LAND RESOURCE INVENTORY AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS OF FARM HOUSEHOLDS FOR WATERSHED PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT KATARKI WEST-2 (4D4A2R1e) MICRO WATERSHED Alavandi Hobli, Koppal Taluk and District, Karnataka

Abstract

The land resource inventory of Katarki West-2 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, behavior and use potentials of the soils in the microwatershed. The present study covers an area of 525 ha in Koppal taluk and district, Karnataka. The climate is semiarid and categorized as drought - prone with an average annual rainfall of 662 mm, of which about 424 mm is received during south –west monsoon, 161 mm during north-east and the remaining 77 mm during the rest of the year. An area 99 per cent is covered by soils and one per cent is by water bodies. The salient findings from the land resource inventory are summarized briefly below.  The soils belong to 6 soil series and 10 soil phases (management units) and 2 land use classes.  The length of crop growing period is <90 days and starts from 2nd week of August to 2nd week of November.  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 320 m grid interval.  Land suitability for growing 28 major agricultural and horticultural crops were assessed and maps showing the degree of suitability along with constraints were generated.  Entire area is suitable for agriculture.  About 9 per cent of the soils are moderately shallow (50-75 cm) and 90 per cent soils are moderately deep to very deep (75->150 cm).  Entire area has clay soils at the surface.  About 87 per cent of the area has non-gravelly (<15% gravel) soils and 12 per cent gravelly soils (15-35 % gravel).  About 9 per cent area is low (51-100 mm/m), medium (101-150 mm/m) in 11 per cent area and 79 per cent very high (>200 mm/m) in available water capacity.  An area of about 82 per cent has very gently sloping (1-3%) lands and 16 per cent area has nearly level (0-1%) lands.  About 46 per cent area is slightly eroded (e1) and about 52 per cent area is moderately eroded (e2) lands.  Entire area is strongly alkaline (pH 8.4-9.0) to very strongly alkaline (pH >9.0) in soil reaction.  The Electrical Conductivity (EC) of the soils are dominantly <2 dsm-1 indicating that the soils are non-saline.  Organic carbon is low (<0.5%) in about 57 per cent and 41 per cent of the soils are medium (0.5-0.75%).  Entire area is low (<23 kg/ha) available phosphorus.  An area of 76 per cent is medium (145-337 kg/ha) and about 23 per cent is high (>337 kg/ha) in available potassium.  Available sulphur is low (<10 ppm) in 32 per cent area, medium (10-20 ppm) in about 66 per cent area and high (>20 ppm) in <1 per cent area.  Available boron is low (<0.5 ppm) in about 6 per cent area, medium (0.5-1.0 ppm) in 86 per cent area and high (>1.0 ppm) in 7 per cent area.  Available iron is sufficient (>4.5 ppm) in 18 per cent area and deficient (<4.5 ppm) in about 81 per cent area.  Available zinc is deficient (<0.6 ppm) in the entire area.  Available copper and manganese are sufficient in all the soils.  The land suitability for 28 major crops grown in the microwatershed were 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 microwatershed Crop Suitability Area in ha (%) Crop Suitability Area in ha (%) Highly suitable (S1) Moderately suitable (S2) Highly suitable (S1) Moderately suitable (S2) Sorghum 409 (78) 110 (21) Pomegranate - 472 (90) Maize - - Guava - - Bajra - - Jackfruit - - Groundnut - - Jamun - 416 (79) Sunflower 354 (67) 118 (22) Musambi 354 (28) 118 (22) Cotton 409 (78) 110 (21) Lime 354 (28) 118 (22) Red gram - 471 (90) Cashew - - Bengalgram 409 (78) 110 (21) Custard apple 409 (78) 110 (21) Chilli - - Amla - 519 (99) Tomato - - Tamarind - 416 (79) Drumstick - 472 (90) Marigold - 519 (99) Mulberry - 404 (77) Chrysanthemum - 519 (99) Mango - - Jasmine - 48 (9) Sapota - - Crossandra - 206 (39) Apart from the individual crop suitability, a proposed crop plan has been prepared for the 2 identified LUCs by considering only the highly and moderately suitable lands for different crops and cropping systems with food, fodder, fibre and other horticulture crops.  Maintaining soil-health is vital for 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 for 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 would help in supplementing the farm income, provide fodder and fuel, and generate lot of biomass which inturn would help in maintaining the ecological balance and contribute to mitigating the climate change. FINDINGS OF THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC SURVEY  The survey was conducted in Katarki West-2 is located at North latitude 150 15’ 59.941” and 150 14’ 13.381” and East longitude 760 3’ 14.005'' and 760 0’ 59.343” covering an area of about 525.65 ha coming under Bettageri, Bisarahalli, Bikanahalli and Alavandi villages of Koppal taluk.  Socio-economic analysis of Katarki West-2 micro watersheds of Katarki subwatershed, Koppala taluk & District indicated that, out of the total sample of 36 total respondents, 10 (27.78 %) were marginal, 9 (25.00%)were small, 5 (13.89 %) were Semi medium and 6 (16.67 %) were medium farmers.  The population characteristics of households indicated that, there were 88 (57.14%) men and 66 (42.86 %) were women.  Majority of the respondents (51.30%) were in the age group of 16-35 years.  Education level of the sample households indicated that, there were 21.43 per cent of illiterates, 29.22 per cent of them had primary school education, 3.90 per cent middle school education, and 18.83 per cent high school education, 12.99 per cent of them had PUC education, 1.30 per cent of them had Diploma, 5.19 per cent attained graduation  About, 41.67 per cent of household heads practicing agriculture and 47.22 per cent of the household heads were engaged as agricultural labourers.  Agriculture was the major occupation for 24.68 per cent of the household members.  In the study area, 86.11 per cent of the households possess katcha house and 13.89 per cent possess Thatched house.  The durable assets owned by the households showed that, 88.89 per cent possess TV, 33.33 per cent possess mixer grinder, 97.22 per cent possess mobile phones and 38.89 per cent possess motor cycles.  Farm implements owned by the households indicated that, 11.11 per cent of the households possess plough and 2.78 per cent possess tractor.  Regarding livestock possession by the households, 8.33 per cent possess local cow and 2.78 per cent possess buffalo.  The average labour availability in the study area showed that, own men and women labour availability in the micro watershed was 7.57 each, while the hired labour (men) availability was 1.67.  Further, 13.89 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 49.14 per cent (44.14 ha) of the area is under dry condition and the remaining 50.86 per cent area is irrigated land.  There were 12.00 live bore wells among the sampled households.  Bore/open well was the major source of irrigation for 33.33 per cent of the households.  The major crops grown by sample farmers are Maize, Sunflower, Sorghum, Bengal gram and Onion and cropping intensity was recorded as 68.67 per cent. 2  Out of the sample households 13.89 percent possessed bank account and 13.89 per cent of them have savings in the account.  About 13.89 per cent of the respondents borrowed credit from various sources.  The per hectare cost of cultivation for Maize, Sunflower, Sorghum, Bengal gram and Onion was Rs.49871.68, 33009.15, 23966.63, 40545.45 and 32945.66 with benefit cost ratio of 1:0.80, 1: 1.00, 1: 1.10, 1: 1.50 and 1:2.20 respectively.  Further, 22.22 per cent of the households opined that dry fodder was adequate and 22.22 per cent of the households have opined that the green fodder was adequate.  The average annual gross income of the farmers was Rs. 106308.61 in microwatershed, of which Rs. 38720.83 comes from agriculture.  Sampled households have grown 34 horticulture trees and 49 forestry trees together in the fields and back yards.  Regarding marketing channels, 86.11 per cent of the households have sold agricultural produce to the local/village merchants, while, 13.89 per cent have sold in regulated markets.  Further, 102.78 per cent of the households have used tractor for the transport of agriculture commodity.  Majority of the farmers (72.22%) have experienced soil and water erosion problems in the watershed and 83.33 per cent of the households were interested towards soil testing.  Fire was the major source of fuel for domestic use for 75.00 per cent of the households and 25.00 per cent households has LPG connection.  Piped supply was the major source for drinking water for 86.11 per cent of the households.  Electricity was the major source of light for 100.00 per cent of the households.  In the study area, 55.56 per cent of the households possess toilet facility.  Regarding possession of PDS card, 97.22 per cent of the households possessed BPL card and 2.78 per cent of the household’s were not having ration cards.  Households opined that, the requirement of cereals (97.22%), pulses (75.00%) and oilseeds (2.78%) are adequate for consumption.  Farming constraints experienced by households in the micro watersheds were lower fertility status of the soil (77.78%) wild animal menace on farm field (11.11%), frequent incidence of pest and diseases (75.00%), inadequacy of irrigation water (25.00%), high cost of fertilizers and plant protection chemicals (69.44%), high rate of interest on credit (38.89%), low price for the agricultural commodities (55.56%), lack of marketing facilities in the area (38.89%), inadequate extension services (8.33%), lack of transport for safe transport of the agricultural produce to the market (13.89%), Less rainfall (13.89%) and Source of Agri-technology information (Newspaper/ TV/Mobile) (8.33%).