Water

Pilot and Demonstration Activities
Applying Vetiver System for Slope Stabilization and Erosion Control in Citarum Riparian Community Groups

Vetiver is a perennial clump grass with sterile seeds usually used for soil and water conservation in India, the People’s Republic of China, Southeast Asia, Africa, Australia, and the American continents. The grass only grows where it is planted and forms a dense, permanent hedge that prevents soil loss from runoff, thereby improving soil fertility and water quality. Vetiver systems are now widely used and have proven to be effective, efficient, economical, and sustainable erosion control systems.

This PDA will help introduce the vetiver technology in steep sections of Indonesia’s Citarum River Basin, which are most at risk from soil erosion. It is also tied to ADB’s Integrated Citarum Water Resources Management Project currently under preparation.

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This PDA aims to demonstrate the use of a vetiver system in the Citarum river basin to control water and soil erosion, protect natural resources and introduce sustainable upland farming systems for improved livelihoods and increased incomes.

Specifically, the PDA will:

• Raise awareness on the effectiveness of vetiver systems
• Provide hands-on training for key stakeholders on vetiver characteristics, vetiver planting, propagation, maintenance, and management and interaction with farmers groups in other regions of Indonesia
• Establish pilot projects with key stakeholders and empower them to replicate and extend to other farmers groups in the Citarum River Basin

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• Proposal (February 2008) [PDF]