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EWS-KT Philippines Promotes Sloping Agricultural Land Technology (SALT) for Soil Conservation

Posted On: December 4, 2024

Farmers at the SALT training in Calubian. The branches placed upright in the soil are fast-growing kakawate plants, which will grow to create a strong hedge that will hold the soil behind it in place. Crops like cacao and vegetables can be planted on the land above the hedgerow.

LEYTE PROVINCE, PHILIPPINES — The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Region VIII, through its Rural Agro-enterprise Partnership for Inclusive Development and Growth Project (RAPID Growth Project), recently partnered with East-West Seed Knowledge Transfer Philippines to equip cacao farmers in hilly regions with knowledge on sloping agricultural land technology (SALT).

SALT is an agroforestry system that integrates soil conservation and food production in sloping areas. This involves planting dense hedgerows—usually leguminous crops such as kakawate (Gliricidia sepium, or madre de cacao) or deep-rooted grasses—along land contour lines to create living barriers. These barriers trap sediments and gradually transform sloping land into terraced fields, thereby reducing soil erosion and improving soil fertility.

Barriers formed with kakawate also enrich the soil by converting atmospheric nitrogen into a form of nitrogen that is available in the soil for plants to use. In addition, the kakawate leaves, which must be cut periodically to prevent overgrowth and shading of the adjacent crops, can be incorporated into the soil as green manure.

By converting sloping terrains into productive areas, farmers gain additional land on which to grow permanent crops like cacao, as well as seasonal crops like vegetables that can serve as immediate sources of income. SALT is crucial for sustainable agriculture in hilly regions since it reduces soil erosion, enhances water management, increases crop yields, and fosters long-term land productivity.

Left: Theoretical training on the concept of SALT. Right: An A-frame, constructed during the training, is used to map the land’s contour lines so the plants making up each hedgerow will be planted at the same elevation. The land is level when the rock tied to the string hangs in the center of the A-frame.

Although SALT was originally developed in the Philippines, its adoption has been limited due to a lack of training and resources. Addressing this gap, East-West Seed Knowledge Transfer (EWS-KT) Philippines is extending its services to facilitate the promotion of this technology within the agricultural sector. In late October 2024, a team of experts from EWS-KT offered SALT trainings in three locations in Leyte province, using a combination of theoretical sessions and practical demonstrations to walk participants through the process of implementing SALT. Held in Calubian, Matag-ob, and Javier, the three one-day trainings were attended by a total of 66 cacao farmers.

The training initiative stemmed from a pressing concern about low farm productivity for the high-value cacao commodity, which causes gaps in the supply chain. In order to mitigate these challenges, the RAPID Growth Project highlighted the need for technology that utilizes sloping terrain with sustainable land management strategies to boost crop yield, prevent soil erosion, and promote long-term environmental sustainability.

Farmers in Matag-ob pose behind a contour line marked with string. The kakawate cuttings will be planted to form hedgerows along the contour lines.

The October trainings covered topics such as soil erosion, soil conservation practices, and the step-by-step process of implementing SALT. Participants also engaged in hands-on activities, applying the techniques to actual sloping areas to see how they could use them on their farms.

Post-training assessments showed that participants had a significantly better understanding of SALT principles. Many expressed interest in applying the knowledge gained to their respective areas and showed a willingness to share their new knowledge with fellow farmers, which indicates that they see SALT as a useful and practical solution to convert their sloping lands into productive farms.

Using A-frames to map contour lines during the SALT trainings.

The training served as an eye-opener for the participating cacao farmers, offering innovative and sustainable solutions to agricultural issues. Hands-on activities like this provide an avenue for farmers to explore and apply practical solutions that not only improve economic viability but also support soil conservation and promote agricultural sustainability.

To share this transformative technique more broadly, EWS-KT is also setting up a SALT demonstration area at its KT-Techno Hub learning site in Bukidnon.

By equipping farmers with farming techniques like SALT, DTI and EWS-KT Philippines are not only enhancing agricultural productivity but also contributing to the sustainable development of rural communities.

Farmers in Javier with the beginnings of a kakawate hedgerow that will help to transform this slope into terraced land for agriculture.

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