Breve descripción de la práctica óptima

The CONTILL approach is specially tailored towards Namibia’s low and erratic rainfall, and sandy and degraded soils. It advocates the use of a ripper furrower/constant traffic approach to break up the compacted sub-soil hard pan (caused by compaction from using disc harrows) and to ensure in-field water harvesting and soil improvement. In the first year the ripper furrower must be drawn by tractor to make the initial deep furrow lines to break up the hard pan. However an animal drawn furrower may be used in subsequent years to follow the same previous rip furrow lines (constant traffic system). The use of the same furrows each year increases water harvesting and allows for the concentrated build-up of soil nutrients at the base of the furrow. The crops are planted in the furrows and benefit from this nutrient build up, and their roots are also able to penetrate deeper into the sub soil. Research has shown that the in-field water harvesting that occurs can convert 300mm of rainfall into 520mm, which is very important in this semi-arid environment.
On-farm trials started 5 years ago and have been undertaken on 226 demonstration plots with inputs (technology, seeds, fertiliser and herbicide) and advice provided by the project, while labour, manure and the proper maintenance of the trials was the responsibility of the local farmers. The approach was initially piloted on the local staple crop mahangu (pearl millet). Average yields for mahangu have consistently reached over 6 times the national average (2000kg/ha versus 300kg/ha), which has prompted the approach to be tested for maize and cowpea also, with equally excellent results. |

Lugar

Carried out mainly in the north-central regions of Namibia but recently extended to the north-east of the country

Si el lugar tiene límites bien definidos, especifique su extensión en hectáreas:

9900000.0

Población estimada que vive en el lugar:

980000.0

Breve descripción del entorno natural en el lugar especificado

Soils are underlain by Kalahari sandstone are considered infertile or at best marginal for crop production. There are 4 main vegetation zones in the area: woodlands, shrub savanna, grasslands in the south and the central drainage area. Flood plains are found further east along the Okavango river.|
The area is located approximately 1100 meters above sea level, and is extremely flat|
Mean rainfall 300-600mm. Rainfall is also highly variable and typically occurs only from november to april in the wet season. Mean monthly temperatures: 17 degrees centigrade in July and 26 degrees in December with relatively little diurnal variation. High rates of evaporation.

Condiciones socioeconómicas imperantes de los habitantes del lugar o las proximidades

The land in these regions is communally owned. The ownership of these land is vested in the state with the population usually afforded usufruct rights to the land. A process of registration and verification of customary land allocations is underway across Namibia's communal areas since the promulgation of the Communal Land Reform Act of 2002.
The majority of the population rely on subsistence farming and remittances from family members working in other parts of Namibia. Pensions are also an important source of income.
The northern regions are among the poorest regions in Namibia. 50.4% of households in Kavango Region are described as poor, 47% in Oshikoto and 46.4% in Omusati. |

¿En base de qué criterios o indicadores (no relacionados con la Estrategia) se ha considerado la práctica propuesta y la tecnología correspondiente como ‘óptima’?

Contill or "Lima nawa" is considered best practice for a number of reasons. It has shown its potential to drastically increase crop yields and to maintain these yields, particularly of the staple mahangu crop. The improved cultivation of mahangu is in itself an adaptation to climate change. Namibia is predicted to become drier with increased variability of rainfall. Thus the technique of in field water harvesting has great value. Mahangu itself is the most drought adapted grain, therefore improved yields and techniques are an important step towards resilience to climate change in Northern Namibia.
Moreover the increased yields are not at the expense of the environment. Rather land degradation is being reversed. The use of crop residues and crop rotations is further driving this process through which increased yields can be sustained over the long term. The ability to be able to increase yields on the same plot of land will also reduce the need to clear new areas for cultivation|

Principales problemas que trata la práctica óptima

The best practices addresses the related problems of soil degradation, declining crop yields and food insecurity in a region where livelihoods rely mainly on subsistence farming.|

Explique los problemas específicos de la degradación de las tierras que trata la práctica óptima.

Declining soil fertility; soil erosion; depletion of soil nutrients; water runoff; high levels of evaporation; wind erosion

Especifique los objetivos de la práctica óptima.

The proposed action aims to improve food production and management capacities of small scale farmers in the rural areas of Oshana, Oshikoto, Kavango and Ohangwena. It seeks to address the escalating problem of declining soil yields by taking more appropriate and simple technology to the farmer and applying this in a fully participatory way. Employment creation and building farmer's capacity are further objectives|

Breve descripción de las principales actividades, por objetivo

226 smallholder farmers participated in the CONTILL approach. They provided the manure and labour for the on-farm trials and were trained and permitted to keep the increased yields. The increased yields opened up opportunities for the farmers to market their produce for extra income.
Funding for the project is provided by a wide variety of donors. The ripper furrower technology is made available to communities, and on-site training is provided to ensure its optimal adoption.|
Techniques of in-field water harvesting, crop rotation, application of manure, use of crop residues contribute to increased organic matter and plant biomass, which provide global environmental benefits|
Ecosystems were improved by techniques of in-field water harvesting, crop rotation, application of manure, use of crop residues and by increased vegetation cover during the growing season.|

Breve descripción y especificaciones técnicas de la tecnología

The technology applied is known as ripper furrowing. This is an approach to ploughing involving deep penetration into the soil. A tractor pulled ripper furrower is required in the first year so that the hard pan in the sub-soil can be effectively broken up. Thereafter an animal drawn ripper furrower is sufficient

Nombre y dirección de la institución que desarrolla la tecnología

Golden Valley Agricultural Research Trust|PO Box 50834
Lusaka
Zambia

¿La tecnología se desarrolló en una alianza?

Sí

enumere los asociados:

GART is a public private partnership between the government of Zambia and the Zambian National Farmers Union

Especifique el marco en el que se promovió la tecnología

• Iniciativa internacional

¿La participación de interesados locales, incluidas las organizaciones de la sociedad civil, favoreció el desarrollo de la tecnología?

Sí

enumere los interesados participantes:

Namibia Resource Consultants, Namibia National Farmers Union, Creative Enterprise Solutions|

Detalle la función de los interesados enumerados anteriormente en cuanto a diseño, introducción, uso y mantenimiento de la tecnología, en su caso.

All are involved in the project implementation and support to the practitioners

¿La población que habitaba en el lugar o en las proximidades participó en el desarrollo de la tecnología?

Sí

¿de qué manera?

• Consultas
• Planteamientos basados en la participación
• Otro (especifique)

Especifique:

Training and capacity building

Describa los impactos in situ (los dos principales impactos por categoría).

Improved yields for communities thereby increased food security and marketing opportunities. access to employment. Inclusion of HIV/AIDS afflicted persons in training and capacity building.
Reversal of soil degradation. Improved soil fertility. Improved water conservation and for mahangu (pearl millet) the lengthened growing season using this method means that the use of long season indigenous varieties, with superior grain and biomass yields, is both possible and preferable|

Describa los dos principales impactos fuera del lugar (por ejemplo, que no se registran en el lugar, pero sí en las zonas próximas).

Increased availability of mahangu in nearby and distant markets. Employment opportunities.

Impacto en la diversidad biológica y el cambio climático

Justifíquelo:

Contill contributes to the resilience of ecosystems and local communities to climate change through its maximisation of water use efficiency and the increased yields attained in an environmentally friendly way. Food security can thus be guaranteed over the long term even in the face of climate change.
Contill contributes to the resilience of ecosystems and local communities to climate change through its maximisation of water use efficiency and increased yields. Mahangu is also the most drought tolerant cereal and has very high nutritional properties. As a staple crop, it thus has a key role to play in increasing community's resilience to climate change.
In terms of biodiversity, the lengthened growing season using this method means that the use of long season indigenous mahangu varieties, with superior grain and biomass yields, is both possible and preferable. The maintenance of healthy ecosystems should also increase biodiversity in the area.|

¿Se ha elaborado un análisis costo-beneficio?

¿Se ha elaborado un análisis costo-beneficio? :

Sí

Especifique:

The cost benefit analysis revealed the following positive expected benefits:
• Increased number of farmers (at least 100) adopting conservation farming techniques;
• Increased crop yields by at least twice the original yield levels;
• Surplus production of food items, particularly mahangu and cowpeas;
• Increased sales of food items (as opposed to storing for own consumption);
• Increased percentage of disposable incomes;
• 100 farmers trained in technical aspects of conservation farming;
• 100 farmers trained in financial, human resource and marketing management;
• Enhanced ability of crops to cope with erratic rainfall and/or drought;
• Training of 100 farmers in HIV/AIDS prevention and possible community responses to challenges posed by HIV/AIDS;
• Community response initiatives, at least one per community, to HIV/AIDS such as OVC care groups, or HBC groups;
• Improved standard of living for more rural families afflicted with and affected by HIV/AIDS;
• Training of 100 farmers as to the importance of the role of women in production, and their importance in the value-added chain of activities; and
• Training of successful farmer trainers for a wider adoption of conservation tillage practices.

¿La tecnología se difundió o introdujo en otros lugares?

¿La tecnología se difundió o introdujo en otros lugares? :

Sí

¿Dónde? :

Kavango Region

¿Se dispuso de incentivos para facilitar la aceptación de la tecnología proporcionada?

¿Se dispuso de incentivos para facilitar la aceptación de la tecnología proporcionada?

Sí

Especifique qué tipo de incentivos:

• Incentivos financieros (por ejemplo, tasas preferenciales, ayudas estatales, subvenciones, donaciones, garantías de préstamo, etc.)
• Incentivos fiscales (por ejemplo, exención o reducción de los impuestos, obligaciones fiscales, gravámenes, etc.)

¿Puede identificar las tres principales condiciones para el éxito de la práctica óptima/tecnología presentada?

openness and enthusiasm of the community to try new approaches
Simple and applicable technology
the use of on-farm participatory approaches to demonstrate the efficacity of the approach

Replicabilidad

¿En su opinión, la práctica óptima/la tecnología que ha propuesto se puede reproducir en cualquier otro lugar con un cierto nivel de adaptación?

Sí

¿A qué nivel?

• Local
• Subnacional

En relación con los recursos humanos

CONTILL adoption by farmers is a process, not an overnight event. Farmers need to be assisted in experiencing CONTILL themselves on their farms and also be assisted in adoption. Simply providing implements and some introductory training is not sufficient.  Careful introduction and support are essential.

En relación con los aspectos financieros

The need to use a tractor drawn ripper furrower in the first year is a barrier to the adoption of CONTILL by smallholder farmer. This expense is beyond many farmers, therefore a financing support mechanism is necessary.|

En relación con los aspectos técnicos

CONTILL in itself is recognised as not being enough to reverse land degradation. The use of crop residues and crop rotations (especially using nitrogen fixing legumes such as cowpea) are other essential aspects that need to be adopted. Methods to stimulate greater demand for crops such as mahangu are also necessary to increase the rewards for enhanced production.
CONTILL in itself is recognised as not being enough to reverse land degradation. The use of crop residues and crop rotations (especially using nitrogen fixing legumes such as cowpea) are other essential aspects that need to be adopted. Methods to stimulate greater demand for crops such as mahangu are also necessary to increase the rewards for enhanced production.