1.2 Detalles de contacto de las personas de referencia e instituciones involucradas en la evaluación y la documentación de la Tecnología

Nombre de la(s) institución(es) que facilitaron la documentación/ evaluación de la Tecnología (si fuera relevante)

HELVETAS (Swiss Intercooperation)

1.3 Condiciones referidas al uso de datos documentados mediante WOCAT

El compilador y la/s persona(s) de referencia claves aceptan las condiciones acerca del uso de los datos documentados mediante WOCAT:

Sí

1.4 Declaración de la sostenibilidad de la Tecnología descrita

¿La Tecnología aquí descrita resulta problemática en relación a la degradación de la tierra, de tal forma que no puede considerársela una tecnología sostenible para el manejo de la tierra?

No

2.1 Breve descripción de la Tecnología

Definición de la Tecnología:

Micro irrigation canal system for supplying water to poplar plantations on sloping lands.

2.2 Descripción detallada de la Tecnología

Descripción:

The Micro Irrigation system technology is documented by SLM Project/HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation with financial support of Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC). The presented micro-irrigation system, a structural SLM technology, was applied in Central Highland’s Province of Bamyan (Afghanistan). The micro-irrigation technology is applied to bring marginal land under cultivation for economic benefits, with the added benefit of rehabilitating degraded sloping land. The main irrigation canal also conveys water to agricultural land. It is a traditional technology applied by a land user without external support. It is also implemented by many other land users with some variations to the technology.
The technology consists of a network of main irrigation canal, secondary canals from which water is conveyed to sloping micro irrigation canals. The water reaches to the roots of each tree through infiltration/seepage.
The main canal has about 2% gradient and the micro-channels from 2-7% gradient. The slope of the site ranges between 20-40%. A micro irrigation canal is 28 m long, 15 cm wide and 10 cm deep. While the cross section remains same, the length can differ according to the land size.
The site was originally a degraded site with gravel soil. According to the land user, the site was not at all suitable for agriculture due to soil degradation and bad water shortage possibilities. Approximately 25 years after the plantation of poplar trees, the site's physical and biological conditions of the slope have improved due to the establishment of poplar trees. The poplar trees can be used for timber for construction and firewood. The poplar timber has good market in Bamyan and can fetch up to 35 USD per tree.
The micro-irrigation systems, which help establishing poplar plantations, contribute to multiple benefits for the land user's family and also the environment. As the poplar plantations are irrigated, their growth increases and their mortality, due to water shortage, is reduced.
As a result of re-vegetating the relatively steep slope, soil erosion from the site has reduced and the fertility of the soil has improved. Improved soil moisture and fertility has also helped in establishment of a good ground canopy. Many birds visit the site for shelter. The plantation has reached its harvesting stage and the land user is planning to cut the trees for sale, expecting an income of about 10,500 USD from the site.

A close look at this technology shows that the system works well and that it is easily managed by the land user. Some minor improvements, such as reducing the slope gradient of the micro-irrigation canals for reducing canal erosion, construction of pits to capture sediments at the drainage points and planting suitable grasses with good roots along the canal bunds could make the system more effective and sustainable. The measures could also help in reducing the sensitivity of the micro-irrigation canals towards intense rainfall.
The farmers are applying this SLM technology without any external financial or technical support and there is growing trend towards spontaneous adoption. According to the land user's estimate, of about 400 families in his village, 80 families have applied the technology

The basic purpose of the micro-irrigation system is to supply irrigation water to the poplar trees for reducing plant mortality and increasing plant growth.

The main establishment activities include layout of the micro canals across the sloping land using shovels and pick axe without use of any alignment equipment. Approximately 150 persons-days/ha were employed for constructing the micro-irrigation canals and 5 person-days/ha sufficed for on-site maintenance works. About 970 USD/ha was spent on the construction and most of the cost for labour was covered by the family of the owner.

The site is owned by a land user with clear land use rights. The water rights are common and organized as there is a traditional social water management institution (Mirab), which ensures an equitable distribution of irrigation water to all the farmers taking water from the main canal. A command area on a turn-by-turn basis exists. Water users pay service fees to the Mirab mostly in kind. The land users mentioned that they give about 14 kg of wheat and/or potato each year to the Mirab for this site. The land user has to also participate in main canal repair works on a voluntary basis. Bamyan Centre receives about 230 mm rainfall per year. Most of the rain falls in the months of April and May. Winters are severe with temperatures falling below minus 20 degrees. The area receives snowfall up to 180 cm per year in normal years. Bamyan center has an arid and temperate climate with one main growing season of about 6 months, which is from April to September. The plantation site is located at an altitude of about 2300 m. It is north-facing slope with a soil depth of about 30-50 cm. The soil is sandy loam with a medium soil fertility.

2.3 Fotografías de la Tecnología

2.5 País/ región/ lugares donde la Tecnología fue aplicada y que se hallan comprendidos por esta evaluación

2.6 Fecha de la implementación

Si no se conoce el año preciso, indique la fecha aproximada:

• 10-50 años atrás

2.7 Introducción de la Tecnología

Especifique cómo se introdujo la Tecnología:

• mediante la innovación de usuarios de tierras

Comentarios (tipo de proyecto, etc.):

The technology is being applied on the site since about 25 years.

3.1 Propósito(s) principal(es) de la Tecnología MST

• mejorar la producción

3.2 Tipo(s) actuales de uso de la tierra donde se aplica la Tecnología

Comentarios:

Major land use problems (compiler’s opinion): Gravely site, shortage of water for irrigation, sloping land affected by soil erosion. Heavy shrub harvesting for firewood and overgrazing on common/rangeland leading to land degradation.
Major land use problems (land users’ perception): Sloping land with sandy soil unsuitable for agriculture.

Plantation forestry: Plantation of poplar trees (mono culture)
Problems / comments regarding forest use: Land users do selective felling when they need cash. The trees are lopped for fuel wood.
Future (final) land use (after implementation of SLM Technology): Forests / woodlands: Fp: Plantations, afforestations

Number of growing seasons per year: 1
Longest growing period in days: 170, Longest growing period from month to month: April to September in the valley bottom

3.5 Grupo MST al que pertenece la Tecnología

• Manejo de irrigación: (incl. provisión de agua, invernaderos)

3.6 Medidas MST que componen la Tecnología

3.7 Principales tipos de degradación del suelo encarados con la Tecnología

Comentarios:

Main causes of degradation: over-exploitation of vegetation for domestic use (Particulary for firewood), overgrazing (Mainly by sheep and goats), population pressure, inputs and infrastructure: (roads, markets, distribution of water points, other, …) (Lack of irrigation water), governance / institutional (Specifically in the case of common lands)
Secondary causes of degradation: droughts

3.8 Prevención, reducción o restauración de la degradación del suelo

Especifique la meta de la Tecnología con relación a la degradación de la tierra:

• reducir la degradación del suelo

4.1 Dibujo técnico de la Tecnología

4.2 Información general sobre el cálculo de insumos y costos

otra / moneda nacional (especifique):

Afghani

Si fuera relevante, indique la tasa de cambio de dólares americanos a la moneda local (ej. 1 U$ = 79.9 Reales Brasileros): 1 U$ =:

57,0

4.3 Actividades de establecimiento

	Actividad	Momento (estación)
1.	Construction of secondary and micro-irrigation canals	Spring

4.4 Costos e insumos necesarios para el establecimiento

	Especifique insumo	Unidad	Cantidad	Costos por unidad	Costos totales por insumo	% de los costos cubiertos por los usuarios de las tierras
Mano de obra	labour	ha	1,0	921,0	921,0	100,0
Equipo	tools	ha	1,0	52,0	52,0	100,0
Costos totales para establecer la Tecnología					973,0
Costos totales para establecer la Tecnología en USD					17,07

Comentarios:

Duration of establishment phase: 0.25 month(s)

4.5 Actividades de establecimiento/ recurrentes

	Actividad	Momento/ frequencia
1.	Maintenance of canals	Spring/once per year

4.6 Costos e insumos necesarios para actividades de mantenimiento/ recurrentes (por año)

	Especifique insumo	Unidad	Cantidad	Costos por unidad	Costos totales por insumo	% de los costos cubiertos por los usuarios de las tierras
Mano de obra	labour	ha	1,0	30,0	30,0	100,0
Equipo	tools	ha	1,0	52,0	52,0	100,0
Indique los costos totales para mantenecer la Tecnología					82,0
Costos totales para mantener la Tecnología en USD					1,44

Comentarios:

Machinery/ tools: Pick axe and shovels
The presented costs were calculated on the basis of the exisiting local labour rate and the currency exchange rate which may vary from one year to another. For instance in 2010/11, 1 USD was 50 Afghani.

The cost of payment to the Mirab (Water distributor appointed by the land users) is not included. According to the land user, the Mirabs receive about 700 kg wheat/year from all the land users who use the main canal.

4.7 Factores más determinantes que afectan los costos:

Describa los factores más determinantes que afectan los costos:

Labour is the most determinate factor affecting the costs. All the work is done manually.

5.1 Clima

5.2 Topografía

5.3 Suelos

5.4 Disponibilidad y calidad de agua

5.5 Biodiversidad

5.6 Las características de los usuarios de la tierra que aplican la Tecnología

Indique otras características relevantes de los usuarios de las tierras:

Land users applying the Technology are mainly common / average land users
Difference in the involvement of women and men: Women are however involved in other agriculture works but at the plantation site, they are not involved at all. The land user has about 0.4 ha irrigated crop land used for potato and wheat cultivation on a rotation basis.

Population density: 10-50 persons/km2
Annual population growth: 2% - 3%
Off-farm income specification: The land user family is food secure from its own production for up to 6 months only. For food security for 12 months, they have to depend on other sources of off farm income. The agriculture land is not enough to meet all the family needs.

5.7 Área promedio de la tierra usada por usuarios de tierra que aplican la Tecnología

5.8 Tenencia de tierra, uso de tierra y derechos de uso de agua

Tenencia de tierra:

• individual, con título

Derechos de uso de tierra:

• arrendamiento

Derechos de uso de agua:

• comunitarios (organizado)

Comentarios:

For water distribution, there is a traditional system called as Mirab which is applied for the plantations as well. The land user applying the plantation/micro-irrigation technique have to participate in main irrigation canal repair and cleaning works. The land user also has to pay in kind or cash to the Mirab for his services.

5.9 Acceso a servicios e infraestructura

6.1 Impactos in situ demostrados por la Tecnología

Impactos socioeconómicos

Producción

Disponibilidad y calidad de agua

Ingreso y costos

Impactos socioculturales

Impactos ecológicos

Suelo

Biodiversidad: vegetación, animales

Reducción de riesgos de desastres y riesgos climáticos

6.2 Impactos fuera del sitio demostrados por la Tecnología

6.3 Exposición y sensibilidad de la Tecnología al cambio climático gradual y a extremos relacionados al clima/ desastres (desde la percepción de los usuarios de tierras)

Cambio climático gradual

Cambio climático gradual

	Estación	Incremento o reducción	¿Cómo es que la tecnología soporta esto?
temperatura anual		incrementó	bien

Extremos (desastres) relacionados al clima

Desastres climatológicos:

	¿Cómo es que la tecnología soporta esto?
tormenta de lluvia local	no muy bien

Desastres climatológicos

	¿Cómo es que la tecnología soporta esto?
sequía	no muy bien

Desastres hidrológicos

	¿Cómo es que la tecnología soporta esto?
inundación general (río)	no muy bien

Comentarios:

Stabilize the technology with grasses and reduce the slope of the channels so that it is less sensitive to increase in rainfall intensities.

6.4 Análisis costo-beneficio

¿Cómo se comparan los beneficios con los costos de establecimiento (desde la perspectiva de los usuarios de tierra)?

¿Cómo se comparan los beneficios con los costos de mantenimiento/ recurrentes (desde la perspectiva de los usuarios de tierra)?

Comentarios:

The returns in the form of cash start coming after 10-12 years with this poplar variety following a selective felling and replanting approach.

6.5 Adopción de la Tecnología

De todos quienes adoptaron la Tecnología, ¿cuántos lo hicieron espontáneamente, por ej. sin recibir nada de incentivos/ materiales:

• 91-100%

Comentarios:

100% of land user families have adopted the Technology without any external material support
80 land user families have adopted the Technology without any external material support
The total area under this plantation in the village is estimated to be 16 ha (80 jerib)
There is a small growing trend towards the adoption of the technology by communities and individuals in the area. Adoption depends on (and is hampered by) the availability of a reliable water source near the sites with potential for plantation and also about the land.

6.7 Fuerzas/ ventajas/ oportunidades de la Tecnología

Fuerzas/ ventajas/ oportunidades desde la perspectiva del usuario de la tierra
The technology helps successful establishment of poplar trees and also natural grasses on sloping lands.

Fuerzas/ ventajas/ oportunidades desde la perspectiva del compilador o de otra persona de referencia clave
Micro-irrigation technology is important for the establishment and maintenance of poplar plantations. The technology is adapted for afforestation of sloping land.
The technology does not require much maintenance once the plantations are well established. A special attention need to be given to the secondary canals.
No external support for establishing or maintaining the technology.
The technology helps in improving the site's micro climate which leads to more plant and animal (bird) diversity.

6.8 Debilidades/ desventajas/ riesgos de la Tecnología y formas de sobreponerse a ellos

Debilidades/ desventajas/ riesgos desde la perspectiva del usuario de la tierra	¿Cómo sobreponerse a ellas?
There is no information available regarding the land user's view on the weaknesses of this technology.

Debilidades/ desventajas/ riesgos desde la perspectiva del compilador o de otra persona de referencia clave	¿Cómo sobreponerse a ellas?
The canals break at some weak points. Also the slopes of the micro channels is more at many places leading to some soil erosion.	Proper alignment of micro-irrigation canals.
Rill and gully erosion due to rapid and uncontrolled flow of excessive drainage in secondary canals.	Plant grasses with robust root system along the canals. Strengthen points where water spills from the micro-irrigation canals into the secondary canals with vegetative measures and sediment pits.
Due to small sizes of the channels, irrigation needs more time and labour.	Improvements in micro irrigation canals will reduce this problem considering. Interested organisations could carry out action research on how to improve this system by also incorporating efficient water use measures.
The technology can be applied only when there is a reliable source of running water.	Action research on soil and water conservation techniques for plantations in areas where there is no easy access to irrigation water.

7.1 Métodos/ fuentes de información