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)

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

When were the data compiled (in the field)?

12/05/2017

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 granary is made of local material for food protection/preservation during bumper harvest

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

Drought frequencies are increasing while yields are reducing. Efficient post-harvest handling optimizes the value of the produce in climate-affected contexts hence reducing the vulnerability of the farming sector to climate extremes. Granaries are useful structures for preserving grain crops. They help in food storage as a response to climate change impacts.

The main characteristic of the granary is that it is constructed either using a peeled bamboo, papyrus reeds or small sticks of approximately one cm in diameter. Such sticks are usually from Lantana Camara (Common Lantana or Tickberry) or branches of Eucalyptus spp. The material is woven into a round cylindrical shape of about 2 meters height and 1.5 meters in diameter. The structure is then mounted on wooden poles to keep it off the ground to avoid rodents and water from entering. A round roof made of grass is placed on top as a roof to protect the interior of the granary from rain. A space of about 5 cm is left between the roof and the upper end of the round wall in order to allow for aeration. The way of storage in the granary allows air to flow into and out of the granary and reduce / prevent rotting processes due to moisture accumulation in the granary.

The major activity is the construction of the flat granary base structure and later the construction of the superimposed structure using poles on which the granary stands. Periodically the grain is removed and dried in the sun to remove any moisture and pests that may have entered the granary. The granary is also periodically smeared with cow dung to close any holes that develop but also protect it from damage by insects.

What famers like about the technology is that the grain is kept for a long period at the cheapest cost. The materials used to make the granaries are locally available and the skill required in the construction is minimal. Storage space in the house is saved since the granary is established outside.

On the other hand farmers do not like granaries because the food inside them is often prone to theft especially during periods of famine.

2.3 Photos of the Technology

2.4 Videos 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

Indicate year of implementation:

1960

2.7 Introduction of the Technology

Specify how the Technology was introduced:

• as part of a traditional system (> 50 years)

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

• reduce risk of disasters
• adapt to climate change/ extremes and its impacts
• create beneficial economic impact
• create beneficial social impact

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

3.3 Further information about land use

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

• rainfed

Number of growing seasons per year:

• 2

Livestock density (if relevant):

N/A

3.4 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• post-harvest measures

3.5 Spread of the Technology

Specify the spread of the Technology:

• applied at specific points/ concentrated on a small area

Comments:

Placed within a farm compound

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

3.8 Prevention, reduction, or restoration of land degradation

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

• adapt to land degradation

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

4.2 Technical specifications/ explanations of technical drawing

The diameter of the granary is about 1.5 meters. The height is about 2 meters.

4.3 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

Specify how costs and inputs were calculated:

• per Technology unit

other/ national currency (specify):

Uganda Shillings

Indicate exchange rate from USD to local currency (if relevant): 1 USD =:

3500.0

4.4 Establishment activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing
1.	Cutting and drying sticks and poles	Structural	During the dry season
2.	Making the granary	Structural	During the dry season
3.	Cutting grass	Structural	During the dry season

4.5 Costs and inputs needed for establishment

	Specify input	Unit	Quantity	Costs per Unit	Total costs per input	% of costs borne by land users
Labour	Cutting sticks and poles	Mandays	5.0	5000.0	25000.0	100.0
Labour	Weaving the granary	Mandays	10.0	5000.0	50000.0	100.0
Labour	Cutting grass	Mandays	5.0	5000.0	25000.0	100.0
Construction material	Sticks	Sticks	500.0	500.0	250000.0	100.0
Construction material	Grass	Bundles	10.0	5000.0	50000.0	100.0
Construction material	Poles	Number	5.0	5000.0	25000.0	100.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology					425000.0

4.6 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing/ frequency
1.	Replacing the grass on top	Structural	Once every three years

4.7 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	Cutting grass	Mandays	5.0	5000.0	25000.0	100.0
Construction material	Grass	Bundles	5.0	5000.0	25000.0	100.0
Construction material	Side poles	Number	5.0	5000.0	25000.0	100.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology					75000.0

4.8 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

Weaving the granary

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

Indicate if the Technology is specifically applied in:

• not relevant

5.3 Soils

5.4 Water availability and quality

Is water salinity a problem?

No

Is flooding of the area occurring?

Yes

Regularity:

episodically

5.5 Biodiversity

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

5.7 Average area of land owned or leased by land users applying the Technology

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

Land ownership:

• individual, not titled

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

Income and costs

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

• 10-50%

If available, quantify (no. of households and/ or area covered):

Approximately 300 households

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

• 90-100%

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
Good for storage
Cheap

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?
Fire risk	Keeping away all sources of fire risk, such as ground grass, or cooking near the facility
Theft	Make a lockable roof for the granary

7.1 Methods/ sources of information