LAND RESOURCE INVENTORY AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS OF FARM HOUSEHOLDS FOR WATERSHED PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT MAVANAHALLI-3 (4D5B1Q1e) MICROWATERSHED Sydhapur Hobli, Yadgir Taluk and District, Karnataka

Abstract

The land resource inventory of Mavanahalli-3 microwatershed was conducted using village cadastral maps and IRS satellite imagery on 1:7920 scale. The false colour composites of IRS imagery were interpreted for physiography and these physiographic delineations were used as base for mapping soils. The soils were studied in several transects and a soil map was prepared with phases of soil series as mapping units. Random checks were made all over the area outside the transects to confirm and validate the soil map unit boundaries. The soil map shows the geographic distribution and extent, characteristics, classification, behaviour and use potentials of the soils in the microwatershed. The present study covers an area of 371 ha in Mavanahalli-3 microwatershed in Yadgir taluk and district, Karnataka. The climate is semiarid and categorized as droughtprone with an average annual rainfall of 866 mm, of which about 652 mm is received during south–west monsoon, 138 mm during north-east and the remaining 76 mm during the rest of the year. An area of about 61 per cent is covered by soils, 37 per cent by mining/industrial area and 2 per cent by others (water body). The salient findings from the land resource inventory are summarized briefly below.  The soils belong to 5 soil series and 5 soil phases (management units) and 2 land management units.  The length of crop growing period is about 120-150 days starting from the 1st week of June to 4th week of October.  From the master soil map, several interpretative and thematic maps like land capability, soil depth, surface soil texture, soil gravelliness, available water capacity, soil slope and soil erosion were generated.  Soil fertility status maps for macro and micronutrients were generated based on the surface soil samples collected at every 250 m grid interval.  Land suitability for growing 26 major agricultural and horticultural crops were assessed and maps showing the degree of suitability along with constraints were generated.  Entire 61 per cent land area of the microwatershed is suitable for agriculture.  About 13 per cent of the soils are moderately deep (75-100cm), 48 per cent soils are deep (100-150cm) to very deep (>150 cm).  Entire cultivated area of 61 percent has clayey soils at the surface.  Entire cultivated area of 61 per cent is non-gravelly.  About 48 per cent of the area has soils that are very high (>200mm/m) in available water capacity and 13 per cent is medium (101-150 mm/m).  Entire cultivated area of 61 per cent in the microwatershed has very gently sloping (1-3%) lands.  Small area of <1 per cent area is slightly eroded (e1) and maximum area of about 61 per cent has soils that are moderately eroded (e2).  An area of about <1 per cent soils that are moderately alkaline (pH 7.8 to 8.4), 59 per cent soils that are strongly alkaline (pH 8.4 – 9.0) and about 2 per cent is very strongly alkaline (pH >9.0) in soil reaction.  The Electrical Conductivity (EC) of the soils are dominantly <2 dsm- 1indicating that the soils are non-saline.  About 22 per cent is low (<0.5%), 18 per cent medium (0.5-0.75%) and 21 per cent high (>0.75%) in organic carbon.  An area of 61 per cent has soils that are low (<23 kg/ha) and <1 per cent medium in available phosphorus.  About 35 per cent medium (145-337 kg/ha) and 26 per cent high (>337 kg/ha) in available potassium.  Available sulphur is low (<10 ppm) in about 40 per cent area, medium (10- 20 ppm) in 4 per cent and high (>20 ppm) in 18 per cent area of the microwatershed.  Available boron is low (<0.5 ppm) in 18 per cent, 27 per cent medium (0.5- 1.0 ppm) and high (>1.0 ppm) in about 16 per cent area of the microwatershed.  About 41 per cent area has soils that are deficient (<4.5 ppm) in available iron and 20 per cent sufficient (>4.5 ppm).  Available manganese and copper are sufficient in the entire cultivated areas of the microwatershed.  Entire cultivated area of 61 per cent in the microwatershed is deficient (<0.6 ppm) in available zinc.  The land suitability for 26 major crops grown in the microwatershed was assessed and the areas that are highly suitable (S1) and moderately suitable (S2) are given below. It is however to be noted that a given soil may be suitable for various crops but what specific crop to be grown may be decided by the farmer looking to his capacity to invest on various inputs, marketing infrastructure, market price and finally the demand and supply position. Land suitability for various crops in the Mavanahalli-3 microwatershed Crop Suitability Area in ha (%) Crop Suitability Area in ha (%) Highly suitable (S1) Moderately suitable (S2) Highly suitable (S1) Moderately suitable (S2) Sorghum - 226(61) Sapota - - Maize - - Guava - - Red gram - 226(61) Pomegranate - 226(61) Bajra - 226(61) Jackfruit - - Ground nut - - Jamun - 180(48) Sunflower - 226(61) Musambi - 226(61) Cotton - 226(61) Lime - 226(61) Bengalgram - 226(61) Cashew - - Chilli - 226(61) Custard apple - 226(61) Tomato - - Amla - 226(61) Drumstick - 226(61) Tamarind - 180(48) Mulberry - - Marigold - 226(61) Mango - - Chrysanthemum - 226(61) Apart from the individual crop suitability, a proposed crop plan has been prepared for the 2 identified LMUs by considering only the highly and moderately suitable lands for different crops and cropping systems with food, fodder, fibre and other horticulture crops that help in maintaining the ecological balance in the microwatershed.  Maintaining soil-health is vital to crop production and conserve soil and land resource base for maintaining ecological balance and to mitigate climate change. For this, several ameliorative measures have been suggested to these problematic soils like saline/alkali, highly eroded, sandy soils etc.  Soil and water conservation treatment plan has been prepared that would help in identifying the sites to be treated and also the type of structures required.  As part of the greening programme, several tree species have been suggested to be planted in marginal and submarginal lands, field bunds and also in the hillocks, mounds and ridges, that are edible and produce lot of biomass that helps to restore the ecological balance in the micro watershed. FINDINGS OF THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC SURVEY  The survey was conducted in Mavanahalli-3 is located at North latitude 160 31’ 9.526” and 160 29’ 31.144” and East longitude 770 19’ 24.684'' and 770 18’ 24.341” covering an area of about 374.73 ha coming under Mavinahalli and Kadechoora villages of Yadagiri taluk.  Socio-economic analysis of Mavanahalli-3 micro watersheds of Kadechur subwatershed, Yadgiri taluk & District indicated that, out of the total sample of 34 farmers were sampled in Mavanahalli-3 micro-watershed among households surveyed 8 (23.53%) were marginal, 8 (23.53%) were small, 11 (32.35 %) were semi medium and 2 (5.88 %) were medium farmers. 5 landless farmers were also interviewed for the survey.  The population characteristics of households indicated that, there were 92 (57.14%) men and 68 (42.24 %) were women. The average population of landless was 3.6, marginal farmers were 3.1, small farmers were 4.1, semi medium farmers were 6.8 and medium farmers were 5.  Majority of the respondents (46.58%) were in the age group of 16-35 years.  Education level of the sample households indicated that, there were 60.87 per cent of illiterates, 5.59 per cent of them had primary school education, 11.18 per cent middle school education, and 11.18 per cent high school education, 1.86 per cent of them had PUC education, 6.83 per cent attained graduation and 1.24 them had other education.  About, 58.82 per cent of household heads practicing agriculture and 29.41 per cent of the household heads were engaged as agricultural labourers.  Agriculture was the major occupation for 31.06 per cent of the household members.  In the study area, 97.06 per cent of the households possess katcha house.  The durable assets owned by the households showed that, 88.24 per cent possess TV, 35.29 per cent possess mixer grinder, 100.00 per cent possess mobile phones and 14.71 per cent possess motor cycles.  Farm implements owned by the households indicated that, 11.76 per cent of the households possess Bullock Cart, 35.29 per cent possess plough and 2.94 per cent possess Power Tiller, 14.71 per cent possess Weeder, 5.88 per cent possess tractor, 2.94 per cent possess Sprinkler and 2.94 per cent possess Harvester.  Regarding livestock possession by the households, 5.88 per cent possess local cow and 2.94 per cent possess buffalo.  The average labour availability in the study area showed that, own labour men available in the micro watershed was 1.79, women available in the micro watershed was 1.71, hired labour (men) available was 8.47 and hired labour (women) available was 8.15. 2  Further, 11.76 per cent of the households opined that hired labour was inadequate during the agricultural season.  Out of the total land holding of the sample respondents 63.84 per cent (45.82 ha) of the area is under dry condition and the remaining 36.16 per cent area is irrigated land.  There were 13.00 live bore wells and 13.00 dry bore wells among the sampled households.  Bore well was the major source of irrigation for 38.24 per cent of the households.  The major crops grown by sample farmers are Red gram, Cotton, Grountnut, Sorghum and Paddy and cropping intensity was recorded as 101.00 per cent.  Out of the sample households 85.29 percent possessed bank account and 52.94 per cent of them have savings in the account.  About 67.65 per cent of the respondents borrowed credit from various sources.  Among the credit borrowed by households, 47.83 per cent have borrowed loan from commercial banks and 8.70 per cent from co-operative/Grameena bank.  Majority of the respondents (100.00%) have borrowed loan for agriculture purpose.  Regarding the opinion on institutional sources of credit, 100.00 per cent of the households opined that credit helped to perform timely agricultural operations.  Per hectare cost of cultivation for Red gram, Cotton, Grountnut, Sorghum and Paddy was Rs.26344.09, 28097.99, 55665.67, 30126.66, and 56739.94 with benefit cost ratio of 1:1.80, 1: 1.50, 1: 0.70, 1: 1.40 and 1:1.60 respectively.  Further, 26.47 per cent of the households opined that dry fodder was adequate and 8.82 per cent of the households have opined that the green fodder was adequate.  The average annual gross income of the farmers was Rs. 100411.76 in microwatershed, of which Rs. 67470.59 comes from agriculture.  Sampled households have grown 3 horticulture trees and 56 forestry trees together in the fields and back yards.  Households have an average investment capacity of Rs. 676.47 for land development and Rs. 3529.41 for irrigation facility.  Source of funds for additional investment is concerned, 29.41 per cent depends on bank loan for land development activities.  Regarding marketing channels, 38.24 per cent of the households have sold agricultural produce to the local/village merchants, while, 50.00 per cent have sold in regulated markets.  Further, 88.24 per cent of the households have used tractor for the transport of agriculture commodity.  Majority of the farmers (85.29%) have experienced soil and water erosion problems in the watershed and 85.29 per cent of the households were interested towards soil testing. 3  Fire was the major source of fuel for domestic use for 44.12 per cent of the households and 55.88 per cent households has LPG connection.  Piped supply was the major source for drinking water for 100.00 per cent of the households.  Electricity was the major source of light for 100.00 per cent of the households.  In the study area, 50.00 per cent of the households possess toilet facility.  Regarding possession of PDS card, 94.12 per cent of the households possessed BPL card and 5.88 per cent of the household’s were not having ration cards.  Households opined that, the requirement of cereals (61.76%), pulses (61.76%) and oilseeds (55.88%) are adequate for consumption.  Farming constraints experienced by households in the micro watersheds were lower fertility status of the soil (85.29%) wild animal menace on farm field (85.29%), frequent incidence of pest and diseases (55.88%), inadequacy of irrigation water (61.76%), high cost of fertilizers and plant protection chemicals (85.29%), high rate of interest on credit (85.29%), low price for the agricultural commodities (85.29%), lack of marketing facilities in the area (23.53%), inadequate extension services (64.71%) and lack of transport for safe transport of the agricultural produce to the market (79.41%).