left: Radical terraces under

Radical Terraces development by communal group

Rwanda - Amaterasi y'indinganire work (Umuganda) (Photo: Kagabo
Desire and Nganzi Guy)
Locally referred to as ‘radical terracing’, the method right: A watershed terraced with
involves earth moving operations that create reverse-slope radical terraces (Photo: Ngenzi Guy
bench terraces which have properly shaped risers stabilized and Desire Kagabo)
with grass or trees on embankment to avoid collapse.
Location: Rwanda
In Rwanda, a unique method of back-slope terracing originally introduced by Region: Kayonza District (Eastern
missionaries growing wheat in the Northern Province in the 1970s, has been widely province)
adopted by smallholder farmers in many parts of the country. The farmers are careful Technology area: 10.3 km2
to isolate the topsoil, then they re-work the subsoil to create the required reverse-slope Conservation measure: vegetative,
bench, after which the topsoil is spread over the surface. The riser is planted with short structural
runner grass for stabilization, all within the same day. Radical terracing is usually done Stage of intervention: mitigation /
manually with hoes and shovels, mostly by communal group-work involving hundreds reduction of land degradation
of farmers (see left photo). Thus, a hillside can be terraced in one day. Where radical
Origin: Developed Government, recent
terraces have been constructed, the effects have been dramatic, achieving optimum
water and soil conservation on slopes exceeding 50%, while adoption rates have been
(<10 years ago)
quite extensive. This high adoption of radical terracing is related to the existing policies Land use type:
and programs such as land consolidation, land management and crop intensification Cropland: Annual cropping
programs. These policies/programs boost the use of radical terraces by providing Cropland: Perennial (non-woody)
farmers more opportunities to easily access inputs such as improved seeds and manure cropping
for increasing the productivity of constructed radical terraces. Recent studies (e.g. Climate: subhumid, tropics
Fleskens, 2007, Bizoza and de Graaff 2012 and Kagabo et al. 2013) assert that radical WOCAT database reference:
terraces in the highlands of Rwanda are only financially viable when the opportunity T_RWA003en
cost of labour and manure are below the local market price levels and when agriculture Related approach: Top down approach
area on these radical terraces can be substantially intensified. Ten to 30 metric tons of
(A_RWA001en)
manure (organic) are required to restore the soil fertility of newly established radical
terraces.
Compiled by: Desire Kagabo, Not a
In Rwanda, radical terraces are principally designed (1) to reduce soil losses through member of an institution
enhanced retention and infiltration of runoff, (2) to promote permanent agriculture on Date: 1970-01-01
steep slopes and (3) to promote land consolidation and intensive land use. Contact person: Dr Desire Kagabo,
Newly established radical terraces should be protected at their risers and outlets, Rwanda Agriculture Board, Rwanda,
especially in the first or second year of the establishment. After establishing a terrace, (+250)788769080,
a riser is shaped and grasses or shrubs/trees are planted soon after. Napier grass is desirekagabo@yahoo.com
commonly planted and is used as forage for livestock. Risers on radical terraces are
seen as a new production niche of forage as a result of land shortage and a strict zero
grazing policy.
Radical terraces have the potential of improving farmers’ livelihoods and increasing the
resilience of a degraded environment.

Classification
Land use problems:
- Soil erosion due to high runoff on the steep slopes, deforestation, intensive cultivation and lack of suitable land management
methods. (expert's point of view)
Low crop production, soil erosion and lack of fodder (land user's point of view)
Land use Climate Degradation Conservation measure

Annual cropping subhumid Soil erosion by water: loss of vegetative: Grasses and
Perennial (non-woody) topsoil / surface erosion perennial herbaceous plants
cropping structural: Bench terraces
rainfed (slope of terrace bed <6%)

Stage of intervention Origin Level of technical knowledge

Prevention Land users initiative Agricultural advisor

Mitigation / Reduction Experiments / Research Land user
Rehabilitation Externally introduced
Other: Government: recent (<10 years ago)

Main causes of land degradation:

Direct causes - Human induced: over-exploitation of vegetation for domestic use, overgrazing
Direct causes - Natural: other natural causes, Extreme topography: steep slopes in many cases over 50%
Indirect causes: population pressure
Main technical functions: Secondary technical functions:
- control of concentrated runoff: retain / trap - control of concentrated runoff: impede / retard
- reduction of slope angle
- reduction of slope length

Environment
Natural Environment
Average annual rainfall Altitude (m a.s.l.) Landform Slope (%)
(mm)

> 4000 mm > 4000 plateau / plains flat

3000-4000 mm 3000-4000 ridges gentle
2000-3000 mm 2500-3000 mountain slopes moderate
1500-2000 mm 2000-2500 hill slopes rolling
1000-1500 mm 1500-2000 footslopes hilly
750-1000 mm 1000-1500 valley floors steep
500-750 mm 500-1000 very steep
250-500 mm 100-500
< 250 mm <100

Soil depth (cm) Growing season(s): 120 days (September- Soil water storage capacity: low
January), 90 days (March - June) Ground water table: > 50 m
0-20 Soil texture: coarse / light (sandy) Availability of surface water: poor / none
20-50 Topsoil organic matter: low (<1%) Water quality: poor drinking water
50-80 Soil drainage/infiltration: good Biodiversity: low
80-120
>120
Tolerant of climatic extremes: temperature increase, seasonal rainfall decrease, droughts / dry spells
Sensitive to climatic extremes: heavy rainfall events (intensities and amount), floods, land slides

Human Environment
Cropland per household Land user: Individual / household, Small scale Importance of off-farm income: less than 10%
(ha) land users, men and women of all income:
Population density: 50-100 persons/km2 Access to service and infrastructure: low:
<0.5 Annual population growth: 2% - 3% employment (eg off-farm), market, energy,
0.5-1 Land ownership: individual, titled drinking water and sanitation, financial services;
1-2 Land use rights: individual moderate: education, technical assistance, roads &
Water use rights: open access (unorganised) transport; high: health
2-5
Relative level of wealth: poor, which Market orientation: subsistence (self-supply)
5-15 represents 75% of the land users; 60% of the total
15-50 area is owned by poor land users
50-100
100-500
500-1,000
1,000-10,000
>10,000
 Technical drawing

The farmers are careful to isolate the topsoil,

then they re-work the subsoil to create the
required reverse-slope bench, after which the
topsoil is spread over the surface. The riser is
planted with short runner grass for stabilization,
all within the same period. (Kagabo Desire and
Ngenzi Guy)

Implementation activities, inputs and costs

Establishment activities Establishment inputs and costs per ha
- Cuttings of grasses Inputs Costs (US$) % met by land
- Transport of grass cuttings user
- Planting of grass cuttings
- Land surveying (slope determination, soil structure Labour 525.43 10%
and texture analysis) Equipment
- Construction of bunds (risers) with soil from upper and
lower sides - tools 212.00 1%
- Level terraces bed (surface soil moved from upper to Agricultural
lower part of terraces)
- cutting subsurface soil, leveling and refilling surface - seedlings 16.00 100%
soil - Lime 200.00 0%
- Make lips on edges of terraces
- Mineral fertilizers 235.00 0%
- Compact risers
- Plant grasses including agro-forestery trees. - Farmyard Manure 468.00 0%
- Input/ application of farmyard manure and liming TOTAL 1656.43 4.27%

Maintenance/recurrent activities Maintenance/recurrent inputs and costs per ha per year

- Weeding Inputs Costs (US$) % met by land
- Manure application user
- Grass streaming
- Cleaning of channels and drains Labour 6.66 100%
- Regular repair of destroyed risers TOTAL 6.66 100.00%

Remarks:
Factors that affect the cost are labor, soil structure and slope
The cost is calculated using the rate of US dollars at present time and were estimated according to the cost of construction of
one radical terrace. At present the labor is 1.6$ per day. This was calculated on 25/07/2011.

Assessment
Impacts of the Technology
Production and socio-economic benefits Production and socio-economic disadvantages

increased crop yield Disturbs the fertile top soil

increased fodder production Require high quantity of FYM and mineral fertilizers
Reduce crop area
Socio-cultural benefits Socio-cultural disadvantages

improved conservation / erosion knowledge

Ecological benefits Ecological disadvantages

reduced surface runoff The biodiversity is reduced

reduced soil loss
reduced emission of carbon and greenhouse gases
increased water quantity
increased soil moisture
reduced hazard towards adverse events
Off-site benefits Off-site disadvantages

reduced downstream flooding

reduced downstream siltation
reduced damage on neighbours fields
reduced damage on public / private infrastructure
Contribution to human well-being / livelihoods

The technology is newly established and the soil need enough farmyard manure and inputs to re-stabilize and regain
its fertility.

Benefits /costs according to land user

Benefits compared with costs short-term: long-term:

Establishment negative very positive
Maintenance / recurrent very negative neutral / balanced

Acceptance / adoption:
70% of land user families (140 families; 100% of area) have implemented the technology with external material support.
5% of land user families (10 families; 10% of area) have implemented the technology voluntary.
There is little trend towards (growing) spontaneous adoption of the technology. The real advantages of the technology are
observed after 5 to 6 years with good maintenance of structures

Concluding statements
Strengths and how to sustain/improve Weaknesses and how to overcome
It controls soil erosion There is a need to plant grasses or The establishment of radical terraces is expensive The
trees on risers to stabilize terraces construction of radical terraces should be subsided by the
government.
It increases soil water holding capacity Organic manure
should be added to the terrace to effectively increase the soil The initial soil structure is disturbed (lost of soil organic matter)
water holding capacity. Heavy investments are needed to replenish the soil fertility,
especially by adding organic manure.
It increases fodder availability as new niches for fodder
production are created. High value nutritive fodder should The establishment of radical terraces decreases cropped land.
be planted (napier grass, calliadra, tripsucum, etc.) on risers Grow high value crops and use adequate quantity of inputs.

It increases crop productivity Terraces should be well With poor maintenance or poor design of radical terraces,
maintained by providing more inputs and regular maintenance landslides may occur. To be much more rigorous in the
of bench struactures design and implementation/development of terraces by making
sure that professionals are involved in the whole process of
It reduces soil runoff Good maintenance of structures establishing terraces.

It reduces the cropped land Farmers should be supported in

accessing high value crops and inputs to maximize crop yield.
Copyright (c) WOCAT (2014)