1.2 Coordonnées des personnes-ressources et des institutions impliquées dans l'évaluation et la documentation de la Technologie

Nom du projet qui a facilité la documentation/ l'évaluation de la Technologie (si pertinent)

Book project: where the land is greener - Case Studies and Analysis of Soil and Water Conservation Initiatives Worldwide (where the land is greener)

Nom du ou des institutions qui ont facilité la documentation/ l'évaluation de la Technologie (si pertinent)

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) - Italie

Nom du ou des institutions qui ont facilité la documentation/ l'évaluation de la Technologie (si pertinent)

Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Ethiopia (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development) - Ethiopie

1.3 Conditions relatives à l'utilisation par WOCAT des données documentées

Quand les données ont-elles été compilées (sur le terrain)?

01/07/2003

Le compilateur et la(les) personne(s) ressource(s) acceptent les conditions relatives à l'utilisation par WOCAT des données documentées:

Oui

1.5 Référence au(x) questionnaire(s) sur les Approches de GDT

2.1 Courte description de la Technologie

Définition de la Technologie:

Rehabilitation of communal grazing lands, through planting of improved grass and fodder trees and land subdivision, to improve fodder and consequently livestock production.

2.2 Description détaillée de la Technologie

Description:

This case study focuses on the highly populated, humid highland regions of Ethiopia that experience serious shortages of pasture. Due to rapid population growth, communal grazing areas are increasingly being converted into cropland. This has led to enormous pressure on the little remaining grazing land, through overstocking of dairy cows and oxen, and thus overgrazing, resulting in considerably decreased productivity.
Improved grazing land management is vital to increase food security and alleviate poverty, as well as to bring environmental rewards. To address these problems, the national SWC programme in Ethiopia initiated a grazing land management project over a decade ago. Implementation of the technology includes the initial delineating of the grazing land, and then fencing to exclude open access. This is followed by land preparation, application of compost (and, if necessary, inorganic fertilizers) to improve soil fertility, then planting of improved local and exotic fodder species, including multipurpose shrubs/trees such as Leucaena sp. and Sesbania sp. and the local desho grass (Pennisetum sp.). Desho has a high nutritive value and regular cuts are ensured. It is planted by splits, which have high survival rates and establish better than grasses which are seeded. Other grass seeds, as well as legumes, including alfalfa (lucerne: Medicago sativa) and clovers in some cases, are mixed with fodder tree seeds and then broadcast.
Maintenance activities such as weeding, manuring and replanting ensure proper establishment and persistence. Fodder is cut and carried to stall-fed livestock. Once a year, grass is cut for hay, which is stored to feed animals during the dry season. Experience shows that such grazing land is best managed when individually owned and used. In the study area, the community has distributed small plots (<0.5 ha) of communal grazing land to individual users to develop, manage and use.
The overall purpose of the intervention is to improve the productivity of grazing land and control land degradation through the introduction of productive techniques and improved fodder species, which consequently improve livestock production. Commercialisation of animals and marketing of their products increases the income of farmers. The government provides technical assistance, close follow-up, and some inputs for initial establishment. Land users are trained in compost/ manure application, planting of seeds, splits and seedlings, and general maintenance.

2.3 Photos de la Technologie

2.5 Pays/ région/ lieux où la Technologie a été appliquée et qui sont couverts par cette évaluation

2.7 Introduction de la Technologie

Spécifiez comment la Technologie a été introduite: :

• par le biais de projets/ d'interventions extérieures

3.1 Principal(aux) objectif(s) de la Technologie

• réduire, prévenir, restaurer les terres dégradées
• préserver l'écosystème

3.2 Type(s) actuel(s) d'utilisation des terres, là où la Technologie est appliquée

Commentaires:

Major land use problems (compiler’s opinion): Population growth has resulted in a substantial reduction in land holdings (<0.5 ha per family) and this in turn has led inevitably to encroachment onto communal grazing lands for cultivation. Livestock numbers on the other hand have remained unchanged, and this has led to overstocking of the few areas left. Livestock production, which accounts for 40% of the average household income, is thus reduced and farmers’ income declines correspondingly.

Si l'utilisation des terres a changé en raison de la mise en œuvre de la Technologie, indiquez l'utilisation des terres avant la mise en œuvre de la Technologie:

Grazing land: Ge: Extensive grazing land

3.3 Informations complémentaires sur l'utilisation des terres

Approvisionnement en eau des terres sur lesquelles est appliquée la Technologie:

• pluvial

Nombre de période de croissance par an: :

• 1

Précisez:

Longest growing period in days: 210 Longest growing period from month to month: March - September

3.4 Groupe de GDT auquel appartient la Technologie

• fermeture de zones (arrêt de tout usage, appui à la réhabilitation)
• Amélioration de la couverture végétale/ du sol
• amélioration des variétés végétales, des races animales

3.5 Diffusion de la Technologie

Commentaires:

Total area covered by the SLM Technology is 20 km2.

3.6 Mesures de GDT constituant la Technologie

Commentaires:

Main measures: agronomic measures, vegetative measures, management measures

Type of agronomic measures: manure / compost / residues

Type of vegetative measures: scattered / dispersed

3.7 Principaux types de dégradation des terres traités par la Technologie

Commentaires:

Main type of degradation addressed: Wt: loss of topsoil / surface erosion, Wg: gully erosion / gullying, Cn: fertility decline and reduced organic matter content, Bc: reduction of vegetation cover, Bs: quality and species composition /diversity decline

3.8 Prévention, réduction de la dégradation ou réhabilitation des terres dégradées

Spécifiez l'objectif de la Technologie au regard de la dégradation des terres:

• réduire la dégradation des terres

4.1 Dessin technique de la Technologie

4.2 Spécification/ explications techniques du dessin technique

Splits of desho grass (Pennisetum pedecillatum) are plantet in lines, using a hand hoe, after good seedbed preparation. Spacing between grass splits is 10 x 10 cm. The white line is a boundary between two households' plots (width of plot: 15-20 m). Trees are planted at rirregular spacing (around 5 m apart), layout is not specified.

Technical knowledge required for field staff / advisors: high

Technical knowledge required for land users: moderate

Main technical functions: improvement of ground cover, control of dispersed runoff, increase in soil fertility

Secondary technical functions: increase of infiltration, improvement of soil structure, control of concentrated runoff

Manure / compost / residues
Material/ species: animal manure, leaf litter, wood ash, soil

Scattered / dispersed
Vegetative material: T : trees / shrubs, G : grass

Trees/ shrubs species: Leucaena sp., Sesbania sp.

Grass species: Desho grass (Pennisetumsp.), alfalfa (lucerne: Medicago sativa)

Other type of management: change of intensity level

4.4 Activités de mise en place/ d'établissement

	Activité	Type de mesures	Calendrier
1.	Delineation of the area to be conserved and establishment of a fence	Végétale	before the onset of rain
2.	Subdivision of communal land into individual plots of 0.3–0.5 ha.	Végétale
3.	Planting material preparation in nurseries: grass splits (desho)	Végétale
4.	Good seedbed preparation	Végétale	(at the onset of the rains).
5.	Planting of grass splits and tree/shrub species in lines; sowing of grass	Végétale	(early in the rainy season).
6.	Weeding.	Végétale

4.5 Coûts et intrants nécessaires à la mise en place

	Spécifiez les intrants	Unité	Quantité	Coûts par unité	Coût total par intrant	% des coût supporté par les exploitants des terres
Main d'œuvre	Labour	ha	1,0	320,0	320,0	100,0
Equipements	Animal traction	ha	1,0	17,0	17,0	100,0
Equipements	Tools	ha	1,0	5,0	5,0	50,0
Matériel végétal	Seedlings	ha	1,0	5,0	5,0
Matériel végétal	Grass splits (tillers)	ha	1,0	450,0	450,0	100,0
Engrais et biocides	Fertilizer	ha	1,0	60,0	60,0	100,0
Engrais et biocides	Compost/manure	ha	1,0	140,0	140,0	100,0
Matériaux de construction	Deadwood for fencing	ha	1,0	55,0	55,0	100,0
Coût total de mise en place de la Technologie					1052,0

Commentaires:

Duration of establishment phase: 12 month(s)

4.6 Activités d'entretien/ récurrentes

	Activité	Type de mesures	Calendrier/ fréquence
1.	Compost/manure preparation. Material used includes animal manure,	Agronomique	/ initial establishment
2.	Compost application	Agronomique	/ one month after planting, initial establishment
3.	Cut-and-carry, to stall-fed animals, begins when fodder is ready.	Végétale	(after 2–3 months growth) /2 -4 times
4.	A final cut for hay is taken early in the dry season when the grass has matured well.	Végétale	(end of October) /
5.	Weeding	Végétale	/each year.
6.	Compost/manure application, mixed with soil, during seedbed preparation (only where plants have died and need replacement and fertilisation).	Végétale
7.	Enrichment planting and gap filling	Végétale	after a year / repeated each year.

4.7 Coûts et intrants nécessaires aux activités d'entretien/ récurrentes (par an)

	Spécifiez les intrants	Unité	Quantité	Coûts par unité	Coût total par intrant	% des coût supporté par les exploitants des terres
Main d'œuvre	Labour	ha	1,0	35,0	35,0	100,0
Equipements	Tools	ha	1,0	4,0	4,0	100,0
Matériel végétal	Seeds	ha	1,0	30,0	30,0	100,0
Matériel végétal	Seedlings	ha	1,0	2,0	2,0	100,0
Engrais et biocides	Fertilizer	ha	1,0	15,0	15,0	100,0
Engrais et biocides	Compost/manure	ha	1,0	35,0	35,0	100,0
Matériaux de construction	Deadwood for fencing	ha	1,0	5,0	5,0	100,0
Coût total d'entretien de la Technologie					126,0

Commentaires:

Seedlings are given by the government for initial establishment. For further extension of area and replanting, the
land users set up their own nurseries. After 2-3 years maintenance costs decrease substantially as the grass cover closes up and maintenance activities such as replanting/enrichment planting and compost application are reduced or cease. The local daily wage is about US$ 0.70 a day, but varies depending on the intensity of the work. In this calculation the standard rate has been applied.
Farmers usually cannot afford fertilizers. Milk production compensates for some of the high investment costs (previously, production was low).

5.1 Climat

5.2 Topographie

Commentaires et précisions supplémentaires sur la topographie:

Landforms: Also hill slopes (ranked 2) and foot slopes (ranked 3)
Slopes on average: Also hilly (ranked 2) and rolling (ranked 3)

5.3 Sols

Si disponible, joignez une description complète du sol ou précisez les informations disponibles, par ex., type de sol, pH/ acidité du sol, capacité d'échange cationique, azote, salinité, etc.

Soil fertility: Medium (ranked 2) and low (ranked 3)
Soil drainage/infiltration: Good

5.6 Caractéristiques des exploitants des terres appliquant la Technologie

Indiquez toute autre caractéristique pertinente des exploitants des terres:

Off-farm income specification: source of off-farm income includes petty trade and weaving

5.7 Superficie moyenne des terres détenues ou louées par les exploitants appliquant la Technologie

5.8 Propriété foncière, droits d’utilisation des terres et de l'eau

Propriété foncière:

• état

Droits d’utilisation des terres:

• accès libre (non organisé)
• individuel

6.1 Impacts sur site que la Technologie a montrés

Impacts socio-économiques

Production

Revenus et coûts

Autres impacts socio-économiques

Impacts socioculturels

Impacts écologiques

Sols

Autres impacts écologiques

6.2 Impacts hors site que la Technologie a montrés

6.4 Analyse coûts-bénéfices

Quels sont les bénéfices comparativement aux coûts de mise en place (du point de vue des exploitants des terres)?

Quels sont les bénéfices comparativement aux coûts d'entretien récurrents (du point de vue des exploitants des terres)?

6.5 Adoption de la Technologie

Commentaires:

50 land user families have adopted the Technology with external material support

Comments on acceptance with external material support: 50 households who accepted the technology in the initial phase, did so with incentives. They were provided with planting materials (seeds, seedlings, grass splits) and hand tools.

There is a strong trend towards spontaneous adoption of the Technology

Comments on adoption trend: The rate of spontaneous adoption is very high. At present over 500 households have taken up the technology and the total area covered is about 20 km2.

6.7 Points forts/ avantages/ possibilités de la Technologie

Points forts/ avantages/ possibilités du point de vue de l'exploitant des terres
Increased national income due to export of animals and their products.

Points forts/ avantages/ possibilités du point de vue du compilateur ou d'une autre personne ressource clé
Availability of fodder (grass, hay, shrubs) in sufficient quantities, and all year round How can they be sustained / enhanced? Increase the area under such development.
Reduction in soil loss and land degradation How can they be sustained / enhanced? Maintain adequate cover by planting more grass.
Introduction of high yielding species as well as increase in land productivity and livestock production How can they be sustained / enhanced? ntroduce bigger variability of quality species and improve maintenance activities such as weeding and cultivation.
Improved diet: livestock by-products such as milk, butter and cheese are essential food items required by the households How can they be sustained / enhanced? Keep on increasing/improving quantity/quality of livestock feed.
Increased income through commercialisation and marketing of animals and their by-products. Meets financial needs for paying taxes, school fees, clothes etc.
Rehabilitation of communal grazing lands is both a technical and social challenge. Here is a promising example from Ethiopia that is spreading quickly. The key is subdivision of land into individual plots where cut-and-carry of grass and stall-feeding of livestock is practiced. This is only a possible option, however, where rainfall is favourable. land use rights: individual for cropland, open access (unorganised/communally used) for grazing land, except for the case study area where the rights to rehabilitated grazing land are given to individuals

6.8 Faiblesses/ inconvénients/ risques de la Technologie et moyens de les surmonter

Faiblesses/ inconvénients/ risques du point de vue du compilateur ou d'une autre personne ressource clé	Comment peuvent-ils être surmontés?
At the initial stage of establishment it is very labour intensive	Use of improved land preparation methods such as oxen ploughing.
Substantial cash for inputs, particularly seedlings, is required	Produce seedlings of improved species and making compost in backyards.
Needs high fertilizer application	Focus more on organic fertilizers.
High pressure on remaining grazing areas	Keep animals in stall (stable) or park, at least part of the day and during the night, and introduce cut-and-carry more widely.

7.2 Références des publications disponibles

Titre, auteur, année, ISBN:

Adane Dinku, Chencha Wereda, Natural Resources Management Annual Report,. 2001 and 2002.