ICRISAT Archival Report 2006 - The seedlings of success in the ...

example, phane is sold dried without any processing. Thus, there is little value addition taking place. The challenge
is, therefore, to find ways in which rural communities can sustain livelihoods through harvesting and processing of
forest products, and marketing of value-added end products.
2. Description of the technology/strategy
Mechanical erosion control is the physical control of soil and water movement by the use of drains and terraces. It is
being applied in Bobirwa sub district and other districts in the hardveld to reduce the velocity of water and safely
dispose of excess water. The three basic components of mechanical erosion control being applied are:
• The cut off drain which diverts storm runoff originating from the uncultivated land above the field;
• The graded contour ridges leading away the runoff from cultivated land;
• The grass waterway into which both the cut off drains and graded contour ridges discharge, and which allows the
excess water to drain safely away from the field to a natural depression or stream.
2.1 Mechanical erosion control
2.1.1 The basis of the technology’s success
Simple designs of mechanical erosion control components are provided by the agricultural extension service staff,
who also assist the farmers in staking out the control structures. The farmers construct cut off drains and graded
contour ridges in their own fields. If waterways are expected to be large, construction assistance is sought from the
agricultural extension service. On gentle slopes, farmers are encouraged to cultivate on the contour (ie, contour
ploughing) and to use grass strips to slow the velocity of water and trap sediment. The mechanical erosion control
measures appear to be working well for the hardveld soils, which are predominantly loams to sandy clay loams.
2.1.2 How is it implemented?
Currently, mechanical erosion control is effected on 12,000 ha of cultivated fields. Implementation of mechanical
erosion control is carried out under the auspices of the Forum for Integrated Resource Management (FIRM)
participatory approach. The technology is included in the integrated work plans of Mathathane village. FIRM
encompasses all important stakeholders and partners, including the communities themselves, government
departments, village development committee (VDC) and local institutions.
2.1.3 Up-scaling the technology
The initial focal point for up-scaling is Mathathane village. Thereafter, other major villages in Bobirwa sub district,
that is, Tsetsebjwe and Motlhabaneng, will be brought into the fold. Mechanical erosion control measures can be
applied in other countries where the climatic and soil regimes are similar to those of the hardveld. The agricultural
extension service of the Ministry of Agriculture will be of great assistance in the up-scaling phase.
2.1.4 Contribution to the overall DMP project goal and objectives
This technology, if fully implemented, contributes to the specific objective of developing and implementing
strategies for conservation, restoration and sustainable use of dryland biodiversity (Output 2).
2.1.5 Projected potential impact
The projected potential impact of this technology is to reduce land degradation by putting more than 48,000 ha of
potentially erodible arable land under effective mechanical erosion control.
2.2 Local level monitoring (LLM)
Local level monitoring (LLM) is a tool that can be used directly by farmers to collect information on important
indicators so that they can make timely management decisions and thus better manage their natural resources. The
four relevant indicators of rangeland conditions are livestock condition, fodder availability/carrying capacity,
rainfall, veld condition and bush density.
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