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)

Soil protection and rehabilitation for food security (ProSo(i)l)

Name of the institution(s) which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Technology (if relevant)

GIZ Bénin (GIZ Bénin) - Benin

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:

Staggered planting of crops successively over the season mitigates the risks associated with pockets of drought and increases the chances of successful harvests.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

Staggered planting of both food and cash crops is a climate change adaptation approach implemented in the Banikoara commune. This technology is designed to minimize the risk of crop failure due to irregular rainfall, and to reduce peak periods (of work overload). It is a technology that can be applied in conditions of irregular rainfall cycles, in areas where it is difficult to predict rainfall accurately. The technology applies to all crop types. Applied to cotton, for example, seeding is carried out in two or three stages. If three stages are chosen, the distribution may be ½ of the total area planted initially, then a further ¼, and finally the last ¼. This staggered approach covers a period from two weeks to a month and one to two months after the initial rains. Most producers opt for planting crops between mid-May and the first ten days of August.
To facilitate its implementation, it is necessary to:
(i) accept the risk of losing part of the seed
(ii) be ready to seize any opportunity of adequate rainfall to perform early sowing
(iii) combine this strategy with cover seeding techniques
(iv) make meteorological information accessible to farmers (rural radio and other information and communication technology channels, including community radio BANIGANSÉ FM in Banikoara in this case).
The implementation of staggered sowing effectively addresses the issue of total seed germination losses. If part of the field is lost, the chances are that another is successful. Additionally, this technology streamlines the distribution of work, preventing overlapping field activities. This, in turn, facilitates efficient labour management.
Despite this overall risk-avoidance strategy, this technology presents a number of challenges. These include germination losses in specific sections of their fields, crop losses, and even pest attacks resulting from the selection of an inappropriate seeding period based on soil type and rainfall. Nevertheless, farmers still manage to avoid losses that might have occurred if seeding had been conducted simultaneously across the entire cultivated area.

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

Indicate year of implementation:

2016

2.7 Introduction of the Technology

Specify how the Technology was introduced:

• through projects/ external interventions

Comments (type of project, etc.):

ProSOL Bénin

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

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

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

Land use mixed within the same land unit:

No

3.3 Has land use changed due to the implementation of the Technology?

Has land use changed due to the implementation of the Technology?

• Yes (Please fill out the questions below with regard to the land use before implementation of the Technology)

Land use mixed within the same land unit:

No

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

• Adaptation to climate change

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

Comments:

This is a climate change adaptation strategy.

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):

CFA F

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

615.0

4.3 Establishment activities

	Activity	Timing (season)
1.	Land preparation / clearing	March-April
2.	Ploughing	May
3.	Seeding	May-July
4.	Sarclo buttage	July-August

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	Land preparation / clearing	ha	1.0	17000.0	17000.0	100.0
Labour	Ploughing	ha	1.0	30000.0	30000.0	100.0
Labour	Seeding	ha	1.0	12000.0	12000.0	100.0
Labour	Hoeing and ridging	ha	1.0	20000.0	20000.0	100.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology					79000.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology in USD					128.46

4.5 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

	Activity	Timing/ frequency
1.	Hoeing and ridging	June-July

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	Hoeing and ridging	ha	1.0	15000.0	15000.0	100.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology					15000.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology in USD					24.39

4.7 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

Labour

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

5.5 Biodiversity

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

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

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

Land ownership:

• communal/ village

Land use rights:

• communal (organized)

Water use rights:

• communal (organized)

Are land use rights based on a traditional legal system?

Yes

Specify:

There are land chiefs responsible for organizing access to lands.

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

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	dry season	increase	well
annual rainfall		decrease	well
seasonal rainfall	dry season	increase	well

Climate-related extremes (disasters)

Climatological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
drought	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)?

6.5 Adoption of the Technology

• > 50%

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

• 11-50%

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
Timely maturation of agricultural produce
Opportunity to take advantage of adequate rainfall for early planting
Facilitated division of labor (avoids work overload)

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
Resilience to climatic hazards

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?
If a substantial portion falls into a drought pocket, the crop is lost.	Maintain a rational approach to seeding
High seed consumption	Collect an adequate quantity of good quality seeds (high germination capacity)

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view	How can they be overcome?
Difficulties in preserving products for crops planted early	Utilization of products for subsistence and for sale

7.1 Methods/ sources of information

7.2 References to available publications

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, 2018, Compendium de fiches techniques du formateur

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Idani M., Akindélé A. A., Medéou F. K., Ogouwalé E., 2013. Stratégies d’adaptations paysannes au changement climatique dans l’Arrondissement de Dassari (Bénin, Afrique de l’Ouest) XXVIème colloque de l’Association internationale de climatologie. PP 291-296.