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

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

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

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

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

1.4 Declaration on sustainability of the described Technology

Is the Technology described here problematic with regard to land degradation, so that it cannot be declared a sustainable land management technology?

No

2.1 Short description of the Technology

Definition of the Technology:

Multistory gardens refer to upright polythene sack filled with soil, in which food crops like vegetables, kales, carrots or onions grow on its sides.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

Multistory gardening is an innovative and exciting technology for year round vegetable gardening. Multi-storey farming not only makes efficient use of water but it is also safe from droughts and floods.

Purpose of the Technology: This micro-gardening concept being a low input activity is ideal where labor and other resources are scarce. Multi-storey gardens lead to development of self reliance in vegetables for nutrition and food security in the vulnerable households.

Establishment / maintenance activities and inputs: Materials required for multi-storey gardening include empty cereal bag or animal feed bag, one empty oil can or 6”PVC pipe with holes, 2buckets small stones, 6 buckets soil, 6 buckets manure, seeds, adequate water to irrigate the bag garden and gardening tools. The following procedure is used to set up the garden. 1) Mix the soil and well decomposed manure thoroughly. 2) Cut out the bottom of the oil can and make holes on the sides. 3) Fold back the bag and fill the bottom 15cm with small stones. 4) Place the can on top of the small stones in the center of the bag. 5) Fill the oil can with small stones 6) Fill the area between the oil can and the bag with the soil-manure mixture up to the can level. 7) Pull up the can to the level of the soil compost mixture with a tilting motion. Repeat steps 5, 6 and 7 until the bag is full and a central core of stones is formed leaving the tin at the top of the bag garden. Pour water into the tin through the central core till the soil is soaked.

Natural / human environment: Multistory gardens technology is suitable for urban gardening in Kenya where land for farming has greatly reduced due to urbanization.These bag gardens are also suitable for dry, non fertile areas where soils are not suitable for conventional gardening, areas with water scarcity..

2.3 Photos of the Technology

2.5 Country/ region/ locations where the Technology has been applied and which are covered by this assessment

Country:

Kenya

Region/ State/ Province:

Eastern Province

Further specification of location:

Embu

Specify the spread of the Technology:

• evenly spread over an area

If precise area is not known, indicate approximate area covered:

• < 0.1 km2 (10 ha)

Map

×

2.6 Date of implementation

If precise year is not known, indicate approximate date:

• less than 10 years ago (recently)

2.7 Introduction of the Technology

Specify how the Technology was introduced:

• through projects/ external interventions

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

• improve production
• adapt to climate change/ extremes and its impacts
• create beneficial economic impact

3.2 Current land use type(s) where the Technology is applied

Cropland

• Annual cropping

Annual cropping - Specify crops:

• vegetables - leafy vegetables (salads, cabbage, spinach, other)
• vegetables - root vegetables (carrots, onions, beet, other)

Number of growing seasons per year:

• 1

Specify:

Longest growing period in days: 180, Second longest growing period in days: 180

Comments:

Food crops like vegetables, kales, carrots, onions and spinach
Major land use problems (compiler’s opinion): Effects of strong moving wind causes great soil erosion, but the presence of multistorey crops alternates the wind energy, hence lowering its effects.
Major land use problems (land users’ perception): Greatest soil erosion and also bending of crops in the farms

Constraints of settlement / urban

3.4 Water supply

Water supply for the land on which the Technology is applied:

• mixed rainfed-irrigated

3.5 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• home gardens

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

agronomic measures

• A1: Vegetation/ soil cover

vegetative measures

• V2: Grasses and perennial herbaceous plants

Comments:

Type of agronomic measures: better crop cover

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

soil erosion by wind

• Et: loss of topsoil

Comments:

Main causes of degradation: soil management, urbanisation and infrastructure development, land tenure

3.8 Prevention, reduction, or restoration of land degradation

Specify the goal of the Technology with regard to land degradation:

• prevent land degradation
• restore/ rehabilitate severely degraded land

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

Technical specifications (related to technical drawing):

This is a technical drawing showing a typical multi-storey garden technology for vegetable production. It comprises of a perforated polythene bag with a central Perforated PVC pipe (for water application) and vegetables planted on the outer surfaces.

Location: Mbeere South District. Eastern Province

Main technical functions: spatial arrangement and diversification of land use

Better crop cover
Material/ species: vegetables (kales and spinach)
Quantity/ density: 8
Remarks: per line

Author:

Paul Kahiga, 62000-00200 Nairobi

Date:

28/10/2012

4.2 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

other/ national currency (specify):

Kshs

If relevant, indicate exchange rate from USD to local currency (e.g. 1 USD = 79.9 Brazilian Real): 1 USD =:

100.0

4.3 Establishment activities

Comments:

Lifespan of the polythene bag: 5 years
Lifespan of the manure: 1 year
Lifespan of the seedlings: 1 year

4.4 Costs and inputs needed for establishment

Comments:

Duration of establishment phase: 1 month(s)

4.5 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

4.6 Costs and inputs needed for maintenance/ recurrent activities (per year)

4.7 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

Labor is the most determinate factor affecting the costs.

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

5.3 Soils

If available, attach full soil description or specify the available information, e.g. soil type, soil PH/ acidity, Cation Exchange Capacity, nitrogen, salinity etc.

Soil fertility: Medium
Soil drainage/infiltration: Medium
Soil water storage capacity: Medium

5.4 Water availability and quality

5.5 Biodiversity

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

Indicate other relevant characteristics of the land users:

Land users applying the Technology are mainly common / average land users
Population density: 10-50 persons/km2
Annual population growth: < 0.5%

5.7 Average area of land used by land users applying the Technology

5.8 Land ownership, land use rights, and water use rights

Land use rights:

• individual

Water use rights:

• individual

5.9 Access to services and infrastructure

6.1 On-site impacts the Technology has shown

Socio-economic impacts

Production

Water availability and quality

Income and costs

Socio-cultural impacts

6.3 Exposure and sensitivity of the Technology to gradual climate change and climate-related extremes/ disasters (as perceived by land users)

Climate-related extremes (disasters)

Meteorological disasters

6.4 Cost-benefit analysis

How do the benefits compare with the establishment costs (from land users’ perspective)?

How do the benefits compare with the maintenance/ recurrent costs (from land users' perspective)?

6.5 Adoption of the Technology

Comments:

There is a little trend towards spontaneous adoption of the Technology

Comments on adoption trend: It is a new technology

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

7.1 Methods/ sources of information