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

Name of project 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:

The deepening of the channels has made it possible to control pond and lake recharge, optimise yields and crop growing, and increase the area under cultivation.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

The water for the lakes and ponds in the lakeland area (‘zone lacustre’) alongside the Niger River is supplied when the Niger is in spate by means of a system of natural channels. As the water height of the annual flood wave of the Niger has decreased, some lakes and ponds receive little water. The disadvantages of this natural system are: the loss of harvests due to the flooding of fields before the crops have time to mature, and the rapid retreat of waters that inhibits the capillary effect across large areas.
In relation to the building of control structures and the deepening of channels supplying water to ponds and lakes, the projects main objectives are to: restore water supplies to the lakes and ponds previously fed by the Niger River; regularise water supplies to the ponds and lakes; increase the area under cultivation; restart the growing of flood recession crops and other activities in the areas around ponds and lakes; restore the environment and biodiversity around ponds and lakes; raise the water table around the ponds and lakes.

The deepening of the channels has made it possible to recharge lake and pond basins. It is the reason why we are now seeing the resumption of farming, market gardening, animal husbandry and fishing around the lakes and ponds. By building control structures and large dykes it is possible to control pond and lake recharge, optimise yields and crop growing, and increase the area under cultivation. There is a diversification of production and incomes through the farming of small family units and market gardening plots in the lake and pond areas. The installation of bridge crossings with causeways running across marshlands have helped to open up the area and, as such, facilitate the transport of farm produce, the provisioning of local communities and the circulation of road traffic. The development of the dual road/ferry scheme (the Saraféré-Niafunké road and 40-tonne motor ferry) has revived an economic and human activity that was dying out due to extremely high levels of male outmigration, which left women running households and highly vulnerable.

The stages of initiating, planning and implementing works and installations are based on the studies (soil, topographical and socio-economic) carried out by a consultancy and private company recruited through a tender process to deliver the works according to a well-defined timetable. An oversight and control office undertakes the monitoring and control of works quality and the meeting of agreed deadlines.
In principle, works are carried out during low-water periods when most of the floodplains are dry. The swampy nature of the area makes any intervention in the rainy season impossible. Furthermore, the planning of activities must respect the constraints imposed by nature. The Dabi installation on Lake Takadji is a good example of the application of technical standards.
The application and modus operandi of this good practice involve the following: the water inlets for the lake and pond basins alongside the Niger River are reopened by deepening the feeder channels; the high waters of the Niger River feed the ponds and lakes; water supply is controlled using a cement structure fitted with gates to prevent: the water flow from reversing when the Niger’s water levels are low, water flowing into the ponds and lakes before harvesting is complete; flood gauges to measure annual high water levels.
Various actors are involved in delivering this practice. Their roles are as follows: Beneficiaries are not required to participate in works delivered by contractors (works involving large pond and lakes), but they take charge of the development of VIS plots with support from the World Food Programme (WFP) in the form of supplies. External support from the project/programme finances the installation of facilities, the pump units and the first season’s inputs. Consultancies undertake feasibility studies, produce project specifications and plans, and carry out the monitoring and oversight of works. Local authorities, as a general rule, are involved in the planning of activities or, alternatively, make provision for activities in the PDESC. They also handle the upkeep and maintenance of installations.

2.3 Photos of the Technology

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

2.6 Date of implementation

If precise year is not known, indicate approximate date:

• 10-50 years ago

2.7 Introduction of the Technology

Specify how the Technology was introduced:

• through projects/ external interventions

Comments (type of project, etc.):

This good practice has been used for around 20 years (since 1990) in IFAD projects in the ‘zone lacustre’ (lake zone).

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

• improve production

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

Land use mixed within the same land unit:

Yes

Specify mixed land use (crops/ grazing/ trees):

• Agro-pastoralism (incl. integrated crop-livestock)

Cropland

• Annual cropping

Number of growing seasons per year:

• 1

Specify:

Longest growing period in days: 120, Longest growing period from month to month: August-November

Grazing land

Comments:

Major land use problems (compiler’s opinion): the loss of harvests due to the flooding of fields before the crops have time to mature, and the rapid retreat of waters that inhibits the capillary effect across large areas
Livestock density: 1-10 LU /km2

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

• irrigation management (incl. water supply, drainage)
• water diversion and drainage
• surface water management (spring, river, lakes, sea)

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

structural measures

• S3: Graded ditches, channels, waterways

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

water degradation

• Ha: aridification
• Hs: change in quantity of surface water
• Hg: change in groundwater/aquifer level

Comments:

Main causes of degradation: over abstraction / excessive withdrawal of water (for irrigation, industry, etc.), change of seasonal rainfall

3.8 Prevention, reduction, or restoration of land degradation

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

• restore/ rehabilitate severely degraded land

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

Technical specifications (related to technical drawing):

Map of the ZLDP/NKE intervention area, phases I and II

Technical knowledge required for field staff / advisors: high
Technical knowledge required for land users: low
Main technical functions: increase of groundwater level / recharge of groundwater, water harvesting / increase water supply, recharge lake and pond basins
Secondary technical functions: control of dispersed runoff: retain / trap, increase / maintain water stored in soil

4.2 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

other/ national currency (specify):

CFA Franc

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

517.0

4.3 Establishment activities

4.4 Costs and inputs needed for establishment

4.5 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

4.7 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

The average cost of large ponds is around 300,000 CFA francs per hectare (580 Dollar per hectare). The VIS installation works were conducted using a participatory approach. The project contributed 780,106 CFA francs towards the VIS installation, or 65%, whereas the farmers’ contribution was 429,079 CFA francs per hectare, or 35%.

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

5.3 Soils

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:

Population density: < 10 persons/km2
Annual population growth: 2% - 3%
10% of the land users are rich.
50% of the land users are average wealthy.
30% of the land users are poor.
10% of the land users are very poor.

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

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

Comments:

The irrigated land is allocated by the chief

5.9 Access to services and infrastructure

6.1 On-site impacts the Technology has shown

Socio-economic impacts

Production

Income and costs

Other socio-economic impacts

Socio-cultural impacts

Ecological impacts

Water cycle/ runoff

Soil

Biodiversity: vegetation, animals

Other ecological impacts

6.2 Off-site impacts the Technology has shown

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

Gradual climate change

Gradual climate change

Climate-related extremes (disasters)

Meteorological disasters

Climatological disasters

Hydrological disasters

Other climate-related consequences

Other climate-related consequences

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:

The VIS installation works were conducted using a participatory approach. The project contributed 780'106 CFA francs towards the VIS installation, or 65%, whereas the farmers’ contribution was 429'079 CFA francs per hectare, or 35%.
In terms of the ponds and lakes, the following objectives were achieved: Six large ponds were rehabilitated: Fati (13,000 hectares), Takadji (9,000 hectares) and Ganga (3,000 hectares), making a total of 25,000 hectares, Koboro (4,000 hectares), Kassoum-Soumpi (1,000 hectares), Billi I and Billi II (2,000 hectares), the Nounou-Diengo causeway on Lake Takadji (an additional 1,200 hectares), making a total of 8,200 hectares, Area involved: 33,200 hectares, Number of beneficiaries: 190,000 producers

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

6.8 Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks of the Technology and ways of overcoming them

7.1 Methods/ sources of information

7.2 References to available publications

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Manual of Good Practices in Small Scale Irrigation in the Sahel. Experiences from Mali. Published by GIZ in 2014.

Available from where? Costs?

http://star-www.giz.de/starweb/giz/pub/servlet.starweb

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Completion report for the Zone Lacustre Development Programme – Niafunké Phase II, July 2006