Rehabilitated pasture in Sari Joy (Mia Jan Maroofi)
Project supported pasture rehabilitation has taken place in the villages Sari Joy, Jawaz Khana and Dashti Mirzai, located in Chokar watershed of Rustaq District in Northern Afghanistan. The Chokar watershed is a mountainous area situated between 600 - 2,500 m above sea level. The climate is semi-arid with harsh and cold weather in winter and hot and dry summers. The annual precipitation in average years is 580mm. Land degradation affects all forms of land use and includes low vegetation cover, heavy top soil erosion from water, and poor soil fertility. Unsustainable agricultural practices, over-exploitation and high pressure on the natural resources are adversely impacting on the socio-economic well-being of local communities as well as contributing to the risk for being adversely affected by drought as well as landslides and flash foods triggered by heavy rainfall. The data used for the documentation of the technology is based on field research conducted in Chokar watershed, namely in the villages: Sari Joy, Jawaz Khana and Dashti Mirzai. These villages represent the upper, the middle and the lower zone of Chokar watershed, respectively. They differ considerably in access to services and infrastructure, but in general are poorly served. The communities depend on land resources for sustaining their livelihoods. In a good year with high yields, wheat-self-sufficiency lasts about 5 months. The three villages are home to ethnic Qarluq communities. Since 2012 the Livelihood Improvement Project Takhar (LIPT) implemented by Terre des hommes (Tdh) Switzerland has initiated a range of NRM interventions.
Livestock keeping is one of the key livelihood strategies in rural Rustaq in addition to cultivation of cereals. Families rely on their livestock not only for consumption of meat from cows, goat and sheep, dairy products such as milk and sour milk, but also as means of transportation (donkeys), labour force in agriculture (oxen, donkey) and source of cash income. Every family strives to increase their household’s livestock as much as they can, which increases the pressure on the local pastures leading to extensive overgrazing. The pastures in Jawaz Khana, Dashti Mirzai and Sari Joy are characterized by poor vegetation cover, low carrying capacity and sever erosion with deep rills clearly visible on the surface. These severely degraded pastures continue to be used uncontrollably without any management schemes or regulations in place. Cropland not suitable for cultivation has been converted to pastures. The quantity and quality of livestock fodder is insufficient for all the livestock affecting poor animal health.
The village communities have recognized the poor condition of their pastures and the need to take measures to revert the situation. Pasture rehabilitation measures were introduced, which aim to restore heavily degraded pasture land with alfalfa. Initially the land user and the community agrees to leave the sown pasture under quarantine for three years. The restoration measures include: leveling the soil with a rack to soften the soil and prepare the seedbed. 3,5 kg of alfalfa is seeded on 1 jerib or 0.2 ha of pasture land using the broadcast seeding method. Fertilizer application (DAP and/or animal manure) is followed by the seeding. The area is protected from grazing during three years. During this quarantine period the alfalfa has to grow in sufficient size in order to be harvested for livestock fodder.
It has been observed that after two years in some part it is already possible to harvest the alfalfa. Improvements of the pasture are visible given the fast growth rate of the alfalfa crop. The plant grows well without irrigation, which is favorable given the shortage of irrigation water in the villages. The rehabilitated pastures will slow down the run-off, improve water infiltration and protect the pasture from erosion during heavy rain fall. The land users recognize the pasture improvements and relatively increased fodder availability. Alfalfa reseeding is done in 5-10 years and appeals to the needs of the land users, which cannot afford annual reseeding. One of the constraint remains is the quarantine period of 1-3 years, which deprives the livestock from fodder and the farmers have to find options for covering the loss.
Women are generally aware about the use of alfalfa for the production of better fodder for their livestock. Women do take part in haymaking, collecting the hay and bringing it to their homes or to the community fodder bank. Often they are helped by their children to do the work.
Байршил: Sari Joy, Jawaz Khana, Dashti Mirzai villages, Takhar Province, Rustaq District, Афганистан
Дүн шинжилгээнд хамрагдсан технологи нэвтрүүлсэн газрын тоо: 2-10 байршилд
Технологийн тархалт: газар дээр жигд тархсан (approx. < 0.1 км2 (10 га))
Тусгай хамгаалалттай газар нутагт?:
Хэрэгжилтийн огноо: <10 жилийн өмнө (саяхны)
Нутагшууллын төрөл
| Зардлын нэр, төрөл | Хэмжих нэгж | Тоо хэмжээ | Нэгжийн үнэ (Ам.доллар) | Зардал бүрийн нийт өртөг (Ам.доллар) | Нийт дүнгээс газар ашиглагчийн төлсөн % |
| Хөдөлмөр эрхлэлт | |||||
| Leveling the land | person-day | 100.0 | 5.3 | 530.0 | 100.0 |
| Sowing alfalfa | person-day | 5.0 | 5.3 | 26.5 | 100.0 |
| Site protection | year | 1.0 | 447.0 | 447.0 | 100.0 |
| Тоног төхөөрөмж | |||||
| Shovel | piece | 1.0 | 3.8 | 3.8 | 100.0 |
| Rope | meter | 50.0 | 0.07 | 3.5 | 100.0 |
| Rake | piece | 1.0 | 3.0 | 3.0 | |
| таримал материал | |||||
| Alfalfa seed | 17.5 | 0.42 | 7.35 | ||
| Бордоо ба биоцид | |||||
| DAP | kg | 125.0 | 0.9 | 112.5 | |
| Urea | Kg | 125.0 | 0.45 | 56.25 | 100.0 |
| Технологи бий болгох нийт үнэ өртөг | 1'189.9 | ||||
| Технологи бий болгох нийт үнэ өртөг, ам.доллар | 17.76 | ||||
| Зардлын нэр, төрөл | Хэмжих нэгж | Тоо хэмжээ | Нэгжийн үнэ (Ам.доллар) | Зардал бүрийн нийт өртөг (Ам.доллар) | Нийт дүнгээс газар ашиглагчийн төлсөн % |
| Хөдөлмөр эрхлэлт | |||||
| Hay making | person day | 35.0 | 5.3 | 185.5 | 100.0 |
| Delivery of the hay to the fodder bank | person day | 35.0 | 5.3 | 185.5 | 100.0 |
| Protection during quarantine | year | 2.0 | 447.0 | 894.0 | 100.0 |
| Тоног төхөөрөмж | |||||
| Sickle | piece | 1.0 | 2.25 | 2.25 | 100.0 |
| Pitchfork | piece | 1.0 | 5.3 | 5.3 | 100.0 |
| Технологийн арчилгаа/урсгал үйл ажиллагаанд шаардагдах нийт үнэ өртөг | 1'272.55 | ||||
| Технологи арчилах ба урсгал ажлын нийт үнэ өртөг, ам.доллар | 18.99 | ||||
Alfalfa is a fast growing forage crop with high yields. Cultivation of alfalfa and in some areas alfalfa and sainfoin has the advantage of providing quality fodder in sufficient amounts.
Sufficient amount of quality fodder and its availability in longer periods, particularly during winter and spring has a positive impact on animal health and productivity.
Negligible impact on diversity of fodder products. Main crops are alfalfa and sainfoin.
The sum of improved access and availability of fodder and better animal health, is expected to have positive impact on household's food security and self-sufficiency.
Land users learned how to apply SLM measures to restore heavily degraded land and grow better fodder for livestock.
Female headed households are not included. Technology is mostly implemented on private land. People without land are using common pastures. They have the opportunity to earn income as a hired worker for the SLM implementers.
Alfalfa develops a strong root system, which stabilizes the soil and prevents soil loss.
Alfalfa is a perennial crop, which grows up to 5 years without reseeding and thereby helps to increase the vegetation cover over longer periods.
