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)

Integrated natural resources management in drought-prone and salt-affected agricultural production landscapes in Central Asia and Turkey ((CACILM-2))

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

1.5 Reference to Questionnaire(s) on SLM Approaches (documented using WOCAT)

2.1 Short description of the Technology

Definition of the Technology:

The introduction of sweet sorghum into rice crop rotations is one of the approaches to restoring degraded lands under conditions of irrigation water scarcity and secondary soil salinization, while also diversifying agricultural production in local communities through the development of a stable fodder base for livestock husbandry.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

Climate change and the resulting acute water deficit in the Shardara Reservoir and the Koksarai Counter-Regulator in recent years have become one of the main challenges for the agricultural sector of the Kyzylorda region, where rice cultivation is the dominant branch. Improving the socio-economic conditions of farming households is directly linked to the regulation of water consumption volumes and the efficiency of water resource use. One effective way to reduce dependence on water scarcity without compromising productivity and profitability is to diversify the cropping structure. For example, introducing low-water-demand and high-yield crops such as sweet sorghum into rice crop rotations.
1. Natural and Socio-Economic Conditions
The pilot site (Akzharma-1 farm) is located in the village of Akzharma, Syrdarya district, Kyzylorda region.
Agro-ecological conditions: The site lies within a semi-desert to desert arid zone. Soils are alluvial meadow-bog type with humus content of 0.6–0.8%. The average annual precipitation is 127–130 mm. The mean January temperature is –25.4°C, while in July it reaches +36°C. The elevation is 128 m above sea level.
Socio-economic profile of Akzharma village:
Population: 2,800 people
Households: 49
Registered small businesses: 162
Main livelihood activities:
Livestock husbandry: 3,478 head, including 2,150 cattle, 2,494 small ruminants, 1,166 horses, and 1,153 poultry.
Crop production: Rice (3,203 ha), alfalfa (1,472 ha), soybean (34 ha), potato (20 ha), vegetables (10 ha), melons (11 ha).
2. Key Characteristics of the Technology
Introducing sweet sorghum into rice rotations helps restore degraded saline soils, contributes to desalinization, and improves soil physical and chemical properties (pH, porosity, aeration, etc.). The technology supports diversification of local agricultural production, in particular by providing high-quality fodder for livestock, thereby strengthening opportunities for animal husbandry.
The technology has been implemented on a 20-hectare area within Akzharma-1 farm, Syrdarya district, Kyzylorda region.
3. Objectives and Functions of the Technology
Restore the fertility of saline soils by introducing alternative crops, specifically sweet sorghum, into rice crop rotations.
Maintain profitable agricultural production on saline soils under conditions of acute water scarcity.
4. Main Activities and Resources Required
Moldboard plowing to a depth of 25–27 cm (PLN-4-35 plow)
Leveling with MV-6 unit
Application of mineral fertilizers (N/P – 40/60 kg/ha) and incorporation with a BDT-7 harrow
Disking with BDT-7 harrow
Harrowing with BZT-1 harrow
Sowing sweet sorghum (Kazakhstan-16 or Kazakhstan-20) at a rate of 25 kg/ha (sown with SZT 3.6 m seeder in early April); sowing method – continuous row, row spacing 60 cm, seed depth 2–3 cm
Rolling with smooth rollers
Cultivation and additional fertilizer application
Harvesting for hay (late July–early August) with combine harvester
Estimated costs:
The cost of 1 ha, including soil preparation, seed, fertilizer, sowing, fertilizer application, and harvesting, is 94,015 KZT (USD 220.68).
5. Advantages and Impacts of the Technology
Restores degraded saline soils, contributes to desalinization
Promotes water and resource efficiency
Provides stable yields, even in dry years
Supports diversification of production and development of a strong fodder base for livestock husbandry
6. Farmers’ Perceptions
Positive aspects:
Opportunity to use severely degraded saline lands for profitable production under acute water scarcity
Guaranteed hay yields even in drought years
Negative aspects:
Additional costs for purchasing or renting equipment (cultivator, direct-harvest combine)
Limited availability of high-quality seed due to lack of specialized seed farms

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.):

FAO-GEF Project “Integrated Natural Resources Management in Drought-Prone and Salt-Affected Agricultural Production Landscapes in Central Asia and Turkey (CACILM-2)” (GCP/SEC/293/GFF)

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

• improve production
• reduce, prevent, restore land degradation
• 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

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

3.4 Water supply

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

• full irrigation

Comments:

The only source of irrigation water is the Syr Darya River

3.5 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• rotational systems (crop rotation, fallows, shifting cultivation)
• improved ground/ vegetation cover

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

Comments:

The absence of drainage systems in rice fields, combined with the annual application of mineral fertilizers, leads to the formation of a subsurface ‘hardpan,’ which impedes the movement of air, water, and nutrients

3.8 Prevention, reduction, or restoration of land degradation

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

• reduce land degradation
• restore/ rehabilitate severely degraded land

Comments:

The soils in the pilot areas are degraded and highly saline.

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):

tenge

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

426.03

4.3 Establishment activities

	Activity	Timing (season)
1.	moldboard plowing to a depth of 22-25 cm (plow PN-8-35)	April
2.	leveling and compaction of the topsoil layer with the MV-6 unit	April
3.	application of mineral fertilizers (nitrogen/phosphorus - 40/60 kg/ha)	April
4.	disking (harrow BDT-7)	April
5.	harrowing (harrow BZT-1)	April
6.	seed treatment with insectofungicides (PS-25)	April
7.	sowing of sugar sorghum (Kazakhstan-16, Kazakhstan-20) with a seeding rate of 25 kg/ha (seeder SZT 3.6 m) sowing method - continuous row, with a row spacing of 30 cm, seed placement depth - 2-3 cm.	April
8.	smooth roller rolling (SR)	April
9.	Cultivation and fertilization	July
10.	hay harvesting	August-September

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	Agrotechnical work (plowing, leveling and compacting the topsoil, fertilizing, disking, harrowing, seed treatment, sowing, rolling, cultivation and fertilizing, harvesting)	ha	1.0	24144.05	24144.05	100.0
Equipment	depreciation	ha	1.0	19248.0	19248.0	100.0
Equipment	current repairs, spare parts	ha	1.0	3018.0	3018.0	100.0
Plant material	sweet sorghum seeds variety Kazakhstanskoe-20	kg	25.0	150.0	3750.0
Fertilizers and biocides	ammonium sulfate	kg	200.0	86.0	17200.0	100.0
Fertilizers and biocides	microfertilizer Extrasol	l	3.0	2000.0	6000.0	100.0
Fertilizers and biocides	seed dressings Yunta	l	0.0375	13000.0	487.5	100.0
Other	fuels and lubricants	l	108.06	174.0	18802.44	100.0
Other	other expenses	ha	1.0	1365.0	1365.0	100.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology					94014.99
Total costs for establishment of the Technology in USD					220.68

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

Within the framework of the FAO-GEF project “Integrated Natural Resources Management in Drought-Prone and Salt-Affected Agricultural Production Landscapes in Central Asia and Turkey (CACILM-2)” (GCP/SEC/293/GFF)

4.5 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

	Activity	Timing/ frequency
1.	moldboard plowing to a depth of 22-25 cm (plow PN-8-35)	April
2.	leveling and compaction of the top layer of soil with the MV-6 unit	April
3.	application of mineral fertilizers (nitrogen/phosphorus - 40/60 kg/ha)	April
4.	disking (harrow BDT-7)	April
5.	harrowing (harrow BZT-1)	April
6.	seed treatment with insectofungicides (PS-25)	April
7.	sowing of sugar sorghum (Kazakhstanskoe-16, Kazakhstanskoe-20) with a seeding rate of 25 kg/ha (seeder SZT 3.6 m) sowing method - continuous row, with a row spacing of 30 cm, seed placement depth - 2-3 cm.	April
8.	smooth roller rolling (SR)	April
9.	Cultivation and fertilization	July
10.	hay harvesting	August-September

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	Agrotechnical works (plowing, leveling and compaction of the topsoil, fertilization, disking, harrowing, seed treatment, sowing, rolling, cultivation and fertilization, harvesting)	ha	1.0	24144.05	24144.05	100.0
Equipment	depreciation	ha	1.0	19248.0	19248.0	100.0
Equipment	current repairs	ha	1.0	3018.0	3018.0	100.0
Plant material	sweet sorghum seeds variety Kazakhstan-20	kg	25.0	150.0	3750.0
Fertilizers and biocides	ammonium sulfate	kg	200.0	86.0	17200.0	100.0
Fertilizers and biocides	microfertilizer Extrasol	l	3.0	2000.0	6000.0	100.0
Fertilizers and biocides	seed dressings Yunta	l	0.0375	13000.0	487.5	100.0
Other	fuels and lubricants	l	108.06	174.0	18802.44
Other	other expenses	ha	1.0	1365.0	1365.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology					94014.99
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology in USD					220.68

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

Within the framework of the FAO-GEF project “Integrated Natural Resources Management in Drought-Prone and Salt-Affected Agricultural Production Landscapes in Central Asia and Turkey (CACILM-2)” (GCP/SEC/293/GFF)

4.7 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

The cost of fuels and lubricants (F&L), mineral fertilizers and seeds.

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

Indicate if the Technology is specifically applied in:

• not relevant

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 type - alluvial-meadow marsh, pH 9, salinization type - sulfate, salinization degree - high, content: N - 8.4 mg/kg, HCO3 - 0.006%, Cl -0.085%, Na - 0.052%, Ca - 0.24%, Mg - 0.32%

5.4 Water availability and quality

Is water salinity a problem?

Yes

Specify:

Water mineralization from 1.1 to 3.2 g/l, chloride-sulfate-sodium composition

Is flooding of the area occurring?

No

Comments and further specifications on water quality and quantity:

Water mineralization from 1.1 to 3.2 g/l, chloride-sulfate-sodium composition

5.5 Biodiversity

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

Indicate other relevant characteristics of the land users:

Lack of funds to restore infrastructure components such as irrigation and drainage networks

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:

• state

Land use rights:

• leased

Water use rights:

• communal (organized)

Are land use rights based on a traditional legal system?

Yes

Specify:

Lease for a period of 49 years, according to the Land Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan

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

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	increase or decrease	How does the Technology cope with it?
annual temperature		increase	well
seasonal temperature	summer	increase	well
annual rainfall		decrease	well
seasonal rainfall	summer	decrease	well

Climate-related extremes (disasters)

Meteorological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
local sandstorm/ duststorm	moderately

Climatological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
heatwave	well
drought	well

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

• single cases/ experimental

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

500 ha

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

• 0-10%

Comments:

The project provided seeds, advice and training to farmers free of charge. The remaining costs were covered by the land users.

6.6 Adaptation

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

Yes

If yes, indicate to which changing conditions it was adapted:

• climatic change/ extremes

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

Sweet sorghum was used to diversify crop production in the traditional rice-growing region, due to increasing climate aridity and growing shortage of irrigation water.

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view
The yield of cultivated crops has increased (sorghum instead of rice).
The feed base for livestock farming has been strengthened.
The economic situation of farmers (profitability) has improved.

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
Restoration of degraded (highly saline) soils, improvement of physical and mechanical properties of the soil.
Diversification of agricultural production in a traditional rice-growing region.
Water conservation.

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?
Additional costs for the purchase or rental of specialized agricultural equipment (cultivators, combines for direct combining).	Cooperation of farmers for the joint purchase or lease of specialized agricultural equipment or the organization of machine and tractor stations (MTS).
Shortage of quality seed material for sweet sorghum.	Organization of specialized seed farms.

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view	How can they be overcome?
Features of the sugar sorghum crop, in particular - a short period for sowing (in the conditions of the Kyzylorda region - several days, when the lowest soil moisture capacity (LMC) is not lower than 70%.	Strict adherence to agronomic sowing dates.
Shortage of quality seed material for sugar sorghum. The one available on the market is contaminated or mixed.	Organization of specialized seed farms.

7.1 Methods/ sources of information

7.2 References to available publications

Title, author, year, ISBN:

-

Available from where? Costs?

-

7.3 Links to relevant online information

Title/ description:

Video "INTRODUCTION OF SUGAR SORGHUM INTO RICE CROP ROTATION IN KYZYLORDA REGION" with Russian subtitles

URL:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sebEZZcoRbM

7.4 General comments

Section 2.4 for video materials suggests uploading them to Vimeo.com or Youtube.com. But there is no window for placing a link to Youtube.com, unfortunately.