1.2 Contact details of resource persons and institutions involved in the assessment and documentation of the Technology

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

1.5 Reference to Questionnaire(s) on SLM Approaches (documented using WOCAT)

Dairy Cooperatives and KOUFUKU linkage for milk marketing [Bhutan]

This approach links dairy cooperatives with a dairy plant, KOUFUKU International Limited (KIL), for milk marketing. It is an established dairy value chain that addresses milk and dairy product marketing issues and improves the livelihoods of many small dairy farmers in eastern Bhutan.

• Compiler: Nima Dolma Tamang
• 08/19/2023 6:30 a.m.

Improved Livestock Farming System [Bhutan]

The approach involves a group of farmers implementing an improved dairy system. The system incorporates practices and technologies that enhance animal welfare, reduce environmental impact, and increase production.

• Compiler: Tshering Yangzom
• 08/23/2023 5:44 a.m.

2.1 Short description of the Technology

Definition of the Technology:

An improved dairy shed in Bhutan is characterized by concrete floors, cement pillars and troughs, enough sunlight and ventilation, adequate water, ample space for cattle movement, as well as urine and dung collection gutters and a farmyard manure collection area.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

The main characteristics of the improved dairy shed are concrete floors, cement pillars and troughs, enough sunlight and ventilation, adequate water, ample space for cattle movement, urine and dung collection gutters, and a farmyard manure (FYM) collection area. The main purposes are to (a) enhance the overall well-being of animals, (b) optimize animal production, (c) minimize forest grazing and promote stall feeding, (d) increase the availability of FYM and urine for application to croplands, (e) develop pasture with fodder grasses, and (f) provide a comfortable working environment for land users.
The main inputs needed for establishment are cement for concrete floors, pillars, and troughs, and corrugated galvanised iron (CGI) sheets for roofing. The principal activities needed to maintain the technology are undertaking stall feeding instead of forest grazing, developing improved pasture with fodder grasses and trees, replacing low-yielding local cows with improved breeds dairy breeds such as Jerseys through buying or breeding (naturally or through Artificial Insemination [AI]), and better waste management.
The benefits of the technology include (a) the addition of nutrients to fields through the application of FYM and cattle urine, (b) an associated increase in organic matter, (c) better soil moisture retention, (d) availability of good quality fodder and a diverse range of forage options, (e) reduced labour due to less wild fodder collection and herding in the forest, (f) efficient waste utilization, (f) the potential manufacture and use of renewable biogas instead of liquid petroleum gas (LPG), (g) reduced land degradation due to reduction in forest grazing, (h) increased vegetation cover due to improved pasture development, (i) less soil compaction through decreased trampling by animals, (j) more comfortable working environment for land users, (k) improved livestock health and animal welfare, and (l) improved livelihoods of farmers through higher farm income. Besides these benefits, land users like the durability of the new sheds. However, one of the constraints of the technology is that the land users may lack funds to construct the sheds, or for improved cattle breeds, to justify the extra investment. These can hopefully be overcome by government support to land users through cost-sharing measures.

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

Country:

Bhutan

Region/ State/ Province:

Martang village, Dewathang gewog, Samdrup Jongkhar Dzongkhag

Specify the spread of the Technology:

• applied at specific points/ concentrated on a small area

Is/are the technology site(s) located in a permanently protected area?

No

Map

×

2.6 Date of implementation

Indicate year of implementation:

2014

2.7 Introduction of the Technology

Specify how the Technology was introduced:

• through land users' innovation
• through projects/ external interventions

Comments (type of project, etc.):

The land user adopted improved dairy shed partly at the suggestion of the livestock extension officer and partly due to his interest in improving his dairy shed.

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

• improve production
• reduce, prevent, restore land degradation
• create beneficial economic impact

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

Land use mixed within the same land unit:

Yes

Specify mixed land use (crops/ grazing/ trees):

• Agro-silvopastoralism

Cropland

• Annual cropping
• Perennial (non-woody) cropping
• Tree and shrub cropping

Annual cropping - Specify crops:

• cereals - maize
• legumes and pulses - beans
• vegetables - leafy vegetables (salads, cabbage, spinach, other)

• Cole crops, root crops, Solanaceous crops, Mustard Green

Perennial (non-woody) cropping - Specify crops:

• fodder crops - grasses

Tree and shrub cropping - Specify crops:

• avocado
• citrus

• Mango, pomegranate, jackfruit

Specify:

Vegetables have one growing season. Maize is grown twice. Fodder grasses and fruit trees have many growing seasons.

Is intercropping practiced?

Yes

If yes, specify which crops are intercropped:

There is intercropping among vegetables and intercropping between vegetables and fruit trees.

Is crop rotation practiced?

Yes

If yes, specify:

Vegetables are grown in rotation.

Grazing land

Intensive grazing/ fodder production:

• Cut-and-carry/ zero grazing

• 7 cattle (Jersey crosses)

Is integrated crop-livestock management practiced?

Yes

If yes, specify:

The crop residues serve as feeds for animals and livestock wastes such as cow dung and urine are used as organic fertlizers for crops. These organic fertlizers enhance soil health and reduce the need for synthetic fertlizers.

Products and services:

• milk

Species:

cattle - dairy

Count:

7

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

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

• No (Continue with question 3.4)

3.4 Water supply

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

• mixed rainfed-irrigated

3.5 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• pastoralism and grazing land management
• integrated crop-livestock management
• integrated soil fertility management

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

structural measures

• S9: Shelters for plants and animals

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

chemical soil deterioration

• Cn: fertility decline and reduced organic matter content (not caused by erosion)

3.8 Prevention, reduction, or restoration of land degradation

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

• prevent land degradation
• reduce land degradation

Comments:

Application of FYM to the field results in an increase in organic matter and an increase in nutrient availability in fields. There is better soil water retention by an increase in soil organic matter. Cattle urine also adds nutrients to the soil. Stall feeding under an improved dairy shed promotes the cultivation of fodder of good quality and variety. This helps maintain vegetative cover and prevent degradation of arable land. Similarly, stall feeding using crop residues from the field helps maintain vegetative cover and prevent the degradation of arable land. The land user feeds fodder grasses such as Super Napier and Napier that help stabilize soil and provide ground cover. Other feeds provided to cattle include banana stems, mustard cakes, straw, Guatemala grass, and processed feeds (Karma Feeds). The use of organic fertilizers such as cow dung and urine minimizes the need for chemical fertilisers that can cause loss of beneficial soil organisms, reduced organic matter, soil acidification, and nutrient imbalances in the soil.

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 unit

other/ national currency (specify):

Nu

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

82.0

4.3 Establishment activities

Comments:

The construction of the improved dairy shed took months as the land user was engaged in other farm activities and only worked a few hours some days.

4.4 Costs and inputs needed for establishment

If you are unable to break down the costs in the table above, give an estimation of the total costs of establishing the Technology:

140000.0

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

Government

Comments:

The government provided 15 bags of cement and 18 CGI sheets.

4.5 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

Comments:

There has been no requirement of maintenance to date. There would not be the need of maintenance unless the technology is destroyed by natural disasters such as earthquake, storm, flood and so on. The technology is durable with concrete floors, pillars and troughs and corrugated galvanised iron (CGI) sheets for roofing.

4.6 Costs and inputs needed for maintenance/ recurrent activities (per year)

Comments:

There has been no requirement of maintenance to date.

4.7 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

Materials and transportation cost

5.1 Climate

5.3 Soils

If available, attach full soil description or specify the available information, e.g. soil type, soil PH/ acidity, Cation Exchange Capacity, nitrogen, salinity etc.

Moisture content-21.66%
Organic matter-15.14 %
Organic carbon-8.80%
pH-6.24
Electrical conductivity-521.33 µs/cm
Nitrogen-0.44
Phosphorus-2.42
Potassium-223.07 mg/100ml
Soil texture-Clay

5.4 Water availability and quality

Is water salinity a problem?

No

Is flooding of the area occurring?

No

5.5 Biodiversity

Comments and further specifications on biodiversity:

The site has a variety of crops including vegetables, fruit trees, trees, and fodder grasses.

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:

• individual, not titled

Land use rights:

• individual

Water use rights:

• communal (organized)

Are land use rights based on a traditional legal system?

Yes

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

Biodiversity: vegetation, animals

Climate and disaster risk reduction

6.2 Off-site impacts the Technology has shown

Specify assessment of off-site impacts (measurements):

There hasn't been notable off-site 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

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%

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

25 households out of 28 households have adopted the technology

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

• 0-10%

6.6 Adaptation

Has the Technology been modified recently to adapt to changing conditions?

No

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

6.8 Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks of the Technology and ways of overcoming them

7.1 Methods/ sources of information

7.2 References to available publications

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Thapa, L., Choden, D., & Tamang, N. B. (2019). Adoption of Improved Dairy Production Practices by Dairy and Non- Dairy Farmers’ Groups.

Available from where? Costs?

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Lokey-Thapa/publication/334507972_Adoption_of_Improved_Dairy_Production_Practices_by_Dairy_and_Non-_Dairy_Farmers'_Groups/links/5d2ec146299bf1547cbd248a/Adoption-of-Improved-Dairy-Production-Practices-by-Dairy-and-Non-Dairy-Farmers-Groups.pdf

7.3 Links to relevant online information

Title/ description:

National Soil Services Centre. (2011). Bhutan Catalogue of Soil and Water Conservation Approaches and Technologies. National Soil Services Centre, Department of Agriculture, Ministry of Agriculture and Forests, Royal Government of Bhutan, Thimphu.

URL:

https://www.wocat.net/library/media/95/

7.4 General comments

There is a need to increase number of respondents to get realistic data.