Conservation farming on steep lands - USAid

250 DAVl NATHAN BENVENUTI
that these people will join the systenl of their own free will.
At this stage, a list can be coniplcted of those who occupy the area to
Ile conserved. Thc ~najor problcms to bc studied in more detail arc listed,
together with the names of the most resistant farmers. Thcn a Inorc concentrated
sclling campaign can be undertaken with these larmers, using
local leaders or neighbors and visits to spct:itic properties.
Together with this list, a map must be made of all the properties togcher.
This gives a better overview and facilitates the survcy of the properties
to be undertaken later. Airphotos of the area are used. and custozi-made,
rectified topographic maps of the properties are ~nadc. The layoul of the
river catchment is defined by the marking of contours.
hlcetirlg f~rfirrrlir~g up the work. After contacts with local leaders and
assurance that all the fnrr,iers are aware of the advantages the system offers
and of the problems, a meeting is scheduled with the property owners who
will be involved to firm up work proposals. In this meeting the costs of
ilnplenlentation arc discussed, along with types of machines to be used.
It is recommended that, on this occasion, the work be contracted out to
lirnls capable of providing the services required. Addresses of the firms
in the region are supplied so as io facilitate thc contacts by interested people.
At these meetings, all anticipated operations are decided. such as dividing
among farmers the costs of terracing and the costs of filling in the gullies
at property boundaries, and the delimitation of each stage of work for the
next period in the small catchment. A survey is made of those who are
to prepare projects that will justify financing the work. The probable costs
nf inlplenientation are analyzed. It is then possible to fix a date for the
oeginning of the work, al!owing enough time for the necessary survey work
on individual properties.
At the same time, arrangements for maintenance of the system, planting
of riverside forest, and possibilities for getting on with execution of soil
preparation work, planting. and cultivations, or even joint purchasing of
machinery, can be discussed.
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Field survey. It is important that each property owner participate in the
field survey. In the survey the ~ossibilities of changing roadlines, home
paddocks, and defining the manner of closing up the gullies are studied.
along with the levelling of old terraces and trash lines. By digging pits,
any pans in the soil can be detec:ed and the necessity for any subsoiling
decided. At the same time, samples can be taken for analysis. During the
same survey, the places to be reforested can be decided and the places for
possible building of dams, use of wetland "varzeas," and constnlction of