MADAGASCAR VETIVER GRASS CONSERVATION PROJECT -- CAPCHEMONICS

MADAGASCAR
PROJECT CAP

CHEMONICS/USAID

The Potential Use of the Vetiver Grass Technology for Soil and Water
Conservation and Land Stabilization in Madagascar.

October 28 to November 25 1997

by Richard G. Grimshaw

(Note photos not included)

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction and Overview ...........	1
Potential Use of Vetiver Grass in Madagascar ...........	3
Commercial Use of Vetiver ...........	3
Farmer and Community use of Vetiver ...............	6
Proposed Strategy ................	8
Key Activities for a Vetiver Initiative .............	8
The establishment of a Madagascar Vetiver Network ...........	9
VGT Training and Awareness Program ...............	9
Identification of existing sources of Vetiver Grass multiplication nurseries .........	10
Roll of Stake Holders ..............	11
Government of Malagascar (GOM). ................	11
Donor Agencies .................	11
CAP ...................	11
The Private Sector ....................	11
Costs, Economics and Risks. ...................	12
Cost ...................	12
Economic Benefits .......................	12
Risks .....................	12

Attachments

1 Vetiver Grass - A Hedge Against Erosion. ...................	20
2 Technical Specifications ......................	21
3 Mahajanaga Zone Field Visit Comments .................	26
4 Vetiver and Agriculture. Feedback from selected world wide vetiverprograms with relevance to Madagascar	30
5 The Establishment of Nurseries, Popagation of Vetiver Grass and Associated "Experimentation" in Madagascar	47
6 Nursery Establishment for Vetiver Plants .................	52
7 Observations and Experiments on the Multiplication, Cultivation,and Management of Vetiver Grass Conducted in China in the l950’s ........	54
8 Madagascar Vetiver grass nursery and field application budgets ...............	61

INTRODUCTION AND OVERVIEW

During the month that I spent in Madagascar I traveled to Fianarantsoa, A’tondrazaka, Bealanana, and Mahajanga. Although I did not visit all the regions of the country, what I did see was sufficient to confirm the potential for using vetiver grass in Madagascar for erosion control and for road and embankment stabilization. These observations coupled with the review of various CAP documents relating to climatic and environmental conditions in Madagascar coupled with actual visual sightings of vetiver plantings confirm that vetiver grass, if grown correctly, can be used throughout Madagascar for conservation and stabilization purposes with a high degree of certainty in its efficiency and effectiveness.

The body of this report does not provide details of the technology itself (see Attachments 1 and 2 for details). In brief the technology will be effective when vetiver grass (Vetiveria zianioides) is correctly planted as a hedge row across the slope of the land or embankment. World wide evidence indicates that well placed vetiver hedgerows will reduce soil loss from land by as much as 90% and rainfall runoff by as much as 60%. Recent engineering tests in Malaysia indicate ".....The tensile strength of vetiver roots vary between 40 -180 Mpa for the range of root diameter between 0.2 - 2.2 mm. The mean design tensile strength is about 75 Mpa (equivalent to approximately one sixth of mild steel) at 0.7 - 0.8 mm root diameter which is the most common size for vetiver roots. This indicates that vetiver roots are as strong as, or even stronger than that of many hardwood species which have been proven positive for root reinforcement of steep slopes. In the soil block shear test, they found that root penetration of a two year old Vetiver hedge with 15 cm plant spacing can increase the shear strength of soil in adjacent 50 cm wide strip by 90% at 0.25m depth. The increase was 39% at 0.50m depth and gradually reduced to 12.5% at1m depth. Moreover, because of its dense and massive root system it offers better shear strength increase per unit fiber concentration (6-10 kPa/kg of root per cubic metre of soil) compared to 3.2-3.7 kPa/kg for tree roots......."

Vetiveria zizanioides, the species that exists in Madagascar, is thought to be (to be verified by DNA testing) the domesticated vetiver that we know as the "Sunshine" accession. This has exactly the same genetic characteristics as "Monto" vetiver in Australia, and the vetiver found in South Africa, Reunion, Zimbabwe , and many other countries. Monto vetiver has been extensively tested by the Australian Government for the past seven years, and has been recently released for the public as a non invasive or non weedy plant. This characteristic is important for Madagascar, and from field observations it is confirmed that the vetiver grown in Madagascar is non invasive, and stays where man plants it.

In Madagascar other characteristics of vetiver also follow observations from elsewhere in the world, including its ability to adapt to a wide range of conditions (dry/wet climate; low/high pH, high/low fertile soils), fire, grazing and pest tolerance, etc. There is therefore no need to carry out extensive and duplicative research into the grass and the technology, rather research should be directed to back up field development efforts and to modify,where necessary, the technology through carefull analysis of field experience. For example Madagascar’s landscape is being continually modified by the development of large "lavakas" (gullies) that are the source of massive sediment flows that destroy down stream cultivated wetlands (bas-fond) and eventually end up in the sea causing damage to coral reefs and associated fisheries. Vetiver hedgerows could do much to prevent or reduce these flows and would lead to quicker rehabilitation of the lavakas. Practical research in this area would be useful.

POTENTIAL USE OF VETIVER GRASS IN MADAGASCAR

In reviewing the uses of the vetiver grass technology in Madagascar a distinct division can be drawn between uses that are "commercial" in nature (ones that would more often or not require a guaranteed and continuing supply of high quality plant material produced and sold to the end user by commercial nurseries) that would fall under CAP’s objectives of supporting the private sector; and uses that relate to the farming community and donor agencies, primarily for natural resources conservation, particularly for soil and water conservation purposes.

Commercial Use of Vetiver

Control of Point Source Erosion Much of the sediment flow carried in Madagascar’s rivers come from specific and identifiable sites. These include highly vulnerable lavakas, erodable river banks that threaten construction works, new and old roads, railroads, and special construction sites such as building sites and "borrow" pits. All these sites produce heavy sediment flows when new and vulnerable, and when subjected to Madagascar’s intense rainfall regime. Vetiver should be considered and included in the design of all sites that are unstable and are potential sites of point source erosion, i.e. roads, railroads, and building construction sites; and could be introduced to old sites to stabilize deteriorating situations and to reduce maintenance costs. In China it has been recently estimated that vetiver technology used for highway stabilization results in a 90% saving over conventional engineering systems. Obviously it would be impossible to stabilize all Madagascar’s lavakas, but there are many that have caused, and continue to cause, considerable damage by the way of cross flows of heavy sediments at points where roads cross drainage lines. These need identifying and stabilizing with vetiver hedgerows. Vetiver has been used in the past rather haphazardly for road side stabilization, but even so it has been effective (CAP staff found a section of the Bealana road successfully stabilized with vetiver, as have roads on the wetlands of Marovay).

Stabilization of special structures Wherever concrete structures interface with soil a point of "weakness" is created, particularly if subjected to high velocity water flows. We saw many sites on the Bekobai road (see attachment 3 for details) as well as national highways where river crossings, bridges and culverts had washed out because of the interface "weakness". In every case the damage could have been averted if a very small amount of money had been spent on planting vetiver at and around the interface. In most cases this expenditure would have been less than $500 per structure, often no more than $10!! Unfortunately repair bills will run into thousands of dollars.

Stabilization of road turnout drains and edges of roads . The genesis of low cost country road failure, such as those being built by CAP, can nearly always be traced to the drainage system, the high velocity water flows in the drains, culverts and turnout drains. Vetiver will help mitigate most of the problems associated with drainage and road surface losses (see attachment 3 recommendations)

Irrigation canals and drainage systems. Some of the canals and drains at Marovay (Mahajanga) have been stabilized with vetiver grass. The technology applied was not the best (clumps planted too far apart and so on) — but total stability has resulted from vetiver planting. One field canal had, with vetiver on either side, not been maintained or cleaned for eight years—the banks were stable, the canal had kept its shape, and there were no weeds whatsoever (shaded out by the vetiver). Water flows had not been impeded. I first came across this use of vetiver in Zimbabwe and called the system the "Labat System" after Jano Labat, a Mauritian sugar farmer who had refined the system. As a result of his example the technology is being applied to 250,0000 ha of irrigated sugar land in Zimbabwe’s Low Veldt.

Building Sites Because of Madagascar’s hilly topography many housing, industrial and institutional sites are located on areas of "cut and fill" (see for example the site for the new French Lycee in Antananarivo). It is very important to stabilize these sites because they can be dangerous to human life if not properly protected. Vetiver has been used very successfully in South Africa, Thailand, Malaysia, and California for site stabilization and protection, and should be used in Madagascar as well.

Municipal Landfills and mine dumps Municipal land fills and mine dumps are notorious as sites that are difficult to stabilize and have reputations for producing dangerous and toxic leachates containing many of the poisonous heavy metals. In Australia and South Africa such types of sites have been stabilized with vetiver (vetiver is more tolerant than nearly all other plants to most of the common heavy metals), and probably there are situations in Madagascar that would fit into this category.

Farmer and Community Use of Vetiver

There is a large need (as against a large demand) for individual and community involvement with vetiver grass technology for soil and water conservation. Slow, but effective work, particularly by the NGO, ANAE, has demonstrated at many sites (in the hundreds) that vetiver hedgerow technology is a very effective, cheap, simple, and an easy to manage technology that farmers seem to like. Although results have not been fully quantified farmers in Madagascar indicate that vetiver reduces erosion, builds up natural terraces, reduces rainfall run off and fertility losses, increases crop yields, and allows for continuing cropping. In addition farmers indicate that vetiver makes a good thatch and mulch, is eaten and actually liked by livestock, and can be used for handicrafts. Village communities in addition are using vetiver to demarcate the boundaries between their houses, to reduce soil loss around the houses, and to stabilize drainage ways that pass through the villages. (Attachment 4 sets out feedback and testimonials on the use of vetiver from countries other than Madagascar). In most cases once a farmer has acquired initial vetiver planting material he creates additional material though insitu division of his hedgerows. Thus in most cases "one-off" supplies of vetiver are required, together with proper farmer training in the benefits and application of the technology. To make an appreciable impact, on a what is probably an accelerating rate of land degradation, government and donor programs, in association with NGOs, communities, and individuals, should be prepared to look for ways to use vetiver on a large scale. There are other technologies, that of course should not be excluded, but they all have their problems and are slow to be adopted. The vetiver technology is the simplest, cheapest, and most effective technology — requiring minimum maintenance — and should be given priority. It is also a technology that everybody, from whatever agency or discipline can get involved with. The model worked out by some NGOs, communities and government agencies in Oaxaca, Mexico might be an interesting one to follow (see Attachment 4)

Soil and water conservation on farm lands Vetiver has been demonstrated to be effective on both bas-fond (wet bottom land) and on tanety (upland). It can be used to stabilize bottom land dikes and upland terraces. On the uplands it can be planted directly on the contour on unterraced lands. Vetiver hedgerows will bring soil losses down to reasonable and acceptable levels, will prevent organic matter loss (i.e. farm yard manure and soil organic matter), and will reduce rainfall runoff resulting in improved soil moisture, increased groundwater, and better yields. Because of its deep root system vetiver can recycle nutrients, not normally available to crops, by treating the vetiver leaves as a crop residue and incorporating them in the soil. In China on acid red soils vetiver when used as mulch on a citrus farm, over three years, increased soil organic matter from 0.4% to 1.8%, and increased the level of all nutrients, particularly P and N. I would go so far as to venture that under Madagascar’s intensive rainfall regime (including cyclones) that there is little point in trying to build up soil organic matter unless the improved soils are protected with vetiver hedgerows. Vetiver protection would normally be in the form of contour hedgerows, but in some situations half circle hedges around individual trees would be appropriate.

Vetiver hedgerows and the control of sediment flows from lavakas and tenety land to the bas-fond. Vetiver might in certain situations have an important role as hedge rows across the width of bas-fonds to prevent down slope movement of sediments, particularly in situations where sediment from upslope lavakas are invading the bas-fond. Vetiver can also be used as a barrier across the mouth and in the bottom of lavakas to prevent lavaka sediment from entering the bas-fond. As witnessed at A’tondrazaka, a community supported by ANAE has identified such problems and is dealing with them through the use of vetiver. Another use of vetiver hedgerows is its placement as buffer strips along the interface of the bas-fond and the tanety for sediment control and tanety runoff velocity reduction. Most of these activities would need to be undertaken by communities rather than individuals, and community nursery production is encouraged.

Rural water supply. There is good evidence to support the role of vetiver in ground water improvement. Because of its extraordinary root system that is able to punch through laterite and hardpans, water is able to move better through the profile. As a result ground water levels (and well levels) increase, and spring water becomes more reliable as reported by FIFABE at Marovay. (IDEA!! It might even be possible to create special vetiver filter beds for the filtering of diverted "muddy" river water for the creation of cleaner village water supplies for those villages situated near running water).

Vetiver and forestry. Old forest plantations that are regularly coppiced (particularly eucalyptus) have a reputation for high runoff rates and erosion. New plantings are often worse. In China and Vietnam, vetiver (under Eucalyptus) has been shown to reduce run-off (and erosion) by as much as 60%. Vetiver is not effective under heavy shade but will take light shade.

Rehabilitation of barren lands. Vetiver is an ideal plant to rehabilitate lands that have been completely devoided of trees, shrubs and grasses. Such situations often occur near villages, and through years of neglect have continued to deteriorate. There are many examples of such rehabilitation, but two stand out—one on the sodic soils on the Ganges Plain in India, and the other on the hilly red acid soils of southern China. In both cases these totally denuded areas were rehabilitated to forest lands with vetiver used as a pioneer grass.

Vetiver for oil production. This may be profitable in Madagascar, given the low labor rates, but it is an industry subject to inelastic supply and demand and fluctuating prices. If vetiver is promoted for oil production, sites should be selected on flat sandy loam alluvial soils that are unlikely to erode, and that have a source of supplementary irrigation. Small holder outgrowers clustered around a nucleus grower with oil distilling capability would probably be the best route to take. Note that oil producers could sell the crowns of the plant (not distillable) for planting material. This would provide added income and in time of low oil prices might keep the grower in production.

PROPOSED STRATEGY

VGT is the simplest and least costly technology that can be applied (with occasionally minimum modification) throughout Madagascar for a wide range of end use applications.

As established in the foregoing paragraphs, there is sufficient experience and evidence in Madagascar, which when added to world wide research and utilization of the vetiver grass technology (VGT), to provide for a firm basis for the development of a long term plan for a wide use of VGT to support Madagascar’s efforts to mitigate current and expected increasing rates of environmental damage to its natural resources and investment infrastructure. In parallel to environmental damage mitigation VGT will play an important role in increasing rural income.

Key Activities for a Vetiver Initiative: Any large scale VGT initiative will require three key activities:

participation of a wide range of users, agencies, and businesses acting in a loose form of association that provides for transparency and sharing of development, production and utilization of VGT — thus the need and role for a network that will broker "connections" (case study of cooperation in Oaxaca, Mexico is attached at attachment 4), help initiate activities; help match "supply and demand", promote the technology, and assure for vital dissemination and feedback of information to all members of the network;
effective training programs for intermediary (NGO’s, Gov. sector agencies, private sector enterprises) and end users (farmers, communities, construction companies etc.) in the utilization and benefits of the technology, and in the technology and its correct application—the network will have a vital role in this training process particularly in the training of the intermediaries;
identification of existing sources of vetiver grass in Madagascar, and establishment of large numbers of widely located vetiver grass multiplication units owned and operated by farmers, communities, and commercial entrepreneurs.

The establishment of a Madagascar Vetiver Network.

At the CAP sponsored workshop held at Mahajanga (November 1997) it was agreed by a wide range of participants that VGT should be used widely in Madagascar, that a network with six regional steering groups should be established, and that CAP should be responsible for establishing and managing the Network until the CAP project is completed in 1999. As a result of subsequent discussion with CAP management it is recommended that:

CAP establishes the Madagascar Vetiver Network (MVN) as a legal independent non profit organization, and that a Board of Directors be appointed;
MVN would appoint CAP to establish and operate MVN until CAP’s mandate expires in 1999;
CAP would second two or three staff to administer MVN;
establishment of the six regional groups and agreement on overall strategic mode of operation for the promotion of VGT;
a work plan, budget, and administrative procedures would be established;
establishment of MVN homepage on the Internet;
independent funding would be sourced from local donor agencies to cover the operations of MVN; and
on the termination of CAP’s MVN management contract MVN would be able to continue as a fully operational network (because of the nature of its work it would need continuing external funding).

VGT Training and Awareness Program

MVN would immediately start a training workshop program for intermediaries and commercial users. The objective of the workshops would be to jump start the vetiver initiative. This training program would include:

awareness training about the need and potential utilization of VGT in Madagascar;
training on the social, physical and economic benefits of VGT;
training in VGT marketing, intra group/NGO/donor/agency cooperation, and vetiver entrepreneurship; and
training in the multiplication of vetiver grass (nurseries) and its field proper application (attachment 5, 6, and 7 includes notes on technology application at nursery and field application sites).

The workshops would be held at suitable sites in Madagascar and would last about four days including one day visiting actual and potential sites. It is estimated that in 1998 at least 10 training workshops would be needed (six regional, and four for special sector agencies such as Agriculture and Forestry, Highways, water and irrigation , and the environmental agency). Thereafter MVN would probably run twice yearly "feedback/planning" workshops.

NGO’s, donors and other agencies would subsequently develop their in house training programs to meet the specific demands of their needs and mode of operations. Specifically they would be responsible for training their own staff and end users.

Currently sufficient VGT information is available, much of it made available by The Vetiver Network (Leesburg, USA). The Vetiver Network (TVN) will supply other information, as and when requested. Four priority actions are required: (1) publication of the third edition of the handbook "Vetiver Grass - A Hedge against Erosion" in French and Malagasy; (2) reproduction of additional audio visual slides, videos, and CD Roms; (3) translation into French and Malagasy of VGT key papers; and (4) quick and adequate dissemination of this information.

Identification of existing sources of Vetiver Grass multiplication nurseries

The regional working groups would be co-opted to identify, through their local connections existing sources of vetiver grass. MVN would keep a register of these source locations so that buyers/users could be assisted in locating the grass. This register would also be included on MVN’s homepage.

The key to the success of the VGT initiative will be the early establishment of a large number of productive, efficient, and profitable nurseries. These nurseries would be considered productive and efficient if they could supply at least 1 million bare rooted planting plugs (1 plug comprises of three slips) per ha per annum. 1 million plugs would be sufficient to plant 100 linear km of vetiver hedgerows. In addition these nurseries could supply plastic containerized vetiver plants for special engineering purposes (up to 200,000 containers per year per nursery would be considered feasible). These nurseries would be operated as commercial enterprises and would be profitable with annual income margins of between US$ 1000 to $11,000 per ha (estimated budget attached at attachment 8). The better businesses would be encouraged to expand into the market and become not only vetiver grass suppliers but also contractors to highway and other construction companies for purpose of stabilizing engineered sites using VGT. A case study of the NOBS’ operation in El Salvador is at attachment 4. In such cases these companies would probably launch their own marketing campaigns. The support to these commercial nurseries would fit CAP’s present role as a commercial business innovator and broker.

As part of this commercial nursery establishment would be in some instances complimentary activities in vetiver oil production. The combination could be very profitable. However any help supplied by CAP in this area should be tied to strict production management norms that would include correct site selection and the management of the site so that erosive nature of deep digging the roots would be neutralized. This could be best done by insuring that all commercial vetiver for oil be grown between properly aligned contour vetiver hedgerows.

Nurseries would also be needed to be established by NGO’s and other agencies at community (village level). It is expected that apart from on-farm vetiver needs, communities will expand the current use of vetiver and apply it to community works such as prevention of sediment flows from lavakas on to bas-fond lowlands.

ROLL OF KEY STAKE HOLDERS

Government of Malagascar (GOM). Key GOM agencies especially those involving the environment, agriculture, highways and water would be encourged to use the technology in their designs and subsequent investment programs. Government research agencues such as FORFIFA would participate in the initiative and would provide targeted research and experimenation to supplement the vetiver program in the field. MVN/CAP should as priority give a halfday awareness workshop to senior government officials and policy makers.

Donor Agencies such as USAID, World Bank, EEC, Swiss Development Fund, GTZ, and others are already interested or involved with vetiver in their programs. Donors should accelerate the use of VGT in their programs. This applies to all sectors, but would be invaluable and cost saving for wide application in engineering projects. Donors should also be encouarged to support MVN with funds, either directly or indirectly through their projects. MVN/CAP should as priority give a halfday awareness workshop to senior donor officials.

CAP has two key roles. First it should act under its current mandate to help the private/commercial sector develop their role in the vetiver initiative; and secondly it should establish MVN and get it fully operational and effective by 1999.

The Private Sector should respond to demand for vetiver oil, plant material, and contractural demands on engineering projects. It should also be encouraged to participate for the social and environmental good to support the not so profitable needs of small farmers and communities, just as El Salvador’s NOBS is currently doing in that country.

COSTS, ECONOMICS, AND RISK.

Cost

Costs estimates have not been detailed for the establishment of MVN. This will be done by CAP. Costs need not be high, particularly if other agencies are fully involved and use their facilities etc. for training etc.

Cost estimates for actual on site vetiver utilization vary from site to site. However it has been estimated that farmers can stabilize their tanety lands from between $4 to $12 per ha. depending on the slope of land and availability of plant material. Vetiver used for embankment stabilization will cost from 2 US cents (bare rooted) 50 - 75 US cents (containerized plants) per square meter of embankment stabilized. This, for example in China, represents savings of about 90% over the cost of using stone.

Economic Benefits

Economic analysis have been undertaken by a number of economists and the results invariably show high IRR of 90% or higher. This is not surprising when you consider the low cost and ease of application of the VGT.

Risks

There are really no risks associated with the technology itself. It is a non invasive grass, the technology is well proven in all the areas of potential utilization. The risks, if any, are associated with incorrect technical application. Thus the proposed training of intermediate and end users is an essential component of any vetiver program and should be given priority attention. Other risks associated with market demand and the supply of good quality vetiver can be reduced if CAP and MVN does an adequate job in promoting awareness campaigns, and the private sector companies vigorously advertise their product.

Attachment 1

Vetiver Grass - A Hedge Against Erosion.

There are twelve known varieties of Vetiver grass, the most important is Vetivaria zizanioides. For centuries the oil extract from the roots of V.zizanioides has been used in the perfume trade. Indigenous peoples have recognized vetiver for its medicinal uses, for thatching, mulch, and feed, and for soil and moisture conservation. In more modern times the sugar industry has used vetiver grass quite widely as contour conservation hedges and for the stabilization of road sides and embankments. Vetiver once thought to be confined to wetlands thrives over a range of ecological conditions. It grows both on highly acidic (pH4) and alkaline soils (pH11). Its roots will grow to depths of 3 meters . It is not effected seriously by pests or diseases. Many cultivars are non flowering, these when combined with a non spreading root system prevents "escape". Each clump of vetiver is extremely dense, so dense that if configured correctly will act as a near perfect filter. The grass is easy and cheap to establish, and needs minimum maintenance.

When planted as a contour hedge it acts as a continuous filtering system, that slows down rainfall runoff, reduces rilling and gullying, and collects soil sediments at the hedge face. Soil and nutrient loss is reduced, soil moisture and ground water improves significantly, and natural terraces and ground levelling develops behind the hedge. An important feature is that vetiver grass takes up minimal space and is virtually non competitive with adjacent crops. Apart for soil conservation uses vetiver is seen to be an important grass for the stabilization of road embankments, canals, bridge abutments, landslide prevention etc. In other words it is a biological alternative to structural reinforcing techniques.

In south India, near the city of Mysore farmers have grown vetiver for years as hedges to demarcate farm boundaries, just as farmers in Kano, Nigeria,have done so for centuries (V. nigratana). Since the mid 80’s vetiver technology has been introduced to over 80 countries. Dissemination was achieved through videos, slides, newsletters, journal articles, and small books - all of value to end use users - farmers, extension workers and NGOs. Demand for information has accelerated as a result of the recent National Academy of Sciences (Washington DC) scientific review of vetiver under a committee chaired by Dr Norman Borlaug. The published report "The Thin Green Line" endorses all the work to date and calls for further efforts to introduce vetiver as a major technology for soil and moisture conservation in the tropics and sub tropics.

Research has been carried out by numerous agencies working in tropical areas. Research by CIAT in Colombia (1800 mm rainfall per annum) shows soil loss reductions from 143 tons (no protection) to 1.3 tons per hectare (protected by vetiver), no reduction in crop yields, and reduced water run off. At ICRISAT south India (650 mm per year) soil loss reduction is significant and the rate of runoff in these dry areas is greatly reduced, by as much as 60%. Yoon (Malaysia) and Materne (Louisiana) have undertaken some remarkable and practical demonstrations of its use, function, and management. At the same time feed back from growers including large South African sugar growers and small farmers in Ethiopia, India, China, Central America and the Philippines all confirm the tremendous potential of the grass and its use in soil and moisture conservation.

Attachment 2

VETIVER GRASS Technical Specifications

Name: Vetiver grass (Eng), Khus Khus (Urdu/Hindi), Secate violetta (Spanish), Xieng Geng Sao (Mandarin).

Family: Gramminae Vetivaria zizanioides, V.nigratana, V.nemoralis

Origin: V. zizanioides — Asia - subcontinent, V.nigratana — Southern Africa, V.nemoralis — South East Asia

Uses: Aromatic oil from roots for perfume industry

Thatch,

Fodder (when properly managed)

Mulch

Paper making

Soil and water conservation

Land and embankment stabilization

Land Rehabilitation

Medicinal

Handicrafts

Habit: Perennial grass up to 2 m high with a strong dense and mainly vertical root system often measuring more than 3 m. It is by nature a hydrophyte, but often thrives under xerophytic conditions.

Climate: Temperature

Mean 18 - 25� C
Mean coldest month 5�C
Absolute minimum - 15�C
When ground freezes grass usually dies
Growth normally starts above 12�C
Hot summer temperatures (25�C +) required for rapid growth

Rainfall: - as low as 300 mm, but above 700 mm preferable

will survive total drought, but normally requires a wet season of at least three months. Ideal is well spread monthly rainfall.

Humidity: - grows better under humid conditions, but does well also under low humidity.

Sunshine: - difficult to establish under shade, when shade is removed growth recovery is rapid.

Soil: grows best on deep sandy loam soils. However it will grow on most soil types ranging from black cracking vertisols through to red alfisols. It will grow on rubble, both acid (ph3) and alkali (pH11) soils, it is tolerant to high levels of mineral toxicities - aluminium, manganese (550 ppm), copper, nickel, arsenic, etc. It will survive complete submergence in water for at least three months. It grows on both shallow and deep soils.

Altitude: over 2,000 m. constrained by low temperatures at higher altitudes.

Rooting Pattern: Massive root system that is generally vertical and non-invasive to adjoining habitat. Root mass will under good conditions be as much as 3 m deep, and as a mass creates a major below ground barrier. Roots will penetrate weathering "C" horizon rock material, and will follow cracks in otherwise unweathered rock material. Roots are very strong (average tensile strength 75 MPa) and have the capacity to bind strata together.

Type of user: Small and large farmers, conservationists, water authorities, highway engineers, aromatic industry, traditional medicine etc.

Varieties & cultivars: there are 12 known species of vetiver grass, and many hundreds of different cultivars that exhibit distinctive phenotypic differences which can be exploited by users depending on need. For example thick, stiff stemmed cultivars can withstand high water velocities and probably are best for controlling gully erosion, softer more prostrate cultivars are better for fodder.

Propagation: By root division. If plenty of planting material is available in the form of existing hedges then these hedges can be divided. In scarcity situations nurseries are required for multiplication purposes. Depending on rainfall and soils 1 slip can produce from 30 -100 new slips in six months. Some cultivars have no flowers, others have flowers, but sterile seeds, others have fertile seeds - the latter type should be avoided. Where end planting sites are very unstable (such as road embankments or gullies with high velocity water flows) it may be more appropriate to raise vetiver in containers, such as 4" polybags. The advantage of this is that there is "instant" growth of the transplanted material rather than initial dieback that occurs with bare rooted plant material.

Planting: Planting of hedgerows should take place early in the wet season when the soil has been well wetted. 2-3 slips should be planted at each "station", each station should be 10 - 15 cm apart. Distance between hedgerows should be at a vertical interval of about 2 m. On flatter land VI may be reduced to 1 meter. Care should be taken to select good quality slips, and they should be planted within three days of lifting from nursery. Better to plant on the day of lifting. Planting slips should not be allowed to dry off and should be protected from the sun. From 2,000 - 3,000 planting slips are required per 100 m of hedge row. Under very dry conditions, > than 700 mm it is better to plant vetiver slips in small "v" ditch or plough furrow to enhance moisture availability at time of planting.

Shade: Unless a shade tolerant cultivar (rare) is available vetiver should not be planted under shade, later it will withstand shade levels of up to 50%. It will also recover rapidly following the removal of shade.

Fertilizer: Vetiver will establish better if about 100 kg of FYM is applied per 100 running meters of hedgerow at planting. If FYM is not available di-ammonium phosphate should be applied at about 10 kg per 100 meters. Note one of the advantages of FYM is that it helps to improve moisture availability to the young vetiver plant at time of establishment. FYM and/or DAP should be applied liberally to nursery sites prior to planting of material for multiplication. The use of slow release NPK nuggets for containerized plant material, though not essential, optimises growth rates. There is no need to use fertilizer for maintenance purposes once the hedges have been established.

Yield: Aromatic oil: 1 - 1.5% of the dry weight of the roots that are harvested for distillation (root yield of between 1500 kg to 2000 kg of dry root per ha every 14 months)

Leaves: yield levels under fertile and moist (irrigated) conditions can be as high as 100 tons per ha. Normally 15 -30 tons/ha.

Pests and diseases: Vetiver is generally resistant to most pest and diseases. In China incidence of rice stem borer has been identified. Vetiver appears to be more susceptible to disease when it is weak and not growing well, particularly on very shallow soils in association with drought conditions. Under the latter conditions, root fungus attacks can be serious. Termites will only attack dead or dying parts of vetiver. If the attack is serious the termite "hills" created can smother living vetiver. Under such conditions annual burning of vetiver hedges will greatly reduce the incidence of termite damage due to burn out of dead plant material

Longevity: Vetiver is known to live for a long time. The longest recorded period is about 60 years (at Msamfu Research Station in Zambia).

Availability of plant material vetiver can be found in most tropical and semi-tropical countries. Often it has been introduced by aromatic and essential oils industry. National and university herbariums often have vetiver in their collections, and have the local name for it. Traditional medicine users often know of a source of vetiver (though they will not know the grass as vetiver). Vetiver can often be found in countries with established sugar industries, as the latter have used vetiver for conservation purposes over many years. There are well known sources of good quality vetiver in eastern and southern Africa, India, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, China, the Caribbean, Central and South America, and the United States. It is stressed that seedless or sterile vetiver cultivars should be used.

Establishment costs: The cost of establishment of vetiver depends much on the level of farm labor wages. In most countries where labor rates are about US$ 1 - $1.50 per day vetiver can be established in the field at about US$3 per 100 meter of running hedgerow. Containerized planting can be 10 times higher. Farmers who have a source of vetiver on their farms or nurseries close at hand, can dig and plant between 100 and 200 meters of vetiver per day.

A well managed nursery can produce over 3 million planting slips per ha per year, sufficient to plant 100 km of hedge row.

Impact on soil losses: Records from most sites where data has been collected indicate that erosion levels can be reduced by up to 90% to less than 3 tons/ha of soil loss per annum. This is an acceptable level.

Impact on runoff reduction: records indicate that runoff can be reduced by as much as 60 -70% of recorded rainfall. Variation is quite high, and depends on slope, rainfall event intensity, and potential infiltration rates and water holding capacity of soils at site.

Ground water recharge: Not many investigations have been undertaken, but it appears that recharge rates of 30% over non protected areas are being achieved where vetiver is used.

Crop Yield Increases: Research and on-farm data confirms that in the majority of cases there are quite significant yield increases associated with the use of vetiver grass hedges varying from 15 - 60%. Yield increases are variable and are associated with rainfall patterns and soil types. Risk of crop failure is reduced. It should be noted that in most instances does not compete for moisture and nutrients with adjoining crops.

Further Information: Information on vetiver is available in many countries. The Vetiver Network (Leesburg, Virginia, USA) and seven regional and national networks manage internet homepage sites and issue newsletters and other information. New participants are welcome. For more information contact: The Vetiver Network, 15 Wirt Street NW, Leesburg, Virginia 21076, USA.

Email: vetiver@vetiver.org homepage: www.vetiver.org Tel. 703 771 1942; Fax: 703 771 8260.

Attachment 3

MADAGASCAR PROJECT CAP—MAHAJANGA ZONE

Field Visit Notes

Bekobai Road

This road has been engineered as a dry weather road only. Basic design standards include a cambered road surface, vertically sided box drains, standard drainage turn outs, concrete culverts and low-level concrete causeway river crossings. The road has no all weather surfacing. Soils are generally sandy and unstable, and the road surface and drains are subject to periodic intense rainfall. Part of the road passes through highly unstable broken topography which is the source of a series of cross drainage lines that are dry most of the time, but under heavy rainfall are subject to flash floods and heavy sediment flows from the upstream "lavakas".

These types of roads could be improved by:

increasing the number of turn out drains, thus reducing volume and velocity flows in the narrow side drains. Note the rainfall runoff may be greater than anticipated at the design stage, and might warrant larger cross section drains;
designing turn out drains first to remove water rapidly from side drains, and then discharging the drain water safely onto the nearby landscape without causing erosive gullying. This can be best achieved by ensuring that the turn out drain is brought to a graded contour of about 4:1000 as soon as is feasible. The lower side of the turn out drain should be protected by a vetiver grass hedge, and the hedge should be continued past the end of the turn out drain by some 20 meters so that surplus water can be filtered off gradually; and
using vetiver grass in various hedge configurations to protect the road and associated structures (see below).

Using vetiver grass hedgerows for road and structure protection

The general principles in using vetiver for road protection should include:

mandatory establishment as a tight hedgerow (single clumps planted at random or too far apart are useless and result in technology failure);
creation of specific criteria and standards that contractors must adhere to;
application of correct technology to high quality standards;
use of high quality vetiver planting material;
use of bare rooted plants where planting is to take place during the rainy season. i.e. use bare rooted plants along side of road; along side of road drains (both sides) and along lower edge of turn out drains and their extensions; for rehabilitation of borrow pits, and for stabilization of embankments that are not subject to slippage or high volume water flows; and for drainage catchment stabilization that is not subject to intensive flooding or high velocity water flows;

use containerized plants for:

stabilizing and protecting high cost structures such as causeways, bridge abutments, culverts; and embankments;
stabilizing embankments and cuts where slippage can be expected in wet season, or where slopes are so excessive (> 90%) that slope failure might have catastrophic results (i.e. road closure);
stabilizing river banks; and
situations that require "instant" hedgerow growth; the latter is related mainly to planting across drainage lines during wet season (in which case the containers should be staked), or when planted in the dry season in the expectation of full hedge formation by start of next wet season (in this case hedge rows must be watered twice a week for eight weeks or until there are concrete signs that the vetiver has established). Watering is not a difficult task, particularly when hedgerows are adjacent to the structure being protected;
when planting vetiver in drainage lines to protect down stream structures the hedgerows should be planted at right angles to the flow of water, and the hedgerow should stretch completely across the drainage line and up the side of the banks of the drainage line; all approaches (at least 20 meters) to the structure should be lined with vetiver. Vetiver roots, because of their depth and strength will be prevent tunneling and the undermining of the structure. Below the structure drainage line banks should be protected for at least 20 meters; causeways should have at least two lines of vetiver planted close their down stream side to reduce structure damage from turbulence; and if a gully head is developing further down the drainage line bed it should be halted by a vetiver hedge row;
protecting the down side of culverts with vetiver hedge rows. On gentle slopes long hedgerows can be planted far enough away from the culvert exit so as to not block the culvert exit with sediment. Where the land falls way steeply blow the culvert, a number of vetiver hedge rows should be planted close to the outlet to dissipate the water velocity and to protect the culvert from gully head cut back. Note since most culvert inlets are constructed to take water from the upstream catchment as well as from the road side drains it is recommended that vetiver hedgerows are planted above the culvert to reduce water velocities and sediment flows into the culvert. Generally containerised plants should be used for culvert protection.

If the above principles are adhered to it should not be difficult to identify the length of hedgerows required by priority and plant material type (bare root or container, 1000 of each per 100 meters planted). This information together with identified planting dates will enable the designer and contractor to establish firm orders from vetiver grass suppliers.

Handling of Vetiver Grass

Vetiver grass should be planted as soon as possible after transporting from nurseries. The following steps should be taken to assure minimum mortality and maximum survival and establishment rates:

• • unless nurseries are very close to end user site it is probably best to buy good quality clumps from the nursery and prepare plugs from the clumps at the user site. Clumps, until split, should be kept in the shade and should be regularly wetted. On splitting into planting plugs (3 slips to a plug) the plugs should be kept in the shade and damp until used;

a clear "order" schedule should be given to the supplier of the plants, and this schedule should be regularly updated and modified where necessary;
drivers responsible for delivering vetiver plants should receive clear instructions on how to deliver. The truck should be covered to provide shade, and if the truck has to stop it should be parked in a shady area to prevent overheating of plant material;
containerized plants should be handled in a similar fashion. If large quantities of container plants are to be transported the truck should be modified so as to be able to carry more than one layer of plants;
dead material should not be planted;
where possible use farm yard manure (100 kg per 100 meters) rather than fertilizer;
plant in moist soil or provide supplementary water; plant at correct distance (10 cm) and depth (max. 5 cm), and "heel" in.

Vetiver Grass Nurseries

Vetiver grass can be supplied by "commercially " operated nurseries or from existing plant material from a vetiver protected site. In either case good quality plant material must be provided. The following actions should be undertaken to assure good quality supplies:

clear and firm contracts should be drawn up with the supplier that clearly state delivery (at nursery gate) dates, plant specifications (plugs, clumps, containers), size ( minimum number of tillers, quality, potting mixtures etc.), and of course price. At this time it is estimated that on the basis of 30 tillers per clump a bare rooted plug (3 good quality tillers per plug) should sell for FMG 20 and a container plant (10 cm x 20 cm) for FMG 300;
nurseries should be regularly inspected by buyer to assure that plant material is being properly managed and that plant numbers are actual rather than theory; and
vetiver clumps from existing vetiver sites can contain large quantities of dead material. This can be reduced by burning the vetiver at the end of the dry season in order to burn out the dead material and to encourage tillering.

Vetiver and Agriculture
Vetiver appears to grow well on both bas-fond and tenety landscapes. This augers well, and CAP clients should be encouraged to use vetiver hedgerows for soil and water conservation purposes including under some of the following conditions and uses:
prevention of sediment flows from lavakas onto bas-fonds. This can be achieved by planting multiple rows of vetiver across the mouth of the lavaka drainage outlets and where possible up in the labyrinth area of the lavaka;
prevention of sediment flows from tenety areas onto the bas-fond. This can be achieved by planting vetiver hedgerows as buffers along the interface of the bas-fond and the tenety;
prevention of sediment flows and velocity damaging floods within the bas-fonds by planting vetiver hedgerows across the bas-fonds at 90� to down hill flow of water;
stabilization of bas-fond field dikes, and drainage and irrigation channels (if planted correctly significant maintenance costs (>30%) reductions are possible through earthwork stabilization by vetiver and by shading out of weeds by vetiver;
on tenety lands in association with annual and perennial crops. In each case higher crop yields will result and land will be able to be farmed on a more sustainable basis.
vetiver hedgerows will significantly reduce soil loss (up to 90%) reduce rainfall runoff (up to 60%); will reduce the loss of organic matter and other fertility enhancement amendments such as manure and fertilizer; will recycle nutrients from depth; and will provide wind break protection to adjacent plants and will thus reduce soil evaporation rates; and will provide mulch, thatch, and fodder.
will recharge ground water and will improve spring flows.

Attachment 4

VETIVER AND AGRICULTURAL

FEED BACK FROM SOME SELECTED WORLD WIDE VETIVER PROGRAMS WITH RELEVANCE TO MADAGASCAR

WHAT VETIVER USERS IN THE PHILIPPINES SAY

The following are testimonies by Vetiver (Vetiveria zizanoides) users given during the Vetiver Users Workshop, May 24, 1996, Matalom, Leyte, Philippines. Note in this part of the Philippines vetiver is known as "Mura" or "Mora".

Prepared by Edwin Balbarino, Program Field Coordinator, FARMI, ViSCA, Baybay, Leyte, Philippines. Email: "Balbarino, Edwin" <vnp-ed@mozcom.com>

Eco-description: Steep slopes, acid soils, high rainfall, subject to cyclones, high runoff, depleted soils, deforestation, slash and burn, cassava, maize, rice, sweet potato.

Leon Pen, Barangay Chairman, Templanza, Matalom, Leyte....."I got my first Mura (Vetiver) planting materials from one of my barangay councilmen Jacinto Gerona. I planted Mura in my farm near my house. Mura is easy to plant with minimal maintenance. It grows very well and effectively controls the down flow of soil during the rainy season. At present, the contour plots of my farm have been leveled off. In addition, I am also using Mura to cure high blood pressure in my work as Tambalan (local medicine man). The only comment I have with Mura, is that my carabaos (water buffalo) do not like to eat it". (If you cut your Mura regularly, say once a month, your carabaos will love it...Ed)

Irene Pria, Officer: Rural Women Association, San Salvador, Matalom, Leyte........ "FARMI workers gave me the Vetiver planting materials in 1991. At the start (about the first 2 years of establishment) I did not practice trimming the Mura hedgerows. Then I found out that it is very strong and effective in controlling soil erosion. Now my Mura hedgerows are well maintained by trimming before flowering. Trimming the plant (during not before) is laborious because the stem is already hard. I placed the herbage along the upper portion of the hedgerows. This will help in trapping the soil during the rainy season. Other herbage is used as mulch for my sweet potato crop. I could also say that the wonderful contribution of Mura has ever given me is that it cured my thinning hair".Note: Workshop participants and friends testified that Irene really suffer balding/serious thinning of hair before. She has the formula/technique of doing it which she will share to those who are interested. ("baldies" had better get in touch with Irene....Ed).

Gertrudes Inderio, 67 years old woman-farmer, Altavista, Matalom, Leyte....... "I was the first one to adopt the planting of Mura in my barangay (village). I noticed that my contour plots have leveled 3 years after I planted Mura. I really believe its effectiveness in controlling erosion. It is easy to plant and maintain. To maintain it, I just burn the hedgerows at the end of summer and in less than 5 days re growth is already visible. I have proven it myself that Mura grow in any type of soil. I have planted 6 lines of Mura in Anapogon (calcareous soil) and it is growing very well".Note: Nang Itring’s farm has a 25-40 degrees slope.

Nemesia Purgatorio, President, Women Association, Elevado, Matalom, Leyte....... "My farm may not be as hilly as the farms of other farmers but still I notice how effective Mura is in controlling soil erosion. Once established, it is not easily killed by cogon grass (Imperata cylindrica) unlike other contour hedgerow species. Mura is easy to maintain. It does not grow anywhere except in the contour line where it is planted. I trim my Mura before planting corn or sweet potato or during land preparation. I am also using Mura as roofing materials for my Payag (animal shed)."

Rubelio Mazo, Punta, Baybay, Leyte......... "In my experience Mura is not effective unless we use the A-Frame in locating the contour line. Trimming is also very important. Mura should be trimmed before planting corn or camote to avoid "awong" (sunlight competition). If left untrimmed, there could be danger of accidental burning of the matured hedgerows when crops are still on the alleys. The herbage scattered along the hedgerow base also help in preventing the passage of soil during rainy days. Try to visit my farm, I am sure you will notice the difference between farms with Mura and farms without Mura hedgerows."

Santiago Llones, Punta, Baybay, Leyte........ "I like Mura because it is easy to establish and maintain. I do not practice trimming but instead burn my hedgerows because I observed that Mura grows more vigorously after burning. I do not believe that soil fertility is affected when Mura hedgerows is burnt. The effect of Mura could be seen in the healthy corn along the upper portion of the hedgerows. Mura does not compete with corn in sunlight and soil nutrients".

Norberto Inderio, MAFUD President, San Salvador, Matalom, Leyte........ "My contour farm is near (above) my small rainfed rice field. I have no doubt of Mura’s effectiveness in controlling soil erosion. There was a big gully in my farm before but after 4 years of planting few lines of Mura that gully is no longer visible. The only thing that makes Mura unattractive to farmers is that it seems unpalatable to animals except during long dry season when grasses are scarce. During that 7 dry months in 1992 burned Mura was not able to recover. Mura serves as a wind break of my rice and also serve as a nest for my hens. Mura should be trimmed to keep away the Maya birds from nesting on it."Note: Maya is that small red-brown bird which is considered important pest by rice farmers.

Ronie Maso, Punta, Baybay, Leyte.......... "I observed that farmers in the barangay who do not use Mura as a contour hedgerow frequently shifted farms. For me I have not shifted farms for already five years. The reason why they won’t plant Mura is that they don’t own the land they tilled. One observation I have with Mura is that it is easily dominated or overgrown by Kudzu especially if not well-managed." (Development planners, please note the importance of land tenure, or lack of it, with regard to the uptake of longer term conservation technologies; also as we have mentioned before, vetiver hedgerows combined with other practices may be the answer to "slash and burn" problems. Ed.)

Margarito Maso, Punta, Baybay, Leyte..... "I firmly believe that planting Mura grass is the most effective way to control soil erosion. I made a simple experiment on my farm by leaving a portion not contoured with Mura. In just few cropping seasons the difference in terms of soil erosion was already evident. I measured about 2 feet thickness of soil trapped at the upper base of the Mura hedges. Gullies are observed in the uncontoured portion."

Felipe Itallo, Punta, Baybay, Leyte........ "My experience with Mura is on paddy rice fields and not on upland farms. We have already been using Mura to stabilize rice field dikes several decades. It is really strong and lasts forever. It regrows even if covered with mud. Farmers just burn the Mura after harvesting to drive away rats and birds."

Bonifacia Gura, Matalom, Leyte......... "In the beginning we used rock walls as soil erosion control system in our farm. Along the rock walls we also planted Ipil-ipil (Leucaena leucocephala). After several years we eradicated the ipil-ipil because their roots are making land preparation difficult. During that time FARMI introduced Mura as contour hedgerows to control erosion. So I tried the grass as replacement of Ipil-ipil. We like Mura because it stays where it is planted. It is easy to establish and survives long droughts. One major characteristics of Mura that makes it an ideal control hedgerows is that it regrows or produces roots at the nodes making it effective as contour bands and riser stabilizer". (This latter observation is execellent, and is exactly why Mura is such an effective stabilizer...Ed.).

Concepcion Pada, San Salvador, Matalom, Leyte......... "I have not maintained (trimmed) my Mura hedgerows since planting because I fallowed my farm for 5 years. However, I noticed that the grass still exists after 5 years since it was planted. Now, my Mura hedgerows is already thick. I am planning to open my farm again and trim the Mura".

Nesias Galia, Hitoog, Matalom, Leyte......... "My farm is located below the barangay (village) road so that during heavy rains water is drained to my farm creating big gullies. As remedy, I formed contour bands and planted Mura and Napier along the bands. I observed that corn planted near the Mura produced bigger ears than those near the Napier. Napier roots runs through the alleys. The Mura hedgerows could be maintained by just cutting it at the base or stem regularly. It should be cut and cleaned regularly so that weeds such as Bokot-bokot (Micania cordata) can not dominate that would eventually kill it."

(Vetiver Newsletter #16)

SOIL CONSERVATION AND VETIVER GRASS IN PURISCAL - COSTA RICA

By Marco Rojas, Student at the University E.A.R.T.H. (Regional Agricultural College of the Humid Tropics), Guacima - Costa Rica

Eco-description: rainfall about 1200 mm, red acidic soisl, steep soils topograophy, high erosion rates, coffee,maize,beans, tobacco, perennial horticultural crops including mangoes, lychee.

The district of Puriscal, Costa Rica, located 45 km southwest of the capital of San Jos�, is a highly eroded region where the majority of the territory over the years was deforested in order to establish crops such as coffee and tobacco and to graze livestock. The region is predominantly of irregular topography characterized by slopes over 40% and soils with a thin or nonexistent A-horizon. Having removed the vegetative cover, the existing soils were easily eroded due to overgrazing by cattle and the lands abandoned because they were no longer productive.

In the 1980s soil conservation was included in some agricultural projects promoted by the EEC (European Economic Community). Lemon grass was promoted as a live hedge as it was supposed to have a potential to generate income based on medicinal uses of the grass. In addition to lemon grass, itabo (Yuca elephantipes) and Indian cane (Dracaena fragans var. massageana) were also introduced because of these income generating potentials as export crops. It didn’t take long for plagues and diseases to develop in these crops (lemon grass hedges were ultimately lost due to fungus and insect attack) which required increased investment to control. Additionally, the product marketing was not easy so many farmers abandoned or eliminated these crops. Also the soil retention using these plant systems was not very good and large volumes of soil were still lost through erosion. Finally, the itabo and Indian cane were intended to be monocrops in many cases rather than intercrops. Lack of market incentives thus led to their rapid abandonment.

Other systems used were hedges of king grass (Pennisetum hybridum) and dwarf elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum), as well as Arachis pintoii as a vegetative cover. The grasses were not widely accepted because they spread, taking over cultivated areas.

Vetiver grass was introduced as a vegetative barrier as a soil conservation measure in these projects, by the EEC with Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAG) and the Ministry of Natural Resources, Energy and Mines. Vetiver, known as "violeta grass" in Costa Rica, adapted well in the zone with satisfactory results. One problem encountered with the use of vetiver was that it was simply given away to the farmers who often left it to die. Nonetheless, amongst the farmers who use it, vetiver functions very well.

Feedback from users:

Mr. Ed�n Delgado of San Antonio comments: "It develops very quickly and in little time forms a terrace illustrating its good function. I only prune it at the end of winter at soil level and in 22 days it returns."

Mr. Victor Madrigal of San Juan community says: "This vetiver is resistant to drought, holds the soil and the remains of the pruning can be used to make ‘bocachi’ because it decomposes rapidly." (Note: Bocachi is a fermented organic material made from the food wastes, tubers and other vegetable wastes with high compositions of carbohydrates, proteins, sugars, etc. Fermenting the wastes encourages growth of microorganisms that help in decomposition which stimulates plant growth when applied to crops. The increased populations of microorganisms is beneficial to improve soil quality. In Central America it is becoming widely promoted.)

With respect to other hedges, vetiver requires less labor. Comments Mr. Dar�o Sarmiento of San Juan: "There have been no diseases and I have never fertilized. The results have been so good that I have decided to extend my hedges in my coffee field and put them on both sides of the terraces."

Mr. Joel Leiva of Bajo de la Legua agrees that vetiver requires little labor input and also says: "This grass grows together very quickly and when I burn it back in the summer it grows back like nothing happened."

The majority of users in the area are small farmers and vetiver is used in various crops. Mr. Antonio Mora of Bajo de La Legua tells us: "On my property I plant mostly tobacco which must always be free of weeds. I planted this violeta grass (vetiver) brought from another town in order to hold my soil. When the tobacco harvest has passed, at the start of winter I plant corn or beans to better take advantage of the land."

Furthermore, Mr. Buenaventura Vargas of Charc�n adds: "I worked for a long time with lemon grass, but it spreads easily and finally it was lost. I got violeta (vetiver) at a farm close to here and planted it; with just one plant one can advance quickly. These hedges are 8 years old and the my secret of maintaining them is I do nothing more than cut them every year. You can observe my good results here."

An observation by Enrique Mart�nez of the Fundaci�n Ecotr�pica indicated that some farmers fertilize their vetiver thus promoting growth requiring increased labor for pruning.

One disadvantage observed with vetiver is that the pruning of hedges is hard work. The sharp-edged leaves are a problem to laborers when they are working near the hedges. Other complaints include that the hedges provide a place where snakes and rodents can nest, take up space that could be used for crop production and obstruct paths within a farm.

An unfortunate situation occurred at the Agricultural School of Puriscal where for a long time there existed vetiver hedges. Recently the hedges were dug out and removed with the justification that the labor of pruning was very difficult and its sharp leaves were leaving cuts on their laborers’ skin. The problem is that no other system or plant was used to replace the vetiver for soil conservation purposes. It is necessary for a school to set a good example and become a pioneer in soil conservation education especially since they can influence generations of farmers who will control of the destiny of the country. Vetiver is known by the majority as are its properties as a good, soil conserving plant. However, whether or not it is used for establishing barriers depends on the willingness of the farmer to do something about his/her erosion problems.

Vetiver’s use as a conservation hedge is spreading very slowly. This slow acceptance is due to the lack of farmers’ knowledge and lack of available planting material. The decision on whether or not to use vetiver is not specific to either large or small farmers and the choice of utilization varies from person to person. Vetiver is used principally for protection of coffee, tobacco, corn and beans and it also can be found protecting roads, slopes and soccer fields. The farmers need to be educated to realize the long term benefits of soil conservation. They need to be aware that any type of conservation system will require a certain amount of space and maintenance. Most importantly the farmer must be offered an alternative that requires less labor and more benefits.

FARMER PARTICIPATORY SELECTION OF VETIVER GRASS AS THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY TO CONTROL EROSION IN CASSAVA-BASED CROPPING SYSTEMS IN VIETNAM AND THAILAND

"Reinhardt H. Howeler,Nguyen The Dang and Wilawan Vongkasem" E.mail:Reinhardt Howeler" <CIAT-BANGKOK@CGNET.COM>

Eco-description: rainfall 900 - 1200 mm, red acidic soils, high soil and nutrient depletion rates, cassava, maize, rubber

Abstract Research has identified various effective ways to reduce erosion in cassava-based cropping systems, including the use of vetiver grass contour hedgerows. However, few of these practices are presently used by farmers. To enhance the adoption of soil conservation practices by cassava farmers, a Farmer Participatory Research (FPR) methodology was used in two pilot sites each in Thailand, Vietnam, China and Indonesia to test and select the most effective practices. Farmers in Thailand and Vietnam selected vetiver grass contour barriers as one of 4-5 treatments they wanted to test on their own fields.

After harvesting all trials and discussing the results, farmers in all three villages in Vietnam selected the vetiver grass treatment as the most effective in increasing income and reducing erosion. Although in one site in Thailand the vetiver grass treatment did not result in high cassava yields or income, farmers in both sites selected the vetiver grass treatment as the most useful. In both countries, participating farmers, after seeing the benefits of vetiver grass barriers, requested additional planting material to plant on their fields.

FEEDBACK FROM TANZANIA. IRINGA DISTRICT’S HIMA PROJECT STARTED IN 1990. IT IS A SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION PROJECT BASED AT IRINGA DISTRICT.

Eco- description: rainfall 1000 mm, soils acidic, rolling to steep topography, depleted soils, serious erosion problems, coffee, maize, vegetables.

On Farm Soil & Water Conservation Measures.

Since the commencement of the project in 1989/90 season, several soil and water conservation measures were tried in the villages. These included:

Biological and agronomical soil conservation methods whereby contour grasslines are planted with vetiver grass (Vetiveria zizanioides) and Makarikari (Makarikariencis). Farmers are also encouraged to plant Guatemala and Napier grasses. Uncultivated grass strips and trash on contourlines were also practiced in the project’s villages.
Physical soil conservation methods such as Fanya Juu terraces (excavated contour bunds), cut-off drains and ridge farming were also tested. Others are gully protection measures, like the establishment of stone and brushwood check dams across gullies.
Integrated soil and moisture conservation methods combining two or more measures at the same time in the same area such as:
establishment of contour trashlines planted with Vetiver grass.
fanya juu terraces planted with Vetiver on the same lines.
grasslines with trashlines and spaced agroforestry trees.
for gully protection, gabions and Vetivar or Napier grass planting.
leaving the gullies untouched to give room for natural regeneration.

Farmers Training And Subcatchment Protection.

Before indulging in any soil and moisture conservation work, farmers in their respective villages are trained and are made aware of the erosion processes, effects of erosion and how to solve the problem by using simple and sustainable technology utilizing available materials. Farmers are becoming competent to layout contourlines and they know how to stabilize them.

Farmers’ Adoption Farmers’ response to training sessions were good while adoption rate of the technology is moderate. Todate there are more than 1600 farmers who have tried one or more of the different soil and moisture conservation measures covering an area of 530 Ha. having about 190,000 running metres of contour bunds out of which 85% are stabilised by Vetiver grass.

Soil And Water Conservation Measures Preferred By Farmers.Biological and Integrated Soil and Moisture Conservation measures establishment of vetiver contour lines, trashlines planted with Vetiver grass, Fanya Juu terrace stabilised by Vetiver, Napier or Guatemala grass.A simple evaluation made to assess why farmers have adopted these measures, farmers stated that they prefer them most, especially Vetiver hedges because the measures are simple to make, not labour intensive, the grasses form permanent protective hedge/barrier that will remain effective for many years and effectively reduces soil erosion. They also encourage improved infiltration rate as the hedgerows reduce runoff speed. Farmers claim the increase in production per unit area in well conserved farms.Farmers mentioned that vetiver grows upright and causes none or very little disturbance to the crops; terraces are easily formed, reaching 30 - 40 cm in just two to three seasons; Vetiver grows well in even drought exposed areas; rarely browsed by livestock, and is used for thatching houses and therefore some farmers earn income by selling it to their neighbours.

Prepared by S.I.E. Mgalamo, Land Use And Soil Conservation Officer, Iringa District, P.O.BOX 1187 Iringa, TANZANIA. Arif Qaraeen, HIMA Chief Technical Adviser, Iringa Region, P.O.Box 1187, Iringa, TANZANIA Telephone 2404

(Vetiver Newsletter #16)

VETIVER EXTENSION METHODS IN EL SALVADOR

Eco-description: high rainfall, acid soils, high ersion rates, deplted soil nutrients, coffee, maize, beans.

E1 Salvador is a Central American country with a high population density (270 people/km2), a high rate of rural poverty, intensive competition for arable land, and severe environmental problems. More than three-fourths of the national production of basic grains occurs on small farms on marginal hillside soils.

Degradation of soil and water resources affects the household income of thousands of farmers, hydroelectric systems, sources of potable water and coastal zones. There have been increased investments in soil conservation practices in response to these problems, which has created a strong national demand for vetiver.

NOBS Anti-erosion, is a private company that promotes vetiver grass for soil conservation on hillsides. Established in 1994, it works with 140 institutions on 110 projects nationwide. The main activities include the transfer of technology, and the sale of vegetative material for living hedges. These activities are implemented through aggressive communications programs and by a team of extension specialists.

A case-study is presented on the transfer of vetiver technologies by NOBS in an area in the southwest region of El Salvador. A select group of small-scale farmers was trained to grow and manage vetiver for sustainable soil conservation. The farmers were given vegetative material for two years to establish replication plots. They then began transferring vetiver technologies to their neighbors. Currently, a group of 220 farmers is testing the vetiver technologies. 71% of the farmers say that vetiver controls erosion. 18% of the farmers have observed that vetiver is increasing crop production due to increased soil moisture content. 82% of the farmers will continue using vetiver for soil conservation.

Ricardo Hernandez, William McDowell and Joaquin Santamaria. NOBS, El Slavador

(International Vetiver Grass Workshop, Fuhzou, China)