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)

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

2.1 Short description of the Technology

Definition of the Technology:

Oasis gardens in Niger for crop, vegetable and fruit production are supplied with irrigation water from traditional wells.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

In Timia Oasis in Aïr, small irrigated gardens (< 0.3 ha) have been used for over a century, producing dates and tree crops (figs, citrus, cherries, etc.) for sale and cereals for consumption (wheat, maize and pearl millet). With the onion boom in the 1990s, the establishment of new gardens grew dramatically. The new gardens cover a bigger area (0.5 - 1 ha) and focus on cash crops - mainly onions, but also potatoes and garlic. Gardens are fenced using branches from acacia trees. The water supply system in most cases is based on traditional wells with an animal-drawn scoop. The wells are less than 20 meters deep and generally built without a casing. Local experts were trained by GTZ project staff in well construction and maintenance. Modern motor pumps have recently become common and are used in new gardens. Water is conveyed to the plots through a hand-dug network of distribution channels. The channels are lined with clay and stones to minimize water loss through infiltration, evaporation, or breaching. Irrigating a whole garden takes about two hours. There are two cropping seasons per year: the rainy season (June-Sept) with staple crops such as maize and millet; and the dry/cold season (Oct.-Feb.) with wheat-barley associations and cash crops such as onions, garlic, tomatoes and vegetables. Fruit trees covering up to a fifth of the gardens; one section of the garden is reserved for keeping small ruminants. Agricultural residues are used as fodder and manure produced by livestock ensures fertility of gardens in combination with inorganic fertilizers. Traditional techniques (local plants, ash, etc) are used for pest management. Seed production and selection is done strictly locally.

Establishment / maintenance activities and inputs: The main establishment activities for this technology are: 1. Identify and demarcate of a free area to be converted into a garden. Fence area with acacia branches and living hedge. 2. Establish a traditional or cement well, max. 2 m wide and 15-20 m deep (contract with local well builder) in the middle of the field. 3. Installation of traditional water conveyance system (Tekarkat): wooden poles hold a pulley which conducts a rope with a scoop for extraction of water from the well. The system is powered by a dromedary. A 5-meter-chute (palm stem or iron sheet) conducts the water to a small reservoir.
4. Mark and dig irrigation canal system and basins for crop cultivation (8 m2): Main canal and secondary canals (perpendicular to main canal) are reinforced with clay or stones. 5. Purchase inputs (local market): seed, seedlings, fertilizer, tools. 6. Plant fruit trees.
Maintenance activities are the following: 1. Maintenance of fence: replace missing branches; plant new tree seedlings to reinforce the living hedge (biannually). 2. Irrigation (daily). 3. Maintenance of Tekarkat and canal system: control (and replace) poles; periodic weeding, cleaning, repair leaks and improve lining with clay/stones (biannually, after harvest). 4. Field preparation and application of organic manure (beginning of each cropping season). 5. Maintenance of well: cleaning (hot season), reinforce walls with cement (if needed).
6. Feeding draught animal using natural grassland and crop residues.

2.3 Photos of the Technology

2.5 Country/ region/ locations where the Technology has been applied and which are covered by this assessment

Country:

Niger

Region/ State/ Province:

Aïr

Further specification of location:

Timia oasis

Specify the spread of the Technology:

• applied at specific points/ concentrated on a small area

Map

×

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 land users' innovation

Comments (type of project, etc.):

These traditional gardens tend to be adopted spontaneously. The technology was a response to the successive droughts of the 1970s and 1980s that caused large livestock losses in the region. Nomadic herders have adopted technology to diversify their livelihoods and reduce risks. Since the 1990s, 700 new gardens have been created in Timia (compared to the 100 that previously existed)

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

• improve production

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

Cropland

• Annual cropping
• Tree and shrub cropping

Annual cropping - Specify crops:

• cereals - maize
• cereals - millet
• vegetables - root vegetables (carrots, onions, beet, other)
• root/tuber crops - potatoes

• wheat

Tree and shrub cropping - Specify crops:

• citrus
• figs
• stone fruits (peach, apricot, cherry, plum, etc)

Number of growing seasons per year:

• 2

Specify:

Longest growing period in days: 150; Longest growing period from month to month: Oct-Feb; Second longest growing period in days: 90; Second longest growing period from month to month: June-Sept

Comments:

Major cash crop: Onion, potatoe, garlic, dates, figs, citruns and cherries
Major food crop: Wheat, maize, pearl millet

Major land use problems (compiler’s opinion): Desertification, soil erosion by wind and water, chemical and biological degradation of soil

Livestock is grazing on crop residues

3.5 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• irrigation management (incl. water supply, drainage)

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

vegetative measures

• V1: Tree and shrub cover

structural measures

• S11: Others

Comments:

Type of agronomic measures: manure / compost / residues

Type of vegetative measures: scattered / dispersed

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

soil erosion by water

• Wt: loss of topsoil/ surface erosion

soil erosion by wind

• Et: loss of topsoil

chemical soil deterioration

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

biological degradation

• Bc: reduction of vegetation cover

Comments:

Main causes of degradation: droughts

3.8 Prevention, reduction, or restoration of land degradation

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

• reduce land degradation
• restore/ rehabilitate severely degraded land

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

4.2 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

Specify currency used for cost calculations:

• USD

4.3 Establishment activities

4.4 Costs and inputs needed for establishment

4.5 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

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

Comments:

Cost calculation is based on local land prices and traditional irrigation systems. Maintenance costs include also fodder (for draught animal) and organic manure. Establishment as well as maintenance costs were calculated for a garden size of 0.5 ha.

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

Comments and further specifications on topography:

Altitudinal zone: 800 m a.s.l.

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.

Soil fertility is medium

Soil drainage / infiltration is good

Soil water storage capacity is medium

5.4 Water availability and quality

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

Indicate other relevant characteristics of the land users:

Land users applying the Technology are mainly disadvantaged land users

Population density: > 500 persons/km2

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

• communal unorganised

• communal unorganised

Comments:

The land user can be (1) the owner of the garden; (2) a family member managing the family-owned garden; (3) a paid labourer; (4) a usufructuary

6.1 On-site impacts the Technology has shown

Socio-economic impacts

Production

Income and costs

Other socio-economic impacts

Socio-cultural impacts

Ecological impacts

Soil

Biodiversity: vegetation, animals

Climate and disaster risk reduction

6.2 Off-site impacts the Technology has shown

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

Climate-related extremes (disasters)

Meteorological disasters

Climatological disasters

Hydrological disasters

Other climate-related consequences

Other climate-related consequences

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 technology serves a double purpose: food security and income generation

6.5 Adoption of the Technology

Comments:

There is a strong trend towards spontaneous adoption of the Technology

Comments on adoption trend: Since the 1990ies, 700 new irrigated gardens were established in Timia (as compared to 100 gardens)

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

7.2 References to available publications

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Suchantke, J. and A. S. Soumaila. 2001. Etude cadre pour le programme NIGETIP IV, KfW, Niamey, Niger

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Soumaila, A. S., 2005. Rapport du symposium international sur le développement des filières agropastorales en Afrique organisé par GREAD.

Title, author, year, ISBN:

PPEAP. 2006. Rapport final d’évaluation du projet de promotion des exportations agropastorales

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Ministère du développement agricole. 2008, 2009. Données statistiques sur la production maraichère