Chivi tied ridges More than 450 farmers have adopted Chivi tied ridges. Farmers find tied ridges hard work but effective in harvesting water and conserving soil. Crops planted on the ridges grow faster than those in plots without ridges. Tied ridges actually help to minimise problems of drought power and labour shortage in land preparation. Brief description/summary The technique was adapted from Chiredzi and Makoholi Research Stations and the Harare Institute of Agricultural Engineering. It consists of soil ridges of varying width and height, average being 30cm width and 20 cm height. At regular intervals, crossties are built between the ridges. The ties are about two-thirds the height of the ridges, so that if overflowing occurs, it will be along the furrow and not down the slope. Context Chivi District is a drought prone area of high population density. Average annual rainfall is 530mm with drought on average 3 years in 5. Population density is up to 70 people per km2. Average landholdings are 1.2 Ha per farmer. Subsistence agriculture is the mainstay of peoples livelihoods. Other livelihood strategies include trading in clothes and food, sale of agricultural surplus, gold panning, crafts and pottery production. Remittances from migrant relatives are increasingly vital. Chivi District is divided into wards, each made up of a number of administrative 'villages', administered by the Ward Development Committee and Village Development committee. There is constant rivalry and sometimes conflict between these structures, established since independence and commonly made up of younger men from immigrant families, and the traditional leadership structures, based around a lieage system of sabhukas, headmen and chiefs. There are also a number of semi-formal groups, such as farmers clubs, womens garden groups and churchgroups. Problem Water was identified in original discussions as a priority need for both vegetable and crop production. Rainwater is lost due to runoff and by surface evaporation. Soil erosion due to runoff is also a problem. Implementation The Chivi Food Security Project facilitated exposure visits to the Chiredzi and Makoholi Research Stations. Farmers were asked about their main problems, the most significant of which was lack of water. Farmers were shown different soil and water conservation techniques. Community meetings followed these visits where those who had made the visit fed back their findings. On the basis of the information gathered farmers decided to test different technologies, particularly tied ridges, infiltration pits and sub-surface irrigation using clay pipes. Result More than 450 farmers have now decided to adopt the Chivi tied ridges. Farmers find tied ridges hard yet efficient in harvesting water and conserving soil. Crops planted on the ridges grow faster than those in plots without ridges. Tied ridges help to minimise problems of drought power and labour shortage in land preparation. There are positive effects on soil erosion in the area. A disadvantage is the heavy labour input, although levels of maintenance are considerably lower than the initial construction work. Lessons learned and follow-up Tied ridges continue to be taken up by farmers, encouraged by the positive results of their neighbours. Source: Intermediate Technology Development Group Schumacher Centre for Technology Development Bourton Hall Bourton On Dunsmore Warwickshire CV23 9QZ Tel: +44 - 01926 634400 Fax: +44 - 01926 634401 http://www.itdg.org 23/7/02 << country/story review