1.2 Contact details of resource persons and institutions involved in the assessment and documentation of the Approach

Name of the institution(s) which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Approach (if relevant)

Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (DEZA / COSUDE / DDC / SDC) - Switzerland

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

The compiler and key resource person(s) accept the conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT:

Yes

2.1 Short description of the Approach

This approach is 'the way' or 'how' the small bench terrace has been implemented on sloping land in northern Thailand.

2.2 Detailed description of the Approach

Detailed description of the Approach:

Aims / objectives: The small bench terrace is a kind of soil conservation measure constructed on sloping land. The main feature is that flat beds are constructed out of the land which is not level primarily to facilitate working in the field, but with benefit of conserving soil at the same time. Normally farmers will implement by themselves with their own fund. In few cases there can be some initiation from some organizations and some help will be provided. This approach has been imported from Taiwan from where some tea bushes were brought to grow in Chiang Rai Province.

2.3 Photos of the Approach

2.5 Country/ region/ locations where the Approach has been applied

2.7 Type of Approach

• traditional/ indigenous

2.8 Main aims/ objectives of the Approach

The Approach focused on SLM only

1. To facilitate cultivation of crops, 2. To ease working in the field, 3. To reduce soil erosion, 4. To increase crop yield.

The SLM Approach addressed the following problems: Steepland in the North, where rainfall is high, has been brought to cultivation. There apparently was a sign of excessive runoff from the land, farmers therefore constructed the small bench terrace, the idea of which was brought from Taiwan.

2.9 Conditions enabling or hindering implementation of the Technology/ Technologies applied under the Approach

3.1 Stakeholders involved in the Approach and their roles

3.2 Involvement of local land users/ local communities in the different phases of the Approach

	Involvement of local land users/ local communities	Specify who was involved and describe activities
initiation/ motivation	none
planning	none
implementation	none	responsibility for major steps
monitoring/ evaluation	none
Research	none

3.4 Decision-making on the selection of SLM Technology/ Technologies

Specify who decided on the selection of the Technology/ Technologies to be implemented:

• land users alone (self-initiative)

Explain:

land user driven (bottom-up). Farmers will see that by having SWC technology in their farm, they will have a better return from crop production. Some farmers may also understand that their soil resources will be better protected and remain fertile for a long time.

Decisions on the method of implementing the SLM Technology were made by by land users* alone (self-initiative / bottom-up). land user driven (bottom-up). Farmers decide about the method of implementing SWC technology by considering their available resources, topography of their farm and the return from the investment.

4.2 Advisory service

Do land users have access to an advisory service?

Yes

Specify whether advisory service is provided:

• on land users' fields

• Farmer to farmer

Describe/ comments:

Name of method used for advisory service: Farmer to farmer; Key elements: Simplicity, Low cost, Functionality

4.3 Institution strengthening (organizational development)

Have institutions been established or strengthened through the Approach?

• no

5.1 Annual budget for the SLM component of the Approach

Comments (e.g. main sources of funding/ major donors):

Approach costs were met by the following donors: other (Personal fund): 100.0%

5.2 Financial/ material support provided to land users

Did land users receive financial/ material support for implementing the Technology/ Technologies?

No

5.3 Subsidies for specific inputs (including labour)

If labour by land users was a substantial input, was it:

• voluntary

Comments:

They do it by themselves through the technology brought from Taiwan.

5.4 Credit

Was credit provided under the Approach for SLM activities?

No

6.1 Impacts of the Approach

6.3 Sustainability of Approach activities

Can the land users sustain what has been implemented through the Approach (without external support)?

• yes

6.4 Strengths/ advantages of the Approach

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view
Easy to do the farm work.
Can obtain relatively high yield.
Soil fertility is improved.

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
Reduce soil loss in large areas grown to horticultural crops and bush-type crops (How to sustain/ enhance this strength: Inspect the field during/after rain to see how efficient they are in SWC & repair as necessary.)
Easy to improve soil fertility, whereby the crop yield is sustained
Easy to do the work in the farm.

6.5 Weaknesses/ disadvantages of the Approach and ways of overcoming them

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the land user’s view	How can they be overcome?
Have to pay for its construction	The government may help after some time.

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view	How can they be overcome?
Water channels if not well planned may scour the land and gyullies may appear.	Plan the water channels well.
A part of the cropped area may be lost.	No way.

7.1 Methods/ sources of information