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

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

HELVETAS (Swiss Intercooperation)

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

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

Oui

1.4 Déclaration sur la durabilité de la Technologie décrite

Est-ce que la Technologie décrite ici pose problème par rapport à la dégradation des terres, de telle sorte qu'elle ne peut pas être déclarée comme étant une technologie de gestion durable des terres?

Non

2.1 Courte description de la Technologie

Définition de la Technologie:

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

2.2 Description détaillée de la Technologie

Description:

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 Photos de la Technologie

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

2.6 Date de mise en œuvre de la Technologie

Si l'année précise est inconnue, indiquez la date approximative: :

• il y a entre 10-50 ans

2.7 Introduction de la Technologie

Spécifiez comment la Technologie a été introduite: :

• grâce à l'innovation d'exploitants des terres

Commentaires (type de projet, etc.) :

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

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

• améliorer la production

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

Commentaires:

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 Groupe de GDT auquel appartient la Technologie

• gestion de l'irrigation (incl. l'approvisionnement en eau, le drainage)

3.6 Mesures de GDT constituant la Technologie

3.7 Principaux types de dégradation des terres traités par la Technologie

Commentaires:

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 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 Informations générales sur le calcul des intrants et des coûts

autre/ monnaie nationale (précisez):

Afghani

Indiquez le taux de change des USD en devise locale, le cas échéant (p.ex. 1 USD = 79.9 réal brésilien): 1 USD = :

57,0

4.3 Activités de mise en place/ d'établissement

	Activité	Calendrier des activités (saisonnier)
1.	Construction of secondary and micro-irrigation canals	Spring

4.4 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	921,0	921,0	100,0
Equipements	tools	ha	1,0	52,0	52,0	100,0
Coût total de mise en place de la Technologie					973,0
Coût total de mise en place de la Technologie en dollars américains (USD)					17,07

Commentaires:

Duration of establishment phase: 0.25 month(s)

4.5 Activités d'entretien/ récurrentes

	Activité	Calendrier/ fréquence
1.	Maintenance of canals	Spring/once per year

4.6 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	30,0	30,0	100,0
Equipements	tools	ha	1,0	52,0	52,0	100,0
Coût total d'entretien de la Technologie					82,0
Coût total d'entretien de la Technologie en dollars américains (USD)					1,44

Commentaires:

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 Facteurs les plus importants affectant les coûts

Décrivez les facteurs les plus importants affectant les coûts :

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

5.1 Climat

5.2 Topographie

5.3 Sols

5.4 Disponibilité et qualité de l'eau

5.5 Biodiversité

5.6 Caractéristiques des exploitants des terres appliquant la Technologie

Indiquez toute autre caractéristique pertinente des exploitants des terres:

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 Superficie moyenne des terres utilisées par les exploitants des terres appliquant la Technologie

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

Propriété foncière:

• individu, avec titre de propriété

Droits d’utilisation des terres:

• loué

Droits d’utilisation de l’eau:

• communautaire (organisé)

Commentaires:

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 Accès aux services et aux infrastructures

6.1 Impacts sur site que la Technologie a montrés

Impacts socio-économiques

Production

Disponibilité et qualité de l'eau

Revenus et coûts

Impacts socioculturels

Impacts écologiques

Sols

Biodiversité: végétale, animale

Réduction des risques de catastrophe et des risques climatiques

6.2 Impacts hors site que la Technologie a montrés

6.3 Exposition et sensibilité de la Technologie aux changements progressifs et aux évènements extrêmes/catastrophes liés au climat (telles que perçues par les exploitants des terres)

Changements climatiques progressifs

Changements climatiques progressifs

	Saison	Augmentation ou diminution	Comment la Technologie fait-elle face à cela?
températures annuelles		augmente	bien

Extrêmes climatiques (catastrophes)

Catastrophes météorologiques

	Comment la Technologie fait-elle face à cela?
pluie torrentielle locale	pas bien

Catastrophes climatiques

	Comment la Technologie fait-elle face à cela?
sécheresse	pas bien

Catastrophes hydrologiques

	Comment la Technologie fait-elle face à cela?
inondation générale (rivière)	pas bien

Commentaires:

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 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)?

Commentaires:

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 Adoption de la Technologie

De tous ceux qui ont adopté la Technologie, combien d'entre eux l'ont fait spontanément, à savoir sans recevoir aucune incitation matérielle, ou aucune rémunération? :

• 91-100%

Commentaires:

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 Points forts/ avantages/ possibilités de la Technologie

Points forts/ avantages/ possibilités du point de vue de l'exploitant des terres
The technology helps successful establishment of poplar trees and also natural grasses on sloping lands.

Points forts/ avantages/ possibilités du point de vue du compilateur ou d'une autre personne ressource clé
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 Faiblesses/ inconvénients/ risques de la Technologie et moyens de les surmonter

Faiblesses/ inconvénients/ risques du point de vue de l’exploitant des terres	Comment peuvent-ils être surmontés?
There is no information available regarding the land user's view on the weaknesses of this technology.

Faiblesses/ inconvénients/ risques du point de vue du compilateur ou d'une autre personne ressource clé	Comment peuvent-ils être surmontés?
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 Méthodes/ sources d'information