Technologies

Road runoff system - Mwingi [Kenya]

Kuketha kiwuo

technologies_1483 - Kenya

Completeness: 65%

1. General information

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

Key resource person(s)

State employee:
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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. Description of the SLM Technology

2.1 Short description of the Technology

Definition of the Technology:

Diversion of runoff from the road and its environment into farm land

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

Diversion channel to harvest run off water from the road catchment. Individually constructed and maintained. The runoff water harvesting has a rainfall "multiplier " effect because it closes the gap between the actual precipition and the crop water requirement. Maintenance (reconditioning) is done mainly during the land preparation in the dry spell. The run is collected and distributed on the cultivated lad through canal systems. This technolgy is meant for semi arid conditions. It can also be applied in the good rainfall areas during poor seasons with crop moisture deficiency particularly during dry speells.

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 - Mwingi District

Specify the spread of the Technology:
  • evenly spread over an area
If precise area is not known, indicate approximate area covered:
  • 100-1,000 km2
Comments:

A farmer initiative technology

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 land users' innovation
Comments (type of project, etc.):

Own initiative and innovativeness

3. Classification of the SLM Technology

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

  • reduce, prevent, restore land degradation

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

Grazing land

Grazing land

Comments:

Number of growing seasons per year: 2
Longest growing period in days: 105 Longest growing period from month to month: Oct - Jan Second longest growing period in days: 85Second longest growing period from month to month: Mar - May

Major land use problems (compiler’s opinion): Erratic rainfall for crop production and vegetative cover for livestock and declining fertility

Major land use problems (land users’ perception): Low rainfall, poor yields and little grass for livestock, and high cost of inputs

3.4 Water supply

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

3.5 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

  • water diversion and drainage

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

structural measures

structural measures

  • S4: Level ditches, pits
Comments:

Main measures: structural measures

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

chemical soil deterioration

chemical soil deterioration

  • Cn: fertility decline and reduced organic matter content (not caused by erosion)
water degradation

water degradation

  • Ha: aridification
Comments:

Main type of degradation addressed: Ha: aridification

Secondary types of degradation addressed: Cn: fertility decline and reduced organic matter content

3.8 Prevention, reduction, or restoration of land degradation

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

4. Technical specifications, implementation activities, inputs, and costs

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

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Technical specifications (related to technical drawing):

Technical knowledge required for field staff / advisors: low

Technical knowledge required for land users: low

Main technical functions: control of concentrated runoff: retain / trap, control of concentrated runoff: impede / retard, control of concentrated runoff: drain / divert, improvement of ground cover, increase of infiltration, increase / maintain water stored in soil, water harvesting / increase water supply

Secondary technical functions: sediment retention / trapping, sediment harvesting

Construction material (other): *Diversion ditch /COD gradient along the structure 0.25%

4.2 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

other/ national currency (specify):

Kenya Shilling

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

27.0

Indicate average wage cost of hired labour per day:

2.22

4.3 Establishment activities

Activity Timing (season)
1. excavation before rains
2. alignment/finishing during the rains

4.4 Costs and inputs needed for establishment

Comments:

Duration of establishment phase: 12 month(s)

4.5 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

Activity Timing/ frequency
1. desilting during rains/on demand
2. desilting dry spell/once

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

Comments:

per metre length of the structure

4.7 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

slope determine the depth of the channel and soil type and distance from the road to the farm determines labour requirements

5. Natural and human environment

5.1 Climate

Annual rainfall
  • < 250 mm
  • 251-500 mm
  • 501-750 mm
  • 751-1,000 mm
  • 1,001-1,500 mm
  • 1,501-2,000 mm
  • 2,001-3,000 mm
  • 3,001-4,000 mm
  • > 4,000 mm
Agro-climatic zone
  • semi-arid

Thermal climate class: tropics

5.2 Topography

Slopes on average:
  • flat (0-2%)
  • gentle (3-5%)
  • moderate (6-10%)
  • rolling (11-15%)
  • hilly (16-30%)
  • steep (31-60%)
  • very steep (>60%)
Landforms:
  • plateau/plains
  • ridges
  • mountain slopes
  • hill slopes
  • footslopes
  • valley floors
Altitudinal zone:
  • 0-100 m a.s.l.
  • 101-500 m a.s.l.
  • 501-1,000 m a.s.l.
  • 1,001-1,500 m a.s.l.
  • 1,501-2,000 m a.s.l.
  • 2,001-2,500 m a.s.l.
  • 2,501-3,000 m a.s.l.
  • 3,001-4,000 m a.s.l.
  • > 4,000 m a.s.l.
Comments and further specifications on topography:

Slopes on average: Also gentle

5.3 Soils

Soil depth on average:
  • very shallow (0-20 cm)
  • shallow (21-50 cm)
  • moderately deep (51-80 cm)
  • deep (81-120 cm)
  • very deep (> 120 cm)
Soil texture (topsoil):
  • coarse/ light (sandy)
  • medium (loamy, silty)
Topsoil organic matter:
  • low (<1%)
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 depth on average: Also deep

Soil fertility is low

Soil drainage / infiltration is good

Soil water storage capacity is medium

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

Off-farm income:
  • less than 10% of all income
Relative level of wealth:
  • poor
  • average
Level of mechanization:
  • manual work
  • animal traction
Indicate other relevant characteristics of the land users:

Population density: 10-50 persons/km2

Annual population growth: 2% - 3%

60% of the land users are average wealthy and own 60% of the land.
30% of the land users are poor and own 30% of the land.
10% of the land users are poor and own 10% of the land.

Off-farm income specification: employment outside the farm and area

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

Land ownership:
  • communal/ village
  • individual, titled
Land use rights:
  • communal (organized)
  • individual

6. Impacts and concluding statements

6.1 On-site impacts the Technology has shown

Ecological impacts

Water cycle/ runoff

surface runoff

increased
decreased
Quantity before SLM:

80

Quantity after SLM:

10

Soil

soil loss

increased
decreased
Quantity before SLM:

12

Quantity after SLM:

2

6.4 Cost-benefit analysis

How do the benefits compare with the establishment costs (from land users’ perspective)?
Short-term returns:

positive

Long-term returns:

very positive

How do the benefits compare with the maintenance/ recurrent costs (from land users' perspective)?
Short-term returns:

positive

Long-term returns:

very positive

6.5 Adoption of the Technology

  • 1-10%
If available, quantify (no. of households and/ or area covered):

30 households

Of all those who have adopted the Technology, how many did so spontaneously, i.e. without receiving any material incentives/ payments?
  • 91-100%
Comments:

Comments on acceptance with external material support: estimates

10% of land user families have adopted the Technology without any external material support

30 land user families have adopted the Technology without any external material support

Comments on spontaneous adoption: estimates

There is a moderate trend towards spontaneous adoption of the Technology

Comments on adoption trend: more land users are harvesting runoff from the road

7. References and links

7.1 Methods/ sources of information

7.2 References to available publications

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Kenya population census. 1989.

Available from where? Costs?

CBS, Nairobi

Title, author, year, ISBN:

SWC manual for Kenya. 1997.

Available from where? Costs?

SWCB/MoA, Nairobi

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Farm managent handbook of Kenya. 1983.

Available from where? Costs?

FMD/MoA, Nairobi

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