing season)	PDs	10.0	100.0	1000.0	100.0
Labour	Seed collection, drying and cleaning	PDs	10.0	200.0	2000.0	100.0
Equipment	Harvesting and hay making	PDs	10.0	200.0	2000.0	100.0
Fertilizers and biocides	NSP Fertilizers	kg	50.0	50.0	2500.0	100.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology					10900.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology in USD					203.97

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

NA

Comments:

The cost estimation is only for one irrigation season that may range from 45 days to 60 days or some more including the harvesting and drying of the outputs. Once established, the cost of production is gradually declining.

4.7 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

Economic crisis and increasing Inflation rate affect the establishment as well as maintenance costs. Particularly, fuel, fertilizer, and labor costs are consistently changing.

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

Indicate if the Technology is specifically applied in:

• not relevant

Comments and further specifications on topography:

The site is in the lowland around the mouth of Omo River basin.

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.

Soil pH is over 7 and the soil is slightly saline alluvial.

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:

Diversion/river water is used for irrigation. There is ample water provide that there is pump to convey the water to the nearby farm. In the rainy season, the river is turbid and full of eroded soil from the upstream catchments. However, the depth of the water table is variable based on the distance of the farm from the edge of the river. Around the main river basin, the water table is shallow but too deep as one go away from the river basin.

5.5 Biodiversity

Comments and further specifications on biodiversity:

Around the farmland, diversity of crops and vegetation is limited. Away from the farmland, there are a few lowland shrub species and faunas common to the dryland.

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

Indicate other relevant characteristics of the land users:

The water pump is used to convey water and the tractor for land preparation. Therefore, a mix of mechanization and manual systems are employed in the area. Irrigation land was allocated to the group but they partitioned and distributed to each member of the group.

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:

• group
• individual, not titled

Land use rights:

• communal (organized)
• individual

Water use rights:

• open access (unorganized)

Are land use rights based on a traditional legal system?

Yes

Specify:

The pastoralist, still freely move and settle where they think appropriate and shift after certain years.

Comments:

Apart from the irrigable land which are located around the river basin, land is openly accessible to the pastoralist community.

5.9 Access to services and infrastructure

Comments:

Access to facility and the services is mainly to those pastoralist community who are residing closer to the Omorate, the woreda capital.

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

Climate and disaster risk reduction

6.2 Off-site impacts the Technology has shown

Specify assessment of off-site impacts (measurements):

The fodder development is a pilot practice. Its up scaling will have a positive off-site effects to the surrounding areas.

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
annual rainfall		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?
heatwave	moderately
drought	well

Hydrological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
general (river) flood	very well
flash flood	well

Biological disasters

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

Comments:

Panicum has drought, flood and disease tolerating feature.

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 technology was piloted two years ago. The cost of establishing it is partly supported by the RIPA project. Land preparation and conveying irrigation water covered by the local government.

6.5 Adoption of the Technology

• single cases/ experimental

Comments:

So far, the pastoralist piloted the technology through government and NGO support.

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
Supply year round feed for the land users' livestock.
Allow pastoralists/agro-pastoralists to generate income from the collection and sale of fresh fodder, hay and seed.
The technology supplies feed that can be reserved for the emergency time through hay making.
Introduction of fodder production technology enables the pastoralist group access usufructs to irrigable land that promotes the changing in farming practices from entirely pastoralist to agro-pastoralist on a gradual basis.

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
The technology considered as one of the regenerative agricultural practices that have positive contribution to carbon sequestration.
It reduces risks of feed shortage during the extended dry season.
A prompt sources of income for the pastoralist community via the sale of fresh fodder, hay, and seed.
Feeding livestock on grass reduces methane production as compared to feeding them on processed feeds.
The onsite shattering of the seed increases the density of grass every other season. Thus, it improves the ground cover and production of huge biomass per unit of land.
Panicum harvested 15 cm high that simplify regrowth/tillering and propagation of the grass from the ratoon. The practice stimulates prompt ground cover and year-round sequestration of carbon.

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?
Access to irrigation facility and service is via government and project support.	Try to secure multiple sources of finance, and encourage market oriented production to enhance the pastoralist groups develop reliance on their own.
Smaller size of land is accessible to irrigation.	Increase intensification of fodder development and diversify sources of income via production and marketing of fresh fodder, hay, and the seed.
Shortage of baling machine to fasten the hay for simplicity of storage and transportation	Improve pastoralist access to the facility and services so that their resilience to feed shortage and associated issues are promptly increases.

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view	How can they be overcome?
Shortage of storage structure or fodder bank to store/ reserve the harvest for market and/or later uses.	To promote the establishment of storage or fodder bank by the land users group themselves, and try to find sources of finance to support them in this regard.
Lack of sustainable market links for Panicum seed.	Establish reliable market value chain with private suppliers/distributors to the other part of the country.
Lack of legume fodder species to improve the dietary value of the grass family.	Introduces important legume species with high biomass production potential or other leguminous tree species with multiple uses such as windbreak or as buffer plants around the periphery of the fodder farm.
Panicum needs longer time to reach harvest if intended for seed production that may dishearten the pastoralist to wait longer time.	Allocate separate plots for seed production, or else, make the right choice for the types of outputs that suits the pastoralist's urgent needs.

7.1 Methods/ sources of information

7.2 References to available publications

Title, author, year, ISBN:

ILRI. 2013. Colored Guinea grass (Panicum coloratum) for livestock feed on small-scale farm. ILRI Forage Factsheet.

Available from where? Costs?

Free online

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Hidosa, D., Hitiso, W. & Guyo, M. 2017. Biomass Production of different grass species available at irrigated lowland of Dassench woreda in Southwestern Ethiopia. Bangladesh Journal of Animal Science, 46 (3): 188-191.

Available from where? Costs?

Free online

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Hidosa, D., Adicha, A., Sultan, M., 2022. Production and Commercialization Status of Improved Panicum Grass Cultivation in the Lowland Livestock Production System of South Omo South-Western Ethiopia. Research on World Agricultural Economy, 3 (4): 694. DOI:10.36956/rwae.v3i4.694

Available from where? Costs?

Free online

7.3 Links to relevant online information

Title/ description:

Tropical Forage. 2020. Panicum coloratum

URL:

https://www.tropicalforages.info/text/entities/panicum_coloratum.htm

7.4 General comments

The questionnaire is very comprehensive and inclusive to socio-economic and environmental benefits, and the effects of a specific SLM technology.