1.2 Detalhes do contato das pessoas capacitadas e instituições envolvidas na avaliação e documentação da tecnologia

Nome do projeto que facilitou a documentação/avaliação da Tecnologia (se relevante)

ICARDA Institutional Knowledge Management Initiative

Nome da(s) instituição(ões) que facilitou(ram) a documentação/ avaliação da Tecnologia (se relevante)

International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) - Líbano

1.3 Condições em relação ao uso da informação documentada através de WOCAT

O/a compilador/a e a(s) pessoa(s) capacitada(s) aceitam as condições relativas ao uso de dados documentados através da WOCAT:

Sim

1.4 Declaração de sustentabilidade da tecnologia descrita

A tecnologia descrita aqui é problemática em relação a degradação da terra de forma que não pode ser declarada uma tecnologia de gestão sustentável de terra?

Não

2.1 Descrição curta da tecnologia

Definição da tecnologia:

This technology is based on the natural advantages and the multi-purpose usage of spineless cactus pear (Opuntia fiscus-indica), to cultivate marginal lands in Jordan, generating environmental and socio-economic benefits.

2.2 Descrição detalhada da tecnologia

Descrição:

In the arid parts of Jordan with limited rainfall, little irrigation, high water evaporation, poor soil quality and unsustainable land management result in land degradation (erosion and salinization) and productivity loss. Therefore, the International Center Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) and National Agricultural Research Centre of Jordan (NARC) organized field days (started in 2014) to disseminate knowledge regarding the cultivation of the cactus pear, Opuntia ficus-indica, cactus crop. Cacti can cope with high temperatures and grow well in (semi)-arid areas with 250-600mm annual rainfall or where irrigation is available. Additionally, the plant is very resilient as it can withstand a long dry season due to its high water-content and water-use -efficiency, which are a result of its morphology (waxy cuticle, no actual leaves) and the Crassulacean Acid Metabolism (CAM). In CAM plant, stomata in the leaves remain shut during the day to reduce evapotranspiration, but open at night to collect and fix carbon dioxide (CO2). In general, cacti have multiple products that benefit local livelihoods, these are for example stable production of fodder for livestock and fruits for human consumption. Also, cactus can grow and produce requiring few inputs such as fertilizers, therefore marginal lands are well suited for cactus cultivation.

The market for cactus fruits is very promising in Jordan. Nowadays, there is high demand for cactus fruits as people grow fond of the fruits but also for medicinal uses. This documentation is focused on a farm covering roughly 10 hectares, where cactus was planted due to its socio-economic and environmental advantages i.e. the high prices for cactus fruits and the ability of cactus to grow in marginal lands with little input and cover the soil hence preventing soil erosion. However, the farm is not located ideally for cactus cultivation. Therefore, the farm is currently intensively managed in terms of fertilizer application and the irrigation. The previous land use was poor cultivation of barley to feed (grazing) sheep and goats. This led to little soil cover resulting in land degradation in the form of erosion. The farmer paid for the establishment of the cactus-plantation. The cacti are spaced by 4 meters between plants and 3 meters between rows. This spacing is specific for fruit production, in case of fodder production a higher crop density is recommended. The cacti are planted on the contours in pits (40 centimetres depth and diameter) to ensure rain-water collection and efficient fertilizer application as the farm is situated on a 15% slope. The cacti reduce erosion as the roots hold the soil together. Field preparation for the establishment of the cactus field includes: (1) soil scrapping; (2) deep soil ploughing; (3) surface soil ploughing; and (4) pit digging. No fertilizer was applied in the establishment stage. Recurrent activities and costs are weeding, applying fertilizer and organic manure, maintaining the pits and harvesting. 200 kilograms per hectare of inorganic fertilizer (NPK) is applied between March and May. A total of 4 tons per hectare of organic manure is applied in September-November. These activities are non-mechanized, and therefore labour intensive.

The farm receives less than 200mm of annual rainfall and a public dam for irrigation is available. Therefore, the farmer invests in three water tanks to store water brought from the dam using his own truck, and in a drip irrigation system for high irrigation efficiency. The farm is irrigated by 360 cubic meter per month, divided in three events. The costs per cubic meter is 0.95 Jordanian Dinar (JOD) (including transportation costs). Before the realization of the drip irrigation system, the cacti were watered by hand (19991-2015). During the initial three years, cacti produce no fruits making the short-term return on investment rather negative. Currently, the cactus-plantation produces 32.5 ton/ha, equivalent to 65 kg /plant. The average net income per hectare varies between 1650 JOD to 2750 JOD. This makes the farmer relatively medium- wealthy with respect to the area. Most costs are induced by labour as the farmer uses manual weeding, harvesting and fertilizer application.

Even though the cultivation of cacti for its fruits on marginal lands has many benefits like the reduction in erosion, stable production, high output/input efficiency and good prices. There are some weaknesses, for example the relative young market of cactus products in Jordan compared to Tunisia. The Tunisian market for cactus products has a longer history, a high demand for other cactus-products like oil and juice and a better infrastructure (e.g. processing units) exist. These create more consistent prices for farmers, so less price drops during harvesting periods. Another weak point is the fact that cacti are cultivated in mono-culture. This significantly increases the risk of new pests and potential damage of the cultivated crop.

To conclude, this documentation shows that even though the selected farm does not represent an ideal site for cactus pear cultivation, the implementation of cacti is socio-economically and environmentally appropriate to cultivate dry marginal lands as cacti uses water and nutrients highly efficient while reducing land degradation. Therefore, the out-scaling of cacti is very valuable and a practical option to fight land degradation and enhance smallholder’s income.

2.3 Fotos da tecnologia

2.5 País/região/locais onde a tecnologia foi aplicada e que estão cobertos nesta avaliação

2.6 Data da implementação

Indique o ano de implementação:

2014

2.7 Introdução da tecnologia

Especifique como a tecnologia foi introduzida:

• durante experiências/ pesquisa
• através de projetos/intervenções externas

3.1 Principal/principais finalidade(s) da tecnologia

• Melhora a produção
• Reduz, previne, recupera a degradação do solo
• Adaptar a mudanças climáticas/extremos e seus impactos
• Criar impacto econômico benéfico
• Cria impacto social benéfico

3.2 Tipo(s) atualizado(s) de uso da terra onde a tecnologia foi aplicada

Uso do solo misturado dentro da mesma unidade de terra:

Não

3.3 O uso do solo mudou devido à implementação da Tecnologia?

O uso do solo mudou devido à implementação da Tecnologia?

• Sim (Por favor, preencha as perguntas abaixo com relação ao uso do solo antes da implementação da Tecnologia)

Uso do solo misturado dentro da mesma unidade de terra:

Sim

Especificar o uso misto da terra (culturas/ pastoreio/ árvores):

• Agropecuária (incl. agricultura e pecuária)

3.4 Abastecimento de água

Abastecimento de água para a terra na qual a tecnologia é aplicada:

• Irrigação completa

Comentários:

360m^3 of water applied through drip irrigation. The annual precipitation is less than 200mm

3.5 Grupo de GST ao qual pertence a tecnologia

• Solo/cobertura vegetal melhorada
• Gestão de irrigação (inclusive abastecimento de água, drenagem)

3.6 Medidas de GST contendo a tecnologia

3.7 Principais tipos de degradação da terra abordados pela tecnologia

3.8 Redução, prevenção ou recuperação da degradação do solo

Especifique o objetivo da tecnologia em relação a degradação da terra:

• Prevenir degradação do solo
• Reduzir a degradação do solo

4.1 Desenho técnico da tecnologia

4.2 Informação geral em relação ao cálculo de entradas e custos

Especifique como custos e entradas foram calculados:

• por área de tecnologia

Outro/moeda nacional (especifique):

JOD

Se for relevante, indique a taxa de câmbio do USD para moeda local (por exemplo, 1 USD = 79,9 Real): 1 USD =:

0,71

4.3 Atividades de implantação

	Atividade	Periodicidade (estação do ano)
1.	Soil scrapping	Prior to planting
2.	Deep soil ploughing	Prior to planting
3.	Surface soil ploughing	Prior to planting
4.	Pit digging	Prior to planting
5.	Planting cacti	Last third of the dry season (August - October)
6.	Establishment of drip irrigation	If feasible (This case 2015)

Comentários:

Drip irrigation can be establishment when feasible (e.g. funds available). It would greatly enhance cactus-production but cacti can survive and produce without it.

4.4 Custos e entradas necessárias para a implantação

	Especifique a entrada	Unidade	Quantidade	Custos por unidade	Custos totais por entrada	% dos custos arcados pelos usuários da terra
Mão-de-obra	Pit Digging & Planting	Person Hour	47,0	100,0	4700,0	100,0
Mão-de-obra						100,0
Mão-de-obra						100,0
Equipamento	Soil Scrapping (Jackhammer)	Machine-Hour	35,0	200,0	7000,0	100,0
Equipamento	Deep Soil Ploughing (Tractor)	Machine-Hour	9,0	250,0	2250,0	100,0
Equipamento	Surface Soil Ploughing	Machine-Hour	9,0	250,0	2250,0	100,0
Material vegetal	Cactus Pads	Pad	5000,0	0,1	500,0	100,0
Material de construção	Drip Irrigation (including labour for installation: 14 person days)	Whole System	1,0	13700,0	13700,0	100,0
Material de construção	Water Tanks (including labour for construction: 10 person days)	Tank	3,0	500,0	1500,0	100,0
Custos totais para a implantação da tecnologia					31900,0
Custos totais para o estabelecimento da Tecnologia em USD					44929,58

Comentários:

The cacti are planted in pits. The digging of pits and planting of the cactus pads into the pits is done simultaneously, hence this is grouped in terms of labour. For soil preparation (scrapping and ploughing), the costs of labour are included in the machine costs as this was a hired service. The installation of the irrigation system and the construction of the tanks was each offered as a package and hence include the costs of labour.

4.5 Atividades recorrentes/manutenção

	Atividade	Periodicidade/frequência
1.	NPK Fertilizer (1x)	March - May
2.	NPK Fertilizer (1x)	September - November
3.	NPK Fertilizer (1x)	December - February
4.	Organic Manure Application	September - November
5.	Manual Weeding (2x)	March - May
6.	Maintenance of planting pits	April
7.	Harvesting	August - September

4.6 Custos e entradas necessárias pata a manutenção/atividades recorrentes (por ano)

	Especifique a entrada	Unidade	Quantidade	Custos por unidade	Custos totais por entrada	% dos custos arcados pelos usuários da terra
Mão-de-obra	NPK Fertilizer Application	Person-Day	9,0	20,0	180,0	100,0
Mão-de-obra	Organic Manure Application	Person-Day	7,0	20,0	140,0	100,0
Mão-de-obra	Total Weeding	Person-Day	200,0	15,0	3000,0	100,0
Mão-de-obra	Harvesting / Fruit Grabbing	Person-Day	280,0	20,0	5600,0	100,0
Equipamento	Irrigation Management	Person Hour	252,0			100,0
Fertilizantes e biocidas	NPK Fertilizer	Ton	2,0	1000,0	2000,0	100,0
Fertilizantes e biocidas	Organic Manure	Ton	40,0	30,0	1200,0	100,0
Outros	Pit Maintenance	Per Pit	4550,0	0,25	1137,5	100,0
Outros	Water for Irrigation (360m3 per month)	Kubic Metre	4320,0	0,95	4104,0	100,0
Custos totais para a manutenção da tecnologia					17361,5
Custos totais de manutenção da Tecnologia em USD					24452,82

Comentários:

Irrigation Management consists of filling the tanks and using the drip irrigation.

4.7 Fatores mais importantes que afetam os custos

Descreva os fatores mais determinantes que afetam os custos:

On the farm most work (e.g. weeding) is done manually. Therefore, the cost of labour contributes significantly to the total cost.

5.1 Clima

5.2 Topografia

Indique se a tecnologia é aplicada especificamente em:

• Não relevante

5.3 Solos

5.4 Disponibilidade e qualidade de água

A salinidade da água é um problema?

Sim

Ocorre inundação da área?

Não

5.5 Biodiversidade

5.6 Características dos usuários da terra que utilizam a tecnologia

5.7 Área média de terrenos utilizados pelos usuários de terrenos que aplicam a Tecnologia

5.8 Propriedade de terra, direitos de uso da terra e de uso da água

Propriedade da terra:

• Grupo

Direitos do uso da terra:

• Indivíduo

Direitos do uso da água:

• Comunitário (organizado)

Os direitos de uso da terra são baseados em um sistema jurídico tradicional?

Sim

Especifique:

Most government land is open access.

Comentários:

The water comes from a public dam.

5.9 Acesso a serviços e infraestrutura

6.1 Impactos no local mostrados pela tecnologia

Impactos socioeconômicos

Produção

Disponibilidade e qualidade de água

Renda e custos

Impactos socioculturais

Impactos ecológicos

Solo

Biodiversidade: vegetação, animais

Clima e redução de riscos de desastre

6.3 Exposição e sensibilidade da tecnologia às mudanças climáticas graduais e extremos/desastres relacionados ao clima (conforme o ponto de vista dos usuários da terra)

Mudança climática gradual

Mudança climática gradual

	Estação do ano	aumento ou diminuição	Como a tecnologia lida com isso?
Temperatura anual		aumento	muito bem

Extremos (desastres) relacionados ao clima

Desastres meteorológicos

	Como a tecnologia lida com isso?
Tempestade de granizo local	não bem
Tempestade de neve local	não bem

Desastres climatológicos

	Como a tecnologia lida com isso?
Onde de calor	muito bem
Onde de frio	não bem
Condições de inverno extremo	não bem
Seca	muito bem

Desastres biológicos

	Como a tecnologia lida com isso?
Doenças epidêmicas	não bem

Comentários:

Hail storms and snow storms may occur, but very rarely. An example of an epidemic disease is black spot or rots.

6.4 Análise do custo-benefício

Como os benefícios se comparam aos custos de implantação (do ponto de vista dos usuários da terra)?

Como os benefícios se comparam aos custos recorrentes/de manutenção(do ponto de vista dos usuários da terra)?

Comentários:

The Net Income per hectare varies between 1650 and 2750 JOD.

6.5 Adoção da tecnologia

• 1-10%

Se disponível, determine a quantidade (número de unidades familiares e/ou área abordada):

200 ha

De todos aqueles que adotaram a Tecnologia, quantos o fizeram espontaneamente, ou seja, sem receber nenhum incentivo/ pagamento material?

• 91-100%

Comentários:

All farmers who planted cactus started after requiring knowledge about the good prices for cactus fruits and the natural advantages of the cacti. So, this specific technology (Irrigated Cactus plantation) is not necessarily adopted by many farmers. But the use of cacti as a resilient, efficient and profitable crops is however adopted among many other farmers.

6.6 Adaptação

A tecnologia foi recentemente modificada para adaptar-se as condições variáveis?

Sim

Caso afirmativo, indique as condições variáveis as quais ela foi adaptada:

• Mercados dinâmicos

Especifique a adaptação da tecnologia (desenho, material/espécie, etc):

The market demands increase for cactus pears. This results in different crop-spacing because cactus for pear production requires wider spacing, while cactus for fodder production can be planted more dense. Hence, changing market demands for the different products of cactus require different agronomic practices.

6.7 Pontos fortes/vantagens/oportunidades da tecnologia

Pontos fortes/vantagens/oportunidades na visão do usuário da terra
The cacti are highly productive with minimum inputs.
It does not require much water, which is important as irrigation water availability is a bottleneck for the farmer as well as for most areas in Jordan.
The cacti are even productive in poor soil and by growing cacti on these soils, it also reduces erosion.
The reduced risk of drought deteriorated yields is important as climate change leads to more extreme weather event, such as droughts. This will only increase in the future. Therefore the cactus's ability to cope with climate change (resilience to climate fluctuations) is a great advantage and increasingly important.

Pontos fortes/vantagens/oportunidades na visão do/a compilador/a ou de outra pessoa capacitada
Due to the suitability of cacti to be cultivated in marginal lands, the soil is partly covered permanently by vegetation in these areas which protects these degraded lands. Therefore, cacti cultivation could offer incentive to prevent land degradation.
The technology offers increased resilience of the environment and its involved livelihoods. This is because cacti are more resilient to climate change induced effects such as increased droughts and increasing (summer) temperatures, as result of their high-water content and efficiency. Therefore, this technology is better suited for the future.

6.8 Pontos fracos, desvantagens/riscos da tecnologia e formas de superá-los

Pontos fracos/desvantagens/riscos na visão do usuário da terra	Como eles podem ser superados?
The significant cost related to labour.	According to the farmer there were no alternatives.
Marketing can be considered a weakness as during harvest, the supply of cactus fruits was high and thus the selling-prices were low.	By investing in manufacturing/ processing the cacti and stably provide the market with other cactus-products, such as the Tunisian market.
The increased risk of new pests.	More awareness is required so the new pests can be identified, allowing proper and timely action.
The absence of agro-industrial processing units. Currently, the market demand is mostly related to the cactus fruits. However, cacti offer more such as seeds for oil extraction (such as the Tunisian cactus value chain) .	Investments to enhance cactus-value chain as is done in Tunisia.

Pontos fracos/vantagens/riscos na visão do/a compilador/a ou de outra pessoa capacitada	Como eles podem ser superados?
The possible knowledge gap for farmers to switch from their conventional/traditional agricultural practices to a more innovative one could be a bottleneck for out-scaling the technology.	This bottleneck can be overcome, by developing social capital such as (e.g.) institutions or farmers networks to disseminate knowledge. A good example is the field days for farmers organized by NARC and ICARDA.
The risks of pests and diseases is a weakness of the cacti as these plants are vulnerable to this. Also, due to the density and mono-cropping of the cacti, the pest/ disease may spread easily and rapidly over the field. Eventually, risking the production of the cacti, thus possibly reducing the income of local farmers.	A solution may be found in changing the agricultural activities. An example of such a possible solution is the introduction of intercropping, this could increase bio-diversity and reduce the potential loss of income in case of a pest-outbreak.

7.1 Métodos/fontes de informação

7.3 Links para informações on-line relevantes

Título/ descrição:

Fethi Ghouhis, Mounir Louhaichi, Ali Nefzaoui. (12/8/2019). Cactus (Opuntia ficus-indica) utilization for rehabilitating rangelands in arid regions of Tunisia. Acta Horticulturae, 1247, pp. 95-102.

URL:

https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11766/10394

Título/ descrição:

Mounir Louhaichi, Sawsan Hassan, Giorgia Liguori. (30/12/2019). Manual: Cactus Pear Agronomic Practices.

URL:

https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11766/10558

Título/ descrição:

HO de Waal, Mounir Louhaichi, Makiko Taguchi, Herman Fouché, Maryna de Wit. (25/1/2015). Development of a cactus pear agro-industry for the sub-Sahara Africa Region. Bloemfontein, South Africa: HO de Waal (Curator).

URL:

https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11766/7109

Título/ descrição:

Mounir Louhaichi, Sawsan Hassan. (7/10/2018). Managing rangelands: promoting sustainable shrub species: Opuntia ficus-indica (L. ) Mill: a sustainable fodder plant for the dry areas. Beirut, Lebanon: International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA).

URL:

https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11766/9048

Título/ descrição:

Mourad Rekik, Mounir Louhaichi. (9/3/2014). Cactusnet: Promoting the social and ecological benefits of cactus production: Enhancing sheep reproduction through cactus-based feed diets. Beirut, Lebanon: International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA).

URL:

https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11766/8523

Título/ descrição:

Hichem Ben Salem, Mounir Louhaichi. (30/11/2014). Cactusnet: Promoting the social and ecological benefits of cactus production: Promoting Cactus as an alternative and sustainable livestock feed. Beiurt, Lebanon: International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA)

URL:

https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11766/5454

Título/ descrição:

Ali Nefzaoui, Mounir Louhaichi, Hichem Ben Salem. (30/1/2014). Cactus as a Tool to Mitigate Drought and to Combat Desertification. Journal of Arid Land Studies, 24(1), pp. 121-124.

URL:

https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11766/7319

Título/ descrição:

Mounir Louhaichi (Producer), Sawsan Hassan (Director). (17/1/2021). Best Agronomic Practices for establishing cactus Orchard. Jordan: International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) (Executive Producer).

URL:

https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11766/12374