Short description of the best practice

The CONTILL approach is specially tailored towards Namibia’s low and erratic rainfall, and sandy and degraded soils. It advocates the use of a ripper furrower/constant traffic approach to break up the compacted sub-soil hard pan (caused by compaction from using disc harrows) and to ensure in-field water harvesting and soil improvement. In the first year the ripper furrower must be drawn by tractor to make the initial deep furrow lines to break up the hard pan. However an animal drawn furrower may be used in subsequent years to follow the same previous rip furrow lines (constant traffic system). The use of the same furrows each year increases water harvesting and allows for the concentrated build-up of soil nutrients at the base of the furrow. The crops are planted in the furrows and benefit from this nutrient build up, and their roots are also able to penetrate deeper into the sub soil. Research has shown that the in-field water harvesting that occurs can convert 300mm of rainfall into 520mm, which is very important in this semi-arid environment.
On-farm trials started 5 years ago and have been undertaken on 226 demonstration plots with inputs (technology, seeds, fertiliser and herbicide) and advice provided by the project, while labour, manure and the proper maintenance of the trials was the responsibility of the local farmers. The approach was initially piloted on the local staple crop mahangu (pearl millet). Average yields for mahangu have consistently reached over 6 times the national average (2000kg/ha versus 300kg/ha), which has prompted the approach to be tested for maize and cowpea also, with equally excellent results. |

Location

Carried out mainly in the north-central regions of Namibia but recently extended to the north-east of the country

If the location has well defined boundaries, specify its extension in hectares:

9900000.0

Estimated population living in the location:

980000.0

Brief description of the natural environment within the specified location.

Soils are underlain by Kalahari sandstone are considered infertile or at best marginal for crop production. There are 4 main vegetation zones in the area: woodlands, shrub savanna, grasslands in the south and the central drainage area. Flood plains are found further east along the Okavango river.|
The area is located approximately 1100 meters above sea level, and is extremely flat|
Mean rainfall 300-600mm. Rainfall is also highly variable and typically occurs only from november to april in the wet season. Mean monthly temperatures: 17 degrees centigrade in July and 26 degrees in December with relatively little diurnal variation. High rates of evaporation.

Prevailing socio-economic conditions of those living in the location and/or nearby

The land in these regions is communally owned. The ownership of these land is vested in the state with the population usually afforded usufruct rights to the land. A process of registration and verification of customary land allocations is underway across Namibia's communal areas since the promulgation of the Communal Land Reform Act of 2002.
The majority of the population rely on subsistence farming and remittances from family members working in other parts of Namibia. Pensions are also an important source of income.
The northern regions are among the poorest regions in Namibia. 50.4% of households in Kavango Region are described as poor, 47% in Oshikoto and 46.4% in Omusati. |

On the basis of which criteria and/or indicator(s) (not related to The Strategy) the proposed practice and corresponding technology has been considered as 'best'?

Contill or "Lima nawa" is considered best practice for a number of reasons. It has shown its potential to drastically increase crop yields and to maintain these yields, particularly of the staple mahangu crop. The improved cultivation of mahangu is in itself an adaptation to climate change. Namibia is predicted to become drier with increased variability of rainfall. Thus the technique of in field water harvesting has great value. Mahangu itself is the most drought adapted grain, therefore improved yields and techniques are an important step towards resilience to climate change in Northern Namibia.
Moreover the increased yields are not at the expense of the environment. Rather land degradation is being reversed. The use of crop residues and crop rotations is further driving this process through which increased yields can be sustained over the long term. The ability to be able to increase yields on the same plot of land will also reduce the need to clear new areas for cultivation|

Main problems addressed by the best practice

The best practices addresses the related problems of soil degradation, declining crop yields and food insecurity in a region where livelihoods rely mainly on subsistence farming.|

Outline specific land degradation problems addressed by the best practice

Declining soil fertility; soil erosion; depletion of soil nutrients; water runoff; high levels of evaporation; wind erosion

Specify the objectives of the best practice

The proposed action aims to improve food production and management capacities of small scale farmers in the rural areas of Oshana, Oshikoto, Kavango and Ohangwena. It seeks to address the escalating problem of declining soil yields by taking more appropriate and simple technology to the farmer and applying this in a fully participatory way. Employment creation and building farmer's capacity are further objectives|

Brief description of main activities, by objective

226 smallholder farmers participated in the CONTILL approach. They provided the manure and labour for the on-farm trials and were trained and permitted to keep the increased yields. The increased yields opened up opportunities for the farmers to market their produce for extra income.
Funding for the project is provided by a wide variety of donors. The ripper furrower technology is made available to communities, and on-site training is provided to ensure its optimal adoption.|
Techniques of in-field water harvesting, crop rotation, application of manure, use of crop residues contribute to increased organic matter and plant biomass, which provide global environmental benefits|
Ecosystems were improved by techniques of in-field water harvesting, crop rotation, application of manure, use of crop residues and by increased vegetation cover during the growing season.|

Short description and technical specifications of the technology

The technology applied is known as ripper furrowing. This is an approach to ploughing involving deep penetration into the soil. A tractor pulled ripper furrower is required in the first year so that the hard pan in the sub-soil can be effectively broken up. Thereafter an animal drawn ripper furrower is sufficient

Name and address of the institution developing the technology

Golden Valley Agricultural Research Trust|PO Box 50834
Lusaka
Zambia

Was the technology developed in partnership?

Yes

List the partners:

GART is a public private partnership between the government of Zambia and the Zambian National Farmers Union

Specify the framework within which the technology was promoted

• International initiative

Was the participation of local stakeholders, including CSOs, fostered in the development of the technology?

Yes

List local stakeholders involved:

Namibia Resource Consultants, Namibia National Farmers Union, Creative Enterprise Solutions|

For the stakeholders listed above, specify their role in the design, introduction, use and maintenance of the technology, if any.

All are involved in the project implementation and support to the practitioners

Was the population living in the location and/or nearby involved in the development of the technology?

Yes

By means of what?

• Consultation
• Participatory approaches
• Other (please specify)

Specify:

Training and capacity building

Describe on-site impacts (the major two impacts by category)

Improved yields for communities thereby increased food security and marketing opportunities. access to employment. Inclusion of HIV/AIDS afflicted persons in training and capacity building.
Reversal of soil degradation. Improved soil fertility. Improved water conservation and for mahangu (pearl millet) the lengthened growing season using this method means that the use of long season indigenous varieties, with superior grain and biomass yields, is both possible and preferable|

Describe the major two off-site (i.e. not occurring in the location but in the surrounding areas) impacts

Increased availability of mahangu in nearby and distant markets. Employment opportunities.

Impact on biodiversity and climate change

Explain the reasons:

Contill contributes to the resilience of ecosystems and local communities to climate change through its maximisation of water use efficiency and the increased yields attained in an environmentally friendly way. Food security can thus be guaranteed over the long term even in the face of climate change.
Contill contributes to the resilience of ecosystems and local communities to climate change through its maximisation of water use efficiency and increased yields. Mahangu is also the most drought tolerant cereal and has very high nutritional properties. As a staple crop, it thus has a key role to play in increasing community's resilience to climate change.
In terms of biodiversity, the lengthened growing season using this method means that the use of long season indigenous mahangu varieties, with superior grain and biomass yields, is both possible and preferable. The maintenance of healthy ecosystems should also increase biodiversity in the area.|

Has a cost-benefit analysis been carried out?

Has a cost-benefit analysis been carried out?

Yes

Specify:

The cost benefit analysis revealed the following positive expected benefits:
• Increased number of farmers (at least 100) adopting conservation farming techniques;
• Increased crop yields by at least twice the original yield levels;
• Surplus production of food items, particularly mahangu and cowpeas;
• Increased sales of food items (as opposed to storing for own consumption);
• Increased percentage of disposable incomes;
• 100 farmers trained in technical aspects of conservation farming;
• 100 farmers trained in financial, human resource and marketing management;
• Enhanced ability of crops to cope with erratic rainfall and/or drought;
• Training of 100 farmers in HIV/AIDS prevention and possible community responses to challenges posed by HIV/AIDS;
• Community response initiatives, at least one per community, to HIV/AIDS such as OVC care groups, or HBC groups;
• Improved standard of living for more rural families afflicted with and affected by HIV/AIDS;
• Training of 100 farmers as to the importance of the role of women in production, and their importance in the value-added chain of activities; and
• Training of successful farmer trainers for a wider adoption of conservation tillage practices.

Was the technology disseminated/introduced to other locations?

Was the technology disseminated/introduced to other locations?

Yes

Where?

Kavango Region

Were incentives to facilitate the take up of the technology provided?

Were incentives to facilitate the take up of the technology provided?

Yes

Specify which type of incentives:

• Financial incentives (for example, preferential rates, State aid, subsidies, cash grants, loan guarantees, etc)
• Fiscal incentives (for example, exemption from or reduction of taxes, duties, fees, etc)

Can you identify the three main conditions that led to the success of the presented best practice/technology?

openness and enthusiasm of the community to try new approaches
Simple and applicable technology
the use of on-farm participatory approaches to demonstrate the efficacity of the approach

Replicability

In your opinion, the best practice/technology you have proposed can be replicated, although with some level of adaptation, elsewhere?

Yes

At which level?

• Local
• Sub-national

Related to human resources

CONTILL adoption by farmers is a process, not an overnight event. Farmers need to be assisted in experiencing CONTILL themselves on their farms and also be assisted in adoption. Simply providing implements and some introductory training is not sufficient.  Careful introduction and support are essential.

Related to financial aspects

The need to use a tractor drawn ripper furrower in the first year is a barrier to the adoption of CONTILL by smallholder farmer. This expense is beyond many farmers, therefore a financing support mechanism is necessary.|

Related to technical aspects

CONTILL in itself is recognised as not being enough to reverse land degradation. The use of crop residues and crop rotations (especially using nitrogen fixing legumes such as cowpea) are other essential aspects that need to be adopted. Methods to stimulate greater demand for crops such as mahangu are also necessary to increase the rewards for enhanced production.
CONTILL in itself is recognised as not being enough to reverse land degradation. The use of crop residues and crop rotations (especially using nitrogen fixing legumes such as cowpea) are other essential aspects that need to be adopted. Methods to stimulate greater demand for crops such as mahangu are also necessary to increase the rewards for enhanced production.