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)

National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO) - Uganda

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

When were the data compiled (in the field)?

01/29/2018

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:

The approach is seen as a cheap and healthy solution to food insecurity, its easy to establish on a very small scale.

2.1 Short description of the Technology

Definition of the Technology:

Sack gardening is a technology that consists of a series of sacks that are filled with manure, soil and small stones that enable water to drain, from the tops and sides of the sacks, often referred to as multi-stoney gardens to increase production.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

The technology is mostly promoted by farmers in Kampala District, Central Uganda and other parts of the country. The technology is seen as a cheap and healthy solution to food insecurity and runaway unemployment in Kampala’s slum. It is preferred by farmers because it's cheap, high-yielding and promoting food security while maximizing land and water use.
This technology is practiced in the slum area of Kisenyi 2 zone, Kamokya parish, Kampala District and was established in 2015, where the farmer got farming training from Kampala City Council Authority through demonstrations in the urban farming program. The main reasons for its establishment were; the ease to establishment and management, space optimization, no special skills required and affordability.
To establish such a technology the farmer started by collecting huge sacks of banana leaves that had been dumped around the neighborhood.
Black soil was mixed with chicken manure that was available. Small pebble stones were added and strong sticks placed in the middle of the sack, right from bottom to top. The sack was then filled with soil, leaving the stones erect in the middle. For an optimal production, the farmer used bags with a containing capacity of 50 to 100 kilograms. Additonal items were one polyethylene (food-safe bag. ie: rice bag) and a pipe of the height of the bag, opened at both ends, 15 to 20cm long.
The complete system consists of 50 kilos of soil, 25 kilos of fertilizer (compost, manure) which is adjusted according to the
quality of the soil plus 15 kilos of stones (3 to 7 cm diameter).
In some sacks the farmer grows tomatoes, cabbages and carrots. Usually the crops with big roots, like carrots, go on the top, and the sides are reserved for cabbages with small roots, she says. The sack garden is watered on a daily basis, twice a day if the weather is dry and once a day if the weather is humid. There is no such a thing as a crop-growing season. The garden is ever green, even during the dry season. The farmer makes 0.6$ selling spinach to neighbors, and 0.84$ selling produce to the market. This translates to about 27.8$ per month, after deducting expenses.
Sack gardening is very advantageous to the farmer and other farmers are trained in the technology by the farmer who started it. The farmer receives an equivalent of 1.39$ a day. For 20 training days this totals to 27.8$ a month from tutoring a women group in Kamokya. This additonal income helps the farmer securing enough money to meet needs like school fees, food and utility payments. It also provides a secure source of nutritional food, facilitates growing of vegetables in areas without suitable soils or adequate space, promotes efficient and effective utilization of available water and nutrients.

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

2.7 Introduction of the Technology

Specify how the Technology was introduced:

• during experiments/ research

Comments (type of project, etc.):

Through urban farming demonstrations .

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

• improve production
• create beneficial economic impact
• create beneficial social impact

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

Comments:

The farmer has several sacks with different vegetables.

3.3 Further information about land use

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

• mixed rainfed-irrigated

Number of growing seasons per year:

• 1

Specify:

The technology is established/grown once and harvested through the year.

3.4 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• minimal soil disturbance
• home gardens

3.5 Spread of the Technology

Specify the spread of the Technology:

• applied at specific points/ concentrated on a small area

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:

• not applicable

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

4.2 Technical specifications/ explanations of technical drawing

The sack is vertical with 10-15 cm.
Vegetables planted include Carrots, Tomatoes and Sukuma wikki

4.3 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

Specify how costs and inputs were calculated:

• per Technology unit

Specify currency used for cost calculations:

• US Dollars

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

3600.0

4.4 Establishment activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing
1.	Clearing a nursery bed	Management	1 day
2.	Planting the seeds in the nursery bed		1 day
3.	Mixing compost manure with soil		1 day
4.	Buying the bags	Management	1 day
5.	Filling the sack with soil, sticks and stones		1 day
6.	Transplanting		3 days
7.	Harvesting		Once a week
8.	Spraying		Daily

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	Sack fiiling	Man day	5.0	1.39	6.95	100.0
Labour	Nursery bed preparation	Man day	2.0	1.39	2.78	100.0
Labour	Transplanting	Man day	5.0	1.39	6.95	100.0
Labour	spraying	Man day	1.0	1.39	1.39	100.0
Equipment	Hoes	Pieces	2.0	2.78	5.56	100.0
Equipment	Wheelbarrow	Piece	1.0	27.78	27.78	100.0
Equipment	Sprayer pump	Piece	1.0	13.89	13.89	100.0
Equipment	Sacks	Pack	10.0	4.167	41.67	100.0
Plant material	Tomato seeds	kg	1.0	1.95	1.95	100.0
Plant material	Cabbage seeds	kg	1.0	1.95	1.95	100.0
Plant material	Carrots seeds	kg	1.0	2.3	2.3	100.0
Plant material	Sukuma wiki seeds	kg	1.0	1.95	1.95	100.0
Fertilizers and biocides	Compost manure	Bags	12.0	1.95	23.4	100.0
Fertilizers and biocides	Dythene pestcides	kg	1.0	6.95	6.95	100.0
Fertilizers and biocides	Dudu cyper pestcides	litre	1.0	2.78	2.78	100.0
Construction material	Stones	Trip	0.5	8.34	4.17	100.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology					152.42

Comments:

The farmer had ready capital to establish the technology

4.6 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing/ frequency
1.	Watering	Management	Everyday
2.	Spraying	Management	Once in two weeks
3.	Weeding	Management	Once a week
4.	Harvesting	Management	Every day

Comments:

The farmer does all the maintenance activities. There are no costs.

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	Harvesting	Man day	0.5	2.7	1.35	100.0
Labour	Weeding	Man day	0.5	2.7	1.35	100.0
Fertilizers and biocides	Dithane pestcides	kg	1.0	7.0	7.0	100.0
Fertilizers and biocides	Dudu cyper pestcides	litre	1.0	2.7	2.7	100.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology					12.4

4.8 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

Pestcides costs affect the technology.

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 farmer taps National Water, which provides good clean water.

5.5 Biodiversity

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

Indicate other relevant characteristics of the land users:

She's a married woman with five children.

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

• Urban slum

Land use rights:

• open access (unorganized)

Water use rights:

• communal (organized)

5.9 Access to services and infrastructure

6.1 On-site impacts the Technology has shown

Socio-economic impacts

Production

Income and costs

Socio-cultural impacts

Ecological impacts

Soil

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	Type of climatic change/ extreme	How does the Technology cope with it?
annual temperature		decrease	moderately
seasonal temperature	wet/ rainy season	decrease	moderately

Climate-related extremes (disasters)

Biological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
insect/ worm infestation	not well

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:

She doesn't spend too much on maintenance since she does all the activities by her self.

6.5 Adoption of the Technology

• 1-10%

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

4

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

• 90-100%

Comments:

All cost borne by producer

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
Its a source of fresh greens and income.
It is very cheap to establish and maintain.
It allows many plants to grow from the same sack

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
The technology is not labor demanding since the farmer does all the activities.
It motivates people to adopt it.
Optimal utilization of the land.

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?
The technology is relatively expensive to establish.	Start small for example a farmer should start with two sacks.
It requires ready market.	First get ready market before harvesting.

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view	How can they be overcome?
The technology requires full time maintenance for example watering of the plants.	The farmer should be available to do all the maintenance activities.
It's well practiced in a home for security purposes.	If its not practiced at a home, a farmer should provide security of the garden.
Pests and diseases.	The farmer should spray as directed to prevent pests and diseases.

7.1 Methods/ sources of information