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

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

Comments:

Inter cropping cereal and legume based systems aims at maximizing the production potential per unit area .

2.1 Short description of the Technology

Definition of the Technology:

Improved maize (zea mays)-groundnuts (arachis hypogaea) optimum intercropping pattern is a technology promoted by IITA (International Institute for Tropical Agriculture) among small scale farmers through demonstrations /trials. It is promoted for improving food and income security and optimum land utilisation.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) has been promoting smart intercropping patterns in Nwoya District, Northern Uganda. The inter crops promoted are based on maize-legume sustainable intensification farming systems with focus on conservation farming as a technology. This technology is promoted because it reduces management inputs costs such as labour for weeding and application of fertilizers which results into sustainable systems and if efficiently used to potentially replenish natural resources.The demonstration/ trial is located in Alero Sub County, Nwoya District, which on average receives 1200 mm of rainfall annually established on a reddish soil with relatively low soil organic matter on a plot size of 180 m2 planted with groundnuts as the major crop spaced at 30cm×10cm and maize intercrop at a spacing of 225 cm×60cm, such that within every 5 lines of groundnuts one line of maize is planted.

The groundnuts (local red variety called red beauty) are locally obtained from the nearby local market, while the maize is an open pollinated variety (Longe 5) bought from the local agro input dealer. The inter crop was planted to increase productivity and reduce the risk of total crop failure.

Prior to establishment, Riber farmers group selected a site close to the road to act as there demo/plot.The plot was slashed, sprayed with glyphosate and then marked using 60-cm pegs to get the correct spacing and proper plant population. Ground nuts were planted first then the maize planted a fortnight later using the following inputs 3 kg of maize bought at UGX 1500, 15 kg of groundnuts bought at UGX 5000 and 1 litre of liquid fertiliser at UGX 15000 and 1 litre of glyphosate bought at UGX 20,000.

Inter cropping is majorly preferred by farmers because it enhances maximum utilization of land, reduces risk of total crop failure, and increases income and food security. It also acts as a means of weed management. In some inter cropping systems, the legumes act as soil cover and fix atmospheric nitrogen in the soil, and promote product diversity for food security and income generation.

However weeding an inter crops is challenging compared to weeding a pure stand and encourages competition for resources such as soil nutrients, moisture and light, which may affect crop productivity. Its therefore recommend that the farmer keep in touch with the extension worker for advisory services ( proper management, pests and diseases management)

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:

2016

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

Comments (type of project, etc.):

The intercropping pattern was introduced by International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA)

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

• improve production
• create beneficial economic impact

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

Comments:

The demonstration site is located by the road side. It is surrounded by bush fallows and a small banana plantation (musa spp)

3.4 Water supply

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

• rainfed

Comments:

The group depends on rain fall for growing crops on this plot.

3.5 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• integrated soil fertility management
• improved plant varieties/ animal breeds

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

Comments:

The groundnuts act as a soil cover and also fix nitrogen in the soil improving soil fertility

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

Comments:

The demo plot was established on an intensely cultivated area, the legumes are planted to improved soil fertility . in addition the groundnuts act as a soil cover therefore reducing soil erosion.

3.8 Prevention, reduction, or restoration of land degradation

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

• prevent land degradation

Comments:

The ground nuts are inter cropped to not only increase crop diversity on the plot but to also reduce soil erosion incidence.

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

4.2 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

Specify how costs and inputs were calculated:

• per Technology area

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 =:

3680.0

4.3 Establishment activities

	Activity	Timing (season)
1.	Bush clearing	January
2.	Slashing and spraying	January
3.	Field marking	January
4.	Planting both maize and beans	March

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	Slashing	People	15.0	3000.0	45000.0	100.0
Labour	Ploughing	People	15.0	3000.0	45000.0	100.0
Labour	Field Marking	People	15.0	3000.0	45000.0	100.0
Labour	Planting	People	15.0	3000.0	45000.0	100.0
Equipment	Strings	Piece	1.0	8000.0	8000.0	100.0
Equipment	Planting Pegs	bundle	2.0	5000.0	10000.0	100.0
Equipment	Tape Measure	Piece	1.0	25000.0	25000.0	100.0
Plant material	Groundnuts	kg	15.0	2500.0	37500.0	100.0
Plant material	Longe5 (maize)	kg	3.0	1500.0	4500.0	100.0
Fertilizers and biocides	Liquid fertiliser (DI grow)	Ltr	1.0	15000.0	15000.0	100.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology					280000.0

Comments:

IITA introduced the technology to the farmers group however establishment and maintenance costs were incurred by the group

4.5 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

	Activity	Timing/ frequency
1.	Weeding	April
2.	Spraying	fort night

Comments:

Weeding is done once because the ground nuts close the canopy therefore inhibiting weeds growth.

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	Weeding	people	15.0	3000.0	45000.0	100.0
Labour	spraying	people	1.0	3000.0	3000.0	100.0
Equipment	knapsacks sprayer	Piece	1.0	55000.0	55000.0	100.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology					103000.0

If land user bore less than 100% of costs, indicate who covered the remaining costs:

The group incurred all the costs

4.7 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

Labour is the most important factor affecting costs.

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?

No

Comments and further specifications on water quality and quantity:

The water is drawn from the borehole and considered of good quality and is readily available

5.5 Biodiversity

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

Indicate other relevant characteristics of the land users:

They are a farmer's group with a membership of 35(20Males and 15Females) they are all small scale farmers

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

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

• Customary

• Customary

Water use rights:

• communal (organized)

Comments:

The land is owned by the clan and is passed on to family members

5.9 Access to services and infrastructure

6.1 On-site impacts the Technology has shown

Ecological impacts

Soil

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)?

Comments:

The intercrops are an annual enterprise therefore benefts are realised in the short term. the group indicated that they planted one(1) kg of maize seed the previous season and got 200kgs after harvesting. however in this particular season the harvests were not yet made

6.5 Adoption of the Technology

• 11-50%

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

The group has a membership of 35 people all the group members have transffered the technology into their own farms.

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

• 51-90%

Comments:

All the members received seed from the proceeds of the previous season from the group demo and were supposed to transfer the technology to their different individual farms.

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
The technology is good at Improving crop yield due to the crop, nutrients, fertility
Inter cropping leads to weed suppression
The technology controls pest and disease incidence.

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
Legumes act as soil cover hence reduction in soil moisture
Reduces risk of total crop failure. In case the drought starts early the farmer would have already harvested the legumes.
Improve soil fertility resulting from the legumes fixing nitrogen in the soils

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?
Weeding in intercrops is cumbersome	weed when crops are still young
It is not easy to use chemical weed control in intercrops	This is overcome by spraying weeds before planting hence reducing on their vigour and also weeding early
sometimes the right plant population is not got reducing on the crop yields of intercrops	This is overcome by marking the correct spacing of the major crop to atleast get optimum plant population for the major crop

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view	How can they be overcome?
some times there is competition for nutrients and water between the crops	Applying of basal nitrogenous fertilisers
Sometimes inter cropping may lead to entiolation and poor growth of crops	This can be overcome by planting the legume before planting the cereal. This is done to allow the legumes grow fast so as they dont get affected by too mush shade
Late maturing crops are usually damaged during harvesting of the early maturing crops	This is overcome by planting in rows and being careful while harvesting the early maturity crops.

7.1 Methods/ sources of information

7.2 References to available publications

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Effect of Summer Maize-Legume Intercropping System on Growth, Productivity, Pilli Manassa , 2018

Available from where? Costs?

Open access

7.3 Links to relevant online information

Title/ description:

Maize/peanut intercropping increases land productivity: A meta-analysis

URL:

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378429021001544