Stone Lining: A Simple Solution To Soil Erosion

The sloping and stony topography of Yameriga, a community in the Talensi District of the Upper East Region, has historically posed significant challenges to agricultural activities and crop yields for local smallholder farmers. To mitigate these challenges, targeted interventions were necessary to support farm families in the area.

Initially, some farmers gathered stones into piles or arranged them in lines to clear space for planting. Recognizing this, stone lining and bunding was identified as the most suitable technique for the community. Building on this local practice, the former Sustainable Land and Water Management Project (SLWMP) introduced contour lining and bunding using A-frames. Building on that foundation, the Ghana Landscape Restoration and Small-Scale Mining Project (GLRSSMP) has since upscaled this intervention to reach additional farmers.

This technology has yielded significant benefits, including reduced runoff and soil erosion, as well as enhanced water infiltration (in-field water harvesting), a critical factor for successful rain-fed agriculture. As a result, contour stone bunding is now widely practiced by both direct and indirect beneficiaries across the community and beyond.