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:

Short-cycle varieties are crops whose products mature in no more than three months. These crops, which include certain maize varieties, are grown to adapt to climatic hazards, especially in areas with irregular rainfall cycles.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

The utilization of short-cycle varieties is one way of adapting to climate change. Maize is a good example. For one hectare, a quantity of 20 kg of seeds is required. The planting configuration includes sowing at a distance of 40 cm within the rows and 80 cm between the rows, with a seeding depth of 3 to 5 cm, at a rate of 2 seeds per hole.
Short-cycle varieties are used to adapt to climatic hazards, especially in areas with irregular rainfall cycles. The process of planting and maintenance comprises a series of tasks, including soil preparation, seed purchase, ploughing, maize seeding occurring two to four weeks before pigeon peas are sown. Subsequent steps involve weeding and hoeing/ridging if necessary.
Short-cycle varieties can yield in approximately 45 days, with a maximum timeframe of 80-90 days. In Benin, there is a list of short-cycle maize varieties, including BEMA14 J-07, BEMA14 J-08, BEMA14 J-15, BEMA00 J-20, BEMA14 B-09, BEMA14 B-10, EV DT 97 STR W, DMR ESR W BENIN, BEMA 94 B15, 2000 SYN EE W, and others.
The preference for early varieties among producers stems from their ability to expedite product maturation, a crucial factor in the current context characterized by climate change. For women in particular, short-cycle maize is a significant source of income. During these periods, they sell it fresh, cooked, or grilled. However, it should be noted that that each of these varieties comes with its own maintenance and input requirements, as well as their own production costs.

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

If precise year is not known, indicate approximate date:

• 10-50 years ago

2.7 Introduction of the Technology

Specify how the Technology was introduced:

• through projects/ external interventions

Comments (type of project, etc.):

Short-cycle varieties, including maize, were introduced by the Government through its decentralized bodies.

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

• improve production
• reduce risk of disasters
• adapt to climate change/ extremes 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

• Climate change adaptation measures

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:

Adapting to climate change

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

4.3 Establishment activities

	Activity	Timing (season)
1.	Soil preparation (clearing)	March-April
2.	Plowing	April-May
3.	Seeding	May-June
4.	Harvest	July

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	Soil preparation (clearing)	ha	1.0	17000.0	17000.0	100.0
Labour	Plowing	ha	1.0	30000.0	30000.0	100.0
Labour	Seeding	ha	1.0	15000.0	15000.0	100.0
Plant material	Seeds	ha	20.0	300.0	6000.0	100.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology					68000.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology in USD					68000.0

4.5 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

	Activity	Timing/ frequency
1.	Weeding	June
2.	Hoeing and ridging	June
3.	Fertilizer spreading	June

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	ha	1.0	15000.0	15000.0	100.0
Labour	Hoeing and ridging	ha	1.0	200000.0	200000.0	100.0
Labour	Fertilizer spreading	Bag	4.0	2500.0	10000.0	100.0
Fertilizers and biocides	NPK	Bag	3.0	16000.0	48000.0	100.0
Fertilizers and biocides	Urea	Bag	1.0	16000.0	16000.0	100.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology					289000.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology in USD					289000.0

4.7 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

Labourers for ploughing and weeding

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:

The lands belong to family groups.

5.9 Access to services and infrastructure

6.1 On-site impacts the Technology has shown

Socio-economic impacts

Production

Income and costs

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	moderately
seasonal temperature	wet/ rainy season	decrease	moderately
annual rainfall		decrease	moderately
seasonal rainfall	wet/ rainy season	decrease	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%

Comments:

These are producers who sought out seeds even before ProSOL made the first seeds available to them.

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
Increased crop yields
Rapid maturation of agricultural products
Possibility of crop succession on the same plot

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
Adaptability to climatic contingencies
Opportunity to diversify agricultural income

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?
High cost of seeds	Promote the emergence of seed companies
Labour-intensive requirements	Combine manpower (employed and family) for synergistic action
Difficulties in storing until the desired time for marketing...	Sell to women who then sell them boiled or grilled

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view	How can they be overcome?
Input requirements	Utilization of organic fertilizers and crop residues to reduce production costs

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:

ACMA 2, 2019, Fiche Technique : Itinéraire technique du maïs

Available from where? Costs?

https://ifdc.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/FICHE-TECHNIQUE-1-ITINERAIRE-TECHNIQUE-DU-MAI%CC%88S-MAIZE-TECHNICAL-ITINERARY.pdf

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, 2018, Mesures de Gestion Durable des Terres (GDT) et d’Adaptation au Changement Climatique (ACC) : Boîte à images pour l’animation des séances de formation avec les agriculteurs

7.3 Links to relevant online information

Title/ description:

FICHE TECHNIQUE SYNTHETIQUE POUR LA PRODUCTION DU MAÏS JAUNE (Zea mays L.)

URL:

https://gbios-uac.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/FICHE-TECHNIQUE-SYNTHETIQUE-POUR-LA-PRODUCTION-DU-MA%C3%8FS-JAUNE-Zea-mays-L..pdf