Technologies

Fruit tree growing for restoration of degraded lands [Uganda]

technologies_2821 - Uganda

Completeness: 82%

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)

land user:

Acen Constance

Name of project which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Technology (if relevant)
Scaling-up SLM practices by smallholder farmers (IFAD)
Name of the institution(s) which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Technology (if relevant)
CDE Centre for Development and Environment (CDE Centre for Development and Environment) - 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

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. Description of the SLM Technology

2.1 Short description of the Technology

Definition of the Technology:

Fruit trees of Mangoes (Mangifera indica) and Oranges (Citrus sinensis) are grown on degraded land to improve soil fertility through deep soil nutrient mining and litter of leaves.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

Fruit tree growing, with focus on mangoes and oranges, is a rewarding investment promoted by farmers in Northern Uganda with the aim of increasing fruit production for home consumption and income, and restoration of degraded land. On a farm located on a steep slope and measuring 40m x 100m (i.e. 1 acre), the land user select and plant disease tolerant, high yielding and marketable orange varieties (e.g. Valencia and Anlin) and mango varieties (Apple and Tommy) using spades, hoes, and pangas to excavate and dig up planting holes, 30 cm deep, with fruit trees planted at a spacing of 10 m ×10 m, during the rainy season; with 7 Cows, 5 goats and 4 sheep kept animal manure provision to apply on the technology using hired labour and supported by family labour. After establishment, the farmer keeps on observing the changes over time to see what is taking place with regard to vegetation growth, performance of fruit trees and how the visible soil properties are changing e.g. the colour showing a black sign of organic matter built up and soil health improvement.
Oranges and mangoes are susceptible to pests and diseases, which require money to buy pesticides and paying, as well as for hired labour for spraying. The farmer needs to be aware of these associated costs, which are rather high after establishment. Efforts by the farmer to integrate trenches within the degraded field is an additional option for the farmer to help enhance soil and water conservation by reducing water runoff. This is labour and capital intensive but beneficial in the short and long run.

2.3 Photos of the Technology

2.4 Videos of the Technology

Comments, short description:

Fruit tree growing for soil and water conservation in Amuru district.

Date:

15/12/2017

Location:

Amuru district, Northern Uganda

Name of videographer:

Issa Kasozi and Mark

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

Country:

Uganda

Region/ State/ Province:

Northern Region,Uganda

Further specification of location:

Gulu District

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)

2.6 Date of implementation

Indicate year of implementation:

2015

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
  • through projects/ external interventions
Comments (type of project, etc.):

It was supported by the extension worker with advisory services on how to plant and space.

3. Classification of the SLM Technology

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

  • improve production
  • reduce, prevent, restore land degradation
  • create beneficial economic impact

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

  • integrated crop-livestock management
  • improved plant varieties/ animal breeds

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

agronomic measures

agronomic measures

  • A1: Vegetation/ soil cover
  • A2: Organic matter/ soil fertility
  • A5: Seed management, improved varieties
vegetative measures

vegetative measures

  • V1: Tree and shrub cover
structural measures

structural measures

  • S11: Others
management measures

management measures

  • M1: Change of land use type
  • M2: Change of management/ intensity level
  • M3: Layout according to natural and human environment
  • M6: Waste management (recycling, re-use or reduce)
Comments:

S11: Trenshes.

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

soil erosion by water

soil erosion by water

  • Wt: loss of topsoil/ surface erosion
  • Wg: gully erosion/ gullying
soil erosion by wind

soil erosion by wind

  • Et: loss of topsoil
  • Ed: deflation and deposition
chemical soil deterioration

chemical soil deterioration

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

biological degradation

  • Bc: reduction of vegetation cover
  • Bh: loss of habitats
  • Bq: quantity/ biomass decline
  • Bs: quality and species composition/ diversity decline

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. Technical specifications, implementation activities, inputs, and costs

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

Author:

Acen Constance

Date:

24/05/2017

4.2 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

Specify how costs and inputs were calculated:
  • per Technology area
Indicate size and area unit:

0.5 acres

other/ national currency (specify):

UGX

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

3400.0

Indicate average wage cost of hired labour per day:

5000

4.3 Establishment activities

Activity Timing (season)
1. Site selection/ degraded area Once before planting / during dry season
2. Look for required labour and in puts Once before planting /during dry season
3. Select nutrient fixing, high yiedling and marketable varieties Once before planting / during dry season
4. Transport the varieties to the field On set of rains
5. Diging the holes On set of rains
6. Planting using labour During rainy season
7. Watering in case of drought. During the dry season

4.4 Costs and inputs needed for establishment

Specify input Unit Quantity Costs per Unit Total costs per input % of costs borne by land users
Labour persons days / monthly basis Persons 5.0 150000.0 750000.0 1000.0
Equipment Hoe Pieces 5.0 10000.0 50000.0 100.0
Equipment Pangas Pieces 3.0 7000.0 21000.0 100.0
Equipment watering can Pieces 2.0 5000.0 10000.0 100.0
Plant material Seedlings kgs 1000.0 2500.0 2500000.0 100.0
Other Transport for seedlings Lorry 2.0 100000.0 200000.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology 3531000.0
Comments:

More costs on seedlings during establishment.

4.5 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

Activity Timing/ frequency
1. Watering Daily, dry season
2. Weeding Twice a year, wet and dry season

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

Specify input Unit Quantity Costs per Unit Total costs per input % of costs borne by land users
Labour Labour for watering (monthly) persons 2.0 150000.0 300000.0 100.0
Labour Labour for weeding (monthly) persons 2.0 150000.0 300000.0 100.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology 600000.0

4.7 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

Labour for planting , weeding and watering on monthly basis.

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
Specify average annual rainfall (if known), in mm:

1500.00

Specifications/ comments on rainfall:

Two rainy and two dry seasons - Bimodal rainfall.

Agro-climatic zone
  • sub-humid

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.
Indicate if the Technology is specifically applied in:
  • convex situations

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):
  • medium (loamy, silty)
Soil texture (> 20 cm below surface):
  • medium (loamy, silty)
Topsoil organic matter:
  • medium (1-3%)

5.4 Water availability and quality

Ground water table:

< 5 m

Availability of surface water:

medium

Water quality (untreated):

poor drinking water (treatment required)

Is water salinity a problem?

No

Is flooding of the area occurring?

No

5.5 Biodiversity

Species diversity:
  • low
Habitat diversity:
  • low

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

Sedentary or nomadic:
  • Sedentary
Market orientation of production system:
  • mixed (subsistence/ commercial)
Off-farm income:
  • 10-50% of all income
Relative level of wealth:
  • average
Individuals or groups:
  • individual/ household
Level of mechanization:
  • manual work
Gender:
  • women
  • men
Age of land users:
  • youth
  • middle-aged
Indicate other relevant characteristics of the land users:

The land user is a secondary school teacher as a source of livelihood.

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

  • < 0.5 ha
  • 0.5-1 ha
  • 1-2 ha
  • 2-5 ha
  • 5-15 ha
  • 15-50 ha
  • 50-100 ha
  • 100-500 ha
  • 500-1,000 ha
  • 1,000-10,000 ha
  • > 10,000 ha
Is this considered small-, medium- or large-scale (referring to local context)?
  • small-scale
Comments:

0.5 acres of land not planted all due to the high cost of seeds and labour.

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

Land ownership:
  • individual, not titled
Land use rights:
  • individual
Water use rights:
  • individual
Comments:

Bought the land using a loan that he acquired from the bank.

5.9 Access to services and infrastructure

health:
  • poor
  • moderate
  • good
education:
  • poor
  • moderate
  • good
technical assistance:
  • poor
  • moderate
  • good
employment (e.g. off-farm):
  • poor
  • moderate
  • good
markets:
  • poor
  • moderate
  • good
energy:
  • poor
  • moderate
  • good
roads and transport:
  • poor
  • moderate
  • good
drinking water and sanitation:
  • poor
  • moderate
  • good
financial services:
  • poor
  • moderate
  • good
Security:
  • poor
  • moderate
  • good

6. Impacts and concluding statements

6.1 On-site impacts the Technology has shown

Socio-economic impacts

Production

crop production

decreased
increased
Comments/ specify:

From the sale of fruits.

crop quality

decreased
increased
Comments/ specify:

Good due to litter / green leaves.

land management

hindered
simplified
Comments/ specify:

Use of fruit trees are good at restoring degraded areas.

Income and costs

expenses on agricultural inputs

increased
decreased
Comments/ specify:

Purchase of hoes, pangas and spades.

farm income

decreased
increased
Comments/ specify:

From the sale of fruits.

workload

increased
decreased
Comments/ specify:

Watering and weeding.

Socio-cultural impacts

food security/ self-sufficiency

reduced
improved
Comments/ specify:

Not yet harvested

SLM/ land degradation knowledge

reduced
improved
Comments/ specify:

Trainings on fruit farming and management by extension agents and fellow farmers.

Ecological impacts

Soil

soil moisture

decreased
increased
Comments/ specify:

Due to the grass covert that minimize the evapotranspiration.

soil cover

reduced
improved
Comments/ specify:

No cultivation/ allow grass to grow.

soil loss

increased
decreased
Comments/ specify:

Fruit trees stabilize the soils.

soil organic matter/ below ground C

decreased
increased
Comments/ specify:

Due to the mulch decomposition.

Biodiversity: vegetation, animals

Vegetation cover

decreased
increased
Comments/ specify:

Growing under the planted fruit trees.

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
Season increase or decrease How does the Technology cope with it?
annual temperature increase well
seasonal temperature wet/ rainy season increase moderately
annual rainfall decrease well
seasonal rainfall wet/ rainy season decrease well

Climate-related extremes (disasters)

Biological disasters
How does the Technology cope with it?
insect/ worm infestation moderately

6.4 Cost-benefit analysis

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

slightly positive

Long-term returns:

very positive

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

slightly negative

Long-term returns:

positive

Comments:

Slightly Negative: More costs on labour and inputs.
Very positive: Very positive returns in improving fertility due to leaves litter.

6.5 Adoption of the Technology

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

5

Of all those who have adopted the Technology, how many did so spontaneously, i.e. without receiving any material incentives/ payments?
  • 0-10%

6.6 Adaptation

Has the Technology been modified recently to adapt to changing conditions?

No

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view
Appropriate for both small and large scale land users.
Can be replicated and be promoted by other land users.
Cost effective: Invest in more money at the establishment and earn more benefits (restoration of degraded areas, income, soil fertility improvement, employment and fruits for home consumption and sale).
Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
The technology is appreciated by the farmer and this is a sign of ownership - sustainability.

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

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the land user’s view How can they be overcome?
Very laborious (planting, wedding and watering). Use family labour.
Very expensive - buying seedlings and hire of labour. Join savings groups that give loans at low interest rates (3%).
Benefits are realized after a long period. The land user can look for alternative sources of income to supplement the technology. Engage in selling seedlings as a business to those who may want to start establishing this technology.
Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view How can they be overcome?
No integration with other agroforestry trees for fodder yet as the land user has livestock. The technology need to be integrated with agroforestry trees (callindra, Grivellea ) for fodder since the land user has livestock.

7. References and links

7.1 Methods/ sources of information

  • field visits, field surveys

01

  • interviews with land users

01

When were the data compiled (in the field)?

24/05/2017

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