Impact on land and farms
Land stewardship and implementing better and more diverse conservation
practices is central in the PIP approach. Figure 3 presents for
different PIP generations11Responses of non-PIP farmers on this
question could not be checked in the field and are left out the
change in use – before and after PIP creation – of four key
conservation practices: compost pits (with a roof, well managed),
agroforestry (trees on the farm), contour trenches (slow-forming
terraces with vegetation on the bund) and mulching (mainly for
perennials). Figure 3 shows that most of the 1stgeneration PIP farmers currently using all four practices. This
percentage gradually decreases for later generations, where it is
remarkable that the 4th generation adopts conservation
practices very fast after having created their PIP. These farmers from
adjacent villages are often farmers who have heard about PIP from their
fellow farmers in initial PIP villages, and are eager to start as well.
Particularly important for erosion control are trenches on the contour,
which require considerable effort and labour, but are nevertheless
quickly adopted by almost all PIP farmers. The same applies to the
integration of trees on the farm, which is done by about 30% of the
farmers before they start with PIP, but currently by more than 90% of
them. Similar trends of fast uptake by PIP farmers is also seen for
other practices such as contour ploughing, crop rotations, staggered row
planting (especially for banana trees), and the use of vegetable
gardens. This integration of a diversity of conservation practices on a
field is essential for restoring soil fertility and reducing soil
losses, and contributes to farm resilience. Farmers experience these
changes and appreciate the trainings and the knowledge they have gained,
as expressed in the qualitative evaluation by this second generation PIP
farmer: