Impression of Approach

Water Harvesting & Basin tillage (WHB) through demonstrations (Sudáfrica)

Descripción

Optimising rainwater use, reduce runoff by use of basins and reduce evaporation losses by applying a mulch (stone/reeds) on the runoff strip and in the basins.

Aims / objectives: Given the marginal soils of a clayey nature and/or slope terrain, coupled with erratic rainfall events, the technology aims to harvest available rain water and prevent runoff and soil loss. At present, PRAs are conducted in target areas and so far, people are eager to adopt the technology. The aim is to train them and assist in constructing the basins so that after a year they will be able to take over the project entirely even though the team will still be around to provide advice should the need arise.

Lugar

Lugar: Free State, Sudáfrica

Georreferencia de sitios seleccionados
  • 26.79908, -28.44973

Dato de inicio: 1996

Año de conclusión: 2002

Tipo de Enfoque
Map
Organogram

Metas del Enfoque y entorno facilitador

Propósitos/ objetivos principales del Enfoque
The Approach focused on SLM only (n/a)

*To make optimal use of pre-plant water that collects in basins from summer rains that fall during the fallow period. Saved water very beneficial during the reproductive growth of plants which often occurs when there is no rain.
*Prevention of soil and water loss through water erosion and runoff by the use of basins.
*Restriction of evaporation by the use of mulch. Straw is mostly preferred for its biodegradability although stone in comparative percentage cover is more effective.

The SLM Approach addressed the following problems: The target areas are marginal for crop production because of relatively low and erratic rainfall and dominantly clay soils on which the precipitation use efficiency is low because of high losses due to runoff and evaporation form the soul surface.
Condiciones que facilitan la implementación de la/s Tecnología/s aplicadas bajo el Enfoque
  • Marco de trabajo legal (tenencia de tierra, derechos de uso de tierra y agua): The existing land ownership, land use rights / water rights greatly helped the approach implementation: Land owners have little deeds and no law inhibits them from actively participating in the project.
Condiciones que impiden la implementación de la/s Tecnología/s aplicadas bajo el Enfoque
  • Normas y valores sociales/ culturales/ religiosos: People are resistant to change. Had to convince that they can get better yields with new technique. Treatment through the SLM Approach: Interacting with people as much as possible and comparing yields on farmers days after harvest.
  • Disponibilidad/ acceso a recursos y servicios financieros : Most can't afford inputs and to hire labour for construction of basins. Treatment through the SLM Approach: Team will ask for discounts from providers and encourage team work amongst community.

Participación y roles de las partes interesadas involucradas

Partes interesadas involucradas en el Enfoque y sus roles
¿Qué partes interesadas/ entidades implementadoras estuvieron involucradas en el Enfoque? Especifique las partes interesadas Describa los roles de las partes interesadas
usuarios locales de tierras/ comunidades locales Land owners and local chiefs. Approach can only be implemented with their acceptance and approval. Specific ethnic groups: Black, resource poor farmers Women tend to be submissive and docile. They look up to the men for decision making.
especialistas MST/consejeros agrícolas
gobierno nacional (planificadores, autoridades)
organización internacional ARC - ISCW
Involucramiento de los usuarios locales de tierras/ comunidades locales en las distintas fases del Enfoque
ninguno
pasivo
apoyo externo
interactivo
auto-movilización
iniciación/ motivación
x
rapid/participatory rural appraisal
planificación
x
implementación
x
casual labour
monitoreo y evaluación
x
Research
x
on-farm; On-station experiments are conducted at Glen to evaluate different SWC techniques. The new technology is transferred by means of on-farm demonstration plots and information days.
Flujograma

Organogram

La toma de decisiones en la selección de Tecnología MST

Las decisiones fueron tomadas por

  • solamente usuarios de tierras (autoiniciativa)
  • principalmente usuarios de tierras con el apoyo de especialistas MST
  • todos los actores relevantes, como parte de un enfoque participativo
  • principalmente por especialistas MST en consulta con usuarios de tierras
  • solo por especialistas MST
  • por políticos/ líderes

La toma de decisiones se basa en

  • la evaluación de conocimiento MST bien documentado (la toma de decisiones se basa en evidencia)
  • hallazgos de investigaciones
  • la experiencia personal y opiniones (no documentadas)

Apoyo técnico, fortalecimiento institucional y gestión del conocimiento

Las siguientes actividades o servicios fueron parte del enfoque
Construcción de capacidades/ capacitación
Se proporcionó capacitación a las siguientes partes interesadas
  • usuarios de tierras
  • personal de campo/ consejeros
  • extensionists/trainers
Forma de capacitación
  • en el contexto de trabajo
  • de agricultor a agricultor
  • áreas de demostración
  • reuniones públicas
  • cursos
Temas avanzados

Construction of basins; better understanding of the system in simple terms; the concept of infiltration, evapotranspiration; erosion and runoff.

Servicio de asesoría
Se proporcionó servicio de asesoría
  • en los campos de los usuarios de tierras
  • en centros permanentes
NDA Extension; Key elements: Assistance in technology transfer, Organising public meetings, Establishing & link between specialists and land users;
1) Advisory service was carried out through: government's existing extension system. Extension staff: mainly government employees
2) Target groups for extension: land users; Activities: Technology transfer

Advisory service is quite adequate to ensure the continuation of land conservation activities; With a little persuasion, they assist completely.
Fortalecimiento institucional
Se fortalecieron/ establecieron instituciones
  • no
  • sí, un poco
  • sí, moderadamente
  • sí, mucho
en el siguiente nivel
  • local
  • regional
  • nacional
Describa la institución, los roles y las responsabilidades, miembros, etc.
Tipo de apoyo
  • financiero
  • construcción de capacidades/ entrenamiento
  • equipo
Detalles adicionales
Monitoreo y evaluación
bio-physical aspects were regular monitored through measurements socio-cultural aspects were None monitored through measurements economic / production aspects were None monitored through measurements There were few changes in the Approach as a result of monitoring and evaluation: An organic mulch can be placed in the basins and on the runoff strip to stop evaporation losses. However cattle are allowed to graze in the land after the crop has been harvested. There after there is almost no organic mulch left to cover the soil surface. Stones were then suggested as an alternative mulch.
Investigación
La investigación trató los siguientes temas
  • sociología
  • economía/ marketing
  • ecología
  • tecnología

Research was carried out both on station and on-farm

Financiamiento y apoyo material externo

Presupuesto anual en dólares americanos para el componente MST
  • < 2,000
  • 2,000-10,000
  • 10,000-100,000
  • 100,000-1,000,000
  • > 1,000,000
Precise annual budget: n.d.
Approach costs were met by the following donors: national non-government (Water Research Commission): 100.0%
Los siguientes servicios o incentivos fueron proporcionados a los usuarios de las tierras
  • Apoyo financiero/material proporcionado a los usuarios de tierras
  • Subsidios para insumos específicos
  • Crédito
  • Otros incentivos o instrumentos
Apoyo financiero/material proporcionado a los usuarios de tierras
parcialmente financiado
totalmente financiado
equipo: maquinaria

x
equipo: maquinaria: herramientas

x
agrícola: semillas

x
agrícola: semillas: fertilizantes

x
Biocides

x

El trabajo de los usuarios de las tierras fue

Análisis de impacto y comentarios de conclusión

Impactos del Enfoque
No
Sí, un poco
Sí, moderadamente
Sí, mucho
¿El Enfoque ayudó a los usuarios de tierras a implementar y mantener Tecnologías MST?

x
Did other land users / projects adopt the Approach?

Team about to start a food security project adopting the WHB.

x
Motivación principal del usuario de la tierra para implementar MST
Sostenibilidad de las actividades del Enfoque
¿Pueden los usuarios de tierras sostener lo que se implementó mediante el Enfoque (sin apoyo externo)?

Conclusiones y lecciones aprendidas

Fortalezas: perspectiva del usuario de tierras
  • Produced higher yields.
Fortalezas: punto de vista del compilador o de otra persona recurso clave
  • Success of the WHB technique depends on suppressing water losses by runoff (R) and evaporation from the soil surface (Es). Measurements show that R has been reduced to zero and that Es has been reduced considerable, but still remains a serious avenue for water loss. (How to sustain/ enhance this strength: Future experimentation needs to focus on suppressing Es by any possible means.)
  • The WHB treatment gives considerably better yields than the conventional treatment. (How to sustain/ enhance this strength: Results from more seasons are needed to quantify the extent of this difference in a reliable way.)
  • Save on cultivation costs since no-till is employed.
  • The WHB technique is ell suited for use on very small pots, and even in townships. Many people in semi-arid areas could be usefully employed if this technique was widely adapted, and food security could be increased at the same time. (How to sustain/ enhance this strength: Extension work in this connection by the PSDA needs to be encourage.)
  • Soil loss from the land as a whole is zero. This is an important advantage over the conventional tillage in terms of sustainability.
Debilidades/ desventajas/ riesgos: perspectiva del usuario de tierrascómo sobreponerse
  • It is labour intensive to initially construct the basins, by hand.
Debilidades/ desventajas/ riesgos: punto de vista del compilador o de otra persona recurso clavecómo sobreponerse
  • There is some soil movement form the runoff area into the basins, ad basins may silt up over time.
  • Huge storms may overflow and break basin walls; and basins may need some maintenance.
  • In the case of small rainfall events all the water may not reach the basins.
  • Organic mulch may act as a sponge and absorb some of the rainwater.

Referencias

Compilador
  • Cobus Botha
Editors
Revisado por
  • Fabian Ottiger
Fecha de la implementación: 13 de enero de 2009
Últimas actualización: 11 de julio de 2017
Personas de referencia
Descripción completa en la base de datos de WOCAT
Datos MST vinculados
La documentación fue facilitada por
Institución Proyecto
Referencias claves
  • Optimising rainfall use efficiency for developing farmers with limited access to irrigation water, WRC Report No 878/1/00. Hensley, M; Botha, JJ; Anderson, JJ; Van Staden, PP & Du Toit, A. 2000Video 'In field Rainwater harvesting (1) Basic concepts to ensure agronomic and conservation sustainability in small scale farming'.The video illustrates the existing results obtained to enhance agronomic and conservation sustainability.: R120. Leon van Rensburg, P/B X01, Glen, 9360. Debruint@glen.agric.za
  • Optimising rainfall use efficiency for developing farmers with limited access to irrigation water, WRC Report No 878/1/00. Hensley, M; Botha, JJ; Anderson, JJ; Van Staden, PP & Du Toit, A. 2000:
  • Video 'In field Rainwater harvesting (1) Basic concepts to ensure agronomic and conservation sustainability in small scale farming'.:
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