An overview of the staggered contour trenches applied across the slope on a hilly slope of Zai Mahmood village in Bamyan center. (Jalil Altaf (Agha Khan Foundation (AKF)))
The SCTs technology is documented by Sustainable Land Management Project/HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation which is funded by Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), with close support and cooperation of the Agha Khan Foundation (AKF). The staggered Contour Trenches (SCTs) were constructed at a degraded site in Bamyan center (Bamyan province) by Agha Khan Foundation (AKF) project with financial support of the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA).
Totally 1470 contour trenches were constructed at the site, which has an area of 24 hectares.
The size of each trench measured 10 m in length, 0.6 m in width and 0.5 m in depth. The trenches had soil bunds on the lower side having a width of 1 m and height of 0.3 m. Contour lines were prepared using an A-frame and lime and the spacing between two contour lines was 8 m considering the slope. All the trenches were dug out manually. Local people were employed for construction works. Along with the SCTs, other measures were applied such as plantation of fodder grass, shrub and non-fruit trees, gully plugs, water harvesting tanks and brushwood plugs. The area is excluded from grazing and shrub cutting.
The land was extensive grazing land before the project implementation and got extremely degraded due to a lack of management by the land users. There was rampant exploitation of natural vegetation for meeting domestic energy needs and for grazing. Droughts, which frequently occur in the region, contributed to the slow degradation of the vegetation.
Purpose of the Technology: The main purpose of the technology is to reduce flash flood risks and improve land productivity (both upstream and downstream) so that more fodder, fuel wood and fruits could be produced and farmers affected by flash floods could grow more crops. The technology, which is part of a watershed technology system, helps in retaining runoff and sediment and improves soil moisture content. It also helps in water infiltration which eventually contributes to improved ground water recharge.
Establishment / maintenance activities and inputs: SCTs were established in a step-wise manner; as follows: (1) Site surveying, (2) Site mapping, (3) Planning, (4) Marking contour lines with the help of an A-frame, and (5) Trench excavation and bund construction.
The establishment cost for staggered contour trenches, was about 15,500 USD or 645 USD/ha. Most of the money was spent on labour. There have been no expenses in maintenance of SCTs since their establishment in 2008.
Natural / human environment: The technology is applied in semi-arid condition as the area receives annual rainfall of about 400 mm to address land degradation. The site formally belonged to the state but the local communities have use rights. AKF is still maintaining the site and using it for training and demonstration purpose. Several exposure visits for SLM specialist, land users, students and teachers have been also organized at the site.
Lugar: Zai Mahmood village, Bamyan center, Afghanistan, Afganistán
No. de sitios de Tecnología analizados:
Difusión de la Tecnología: distribuida parejamente sobre un área (approx. 0.1-1 km2)
¿En un área de protección permanente?:
Fecha de la implementación: hace menos de 10 años (recientemente)
Tipo de introducción
| Especifique insumo | Unidad | Cantidad | Costos por unidad (USD) | Costos totales por insumo (USD) | % de los costos cubiertos por los usuarios de las tierras |
| Mano de obra | |||||
| Digging of the contour trenches and construction of the soil bunds | persons/day/ha | 100,0 | 6,43 | 643,0 | |
| Equipo | |||||
| A frame and lime | ha | 1,0 | 1,8 | 1,8 | |
| Costos totales para establecer la Tecnología | 644.8 | ||||
| Costos totales para establecer la Tecnología en USD | 644.8 | ||||
Decreased production area
As the site is greener now
Especially of DAIL (Department of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock) and the persons who visit the site
Runoff, dew, snow, etc.
Due to better vegetation cover
