LAND RESOURCE INVENTORY AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS OF FARM HOUSEHOLDS FOR WATERSHED PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT NARAYANPET-2 (4D5B1S1a) MICROWATERSHED Yadgir Taluk & District, Karnataka

Abstract

The land resource inventory of Narayanpet-2Microwatershed 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 the 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 776 ha in Yadgir taluk & district, Karnataka. The climate is semiarid and categorized as drought-prone 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 727 ha in the microwatershed is covered by soils and 48 ha by others (habitation and water body). The salient findings from the land resource inventory are summarized briefly below.  The soils belong to 9 soil series and 11 soil phases (management units) and 6 land management units.  The length of crop growing period is about 120-150 days starting from 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 320 m grid interval.  Land suitability for growing 29 major agricultural and horticultural crops was assessed and maps showing the degree of suitability along with constraints were generated.  About 727 ha area in the microwatershed is suitable for agriculture.  About 16 per cent of area is shallow (25-50 cm), 4 per cent of area of the microwatershed has soils that are moderately shallow (50-75 cm), 23 per cent of area of the microwatershed has soils that are moderately deep (75-100 cm), 11 per cent of area is deep (100 - 150 cm) and 39 per cent of area is very deep (>150 cm).  About 3 per cent area in the microwatershed has loamy soils and 90 per cent clayey soils at the surface.  Non gravelly (<15%) soils cover in the entire area of the microwatershed.  About 50 per cent area of the microwatershed is very high (>200 mm/m) in available water capacity, 23 per cent is medium (51-100 mm/m), 4 per cent is low (51-100 mm/m) and 16 per cent area is very low (<50 mm/m).  About 94 per cent area in the microwatershed is under very gently sloping (1-3% slope) lands and <1 per cent area has nearly level (0-1%) lands.  Maximum area of about 84 per cent is moderately (e2) eroded, <1 per cent area is slightly eroded (e1) and 10 per cent area is severely eroded (e3).  About <1 per cent area is slightly alkaline (pH 7.3-7.8), 51 per cent area is moderately alkaline (pH 7.8-8.4) and 43 per cent area is strongly alkaline (pH 8.4- 9.0) in soil reaction (pH).  The Electrical Conductivity (EC) of entire soils of the microwatershed is <2 dsm- 1indicating that the soils are non-saline.  About 43 per cent area is medium (0.5-0.75), low (<0.5%) in 6 per cent area and 45 per cent area is high (>0.75%) in organic carbon content of the soil.  About 76 per cent of area is medium (23-57 kg/ha) in available phosphorus content of the soil and 18 per cent of area is low (<23 kg/ha) in the microwatershed.  Available potassium content is medium (145-337 kg/ha) in 13 per cent area and high (>337 kg/ha) in 81 per cent area in the microwatershed.  Available sulphur is low (<10 ppm) in the entire area of the microwatershed.  Available boron is low (<0.5 ppm) in 1 per cent area, medium (0.5-1.0 ppm) in 92 per cent and high (>1.0 ppm) in <1% area in the microwatershed.  Available iron is sufficient (>4.5 ppm) in 58 per cent area and deficient (<4.5 ppm) in 36 per cent area of the microwatershed.  Available manganese and copper are sufficient in all the soils of the microwatershed.  Available zinc content is deficient (<0.6 ppm) in the entire area of the microwatershed.  The land suitability for 29 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 - 502 (65) Guava - 2 (<1) Maize - 502 (65) Sapota - 2 (<1) Bajra - 502 (65) Pomegranate - 227 (29) Groundnut - 30 (4) Musambi - 226 (29) Sunflower - 226 (29) Lime - 226 (29) Redgram - 475 (55) Amla - 210 (27) Bengal gram 180 (23) 175 (23) Cashew - - Cotton - 226 (29) Jackfruit - 2 (<1) Chilli - 255 (33) Jamun - - Tomato - 30 (4) Custard apple - 254 (33) Brinjal - 30 (4) Tamarind - - Onion - 30 (4) Mulberry - 2 (<1) Bhendi - 255 (33) Marigold - 254 (33) Drumstick - 182 (23) Chrysanthemum - 254 (33) Mango - -  Apart from the individual crop suitability, a proposed crop plan has been prepared for the 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.  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. This would help in not only supplementing the farm income but also provide fodder and fuel and generate lot of biomass which would help in maintaining an ecological balance and also contribute to mitigating the climate change. FINDINGS OF THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC SURVEY  The survey was conducted in Narayanpet-2 is located at North latitude 160 30’ 5.473” and 160 28’ 30.247" and East longitude 770 17’ 44.111'' and 770 15’ 5.067” covering an area of about 768.67 ha coming under Badiyala ªÀillage of Yadagiri taluk.  Socio-economic analysis of Narayanpet-2 micro watersheds of Kodlur subwatershed, Yadgir taluk & District indicated that, out of the total sample of 35 total respondents, 6 (17.14 %) were marginal, 8 (22.86%)were small, 13 (37.14 %) were Semi medium and 8 (22.86 %) were medium farmers.  The population characteristics of households indicated that, there were 103 (51.76%) men and 96 (48.24 %) were women.  Majority of the respondents (42.21%) were in the age group of 16-35 years.  Education level of the sample households indicated that, there were 23.62 per cent illiterates, 78.39 per cent pre university education and 5.53 per cent attained graduation.  About, 5.71 per cent of household heads practicing agriculture and 94.29 per cent of the household heads were engaged as agricultural labourers.  Agriculture was the major occupation for 3.02 per cent of the household members.  In the study area, 65.71 per cent of the households possess katcha house and 5.71 per cent possess pucca house.  The durable assets owned by the households showed that, 85.71 per cent possess TV, 71.43 per cent possess mixer grinder, 100.00 per cent possess mobile phones and 22.86 per cent possess motor cycles.  Farm implements owned by the households indicated that, 34.29 per cent of the households possess plough, 8.57 per cent possess tractor and 34.29 per cent possess bullock cart.  Regarding livestock possession by the households, 5.71 per cent possess local cow.  The average labour availability in the study area showed that, own labour men available in the micro watershed was 1.77, women available in the micro watershed was 1.46, hired labour (men) available was 11.86 and hired labour (women) available was 15.29.  In the study area, about 1.01 per cent of the respondents migrated from the micro watershed in search of jobs with an average distance of 1600.00 kms for about 4.00 months.  Out of the total land holding of the sample respondents 100.00 per cent (95.11 ha) of the area is under dry condition.  The major crops grown by sample farmers are Red gram, Jowar and Cotton, and cropping intensity was recorded as 99.98 per cent.  Out of the sample households 97.14 percent possessed bank account. 2  About 100.00 per cent of the respondents borrowed credit from various sources.  Among the credit borrowed by households, 5.56 per cent have borrowed loan from commercial banks and 88.89 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, 5.56 per cent of the households opined that credit helped to perform timely agricultural operations.  The per hectare cost of cultivation for Red gram, Jowar and Cotton was Rs.30866.96, 22324.79 and 25004.18 with benefit cost ratio of 1:0.80, 1: 0.90 and 1: 1.20 respectively.  Further, 42.86 per cent of the households opined that dry fodder was adequate and 17.14 per cent of the households have opined that the green fodder was adequate.  The average annual gross income of the farmers was Rs. 87165.71 in microwatershed, of which Rs. 56257.14 comes from agriculture.  Sampled households have grown 9 forestry trees together in the fields and back yards.  Households have an average investment capacity of Rs. 10457.14 for land development.  Source of funds for additional investment is concerned, 60.00 per cent depends on own funds and 40.00 per cent depends on bank loan for land development activities.  Regarding marketing channels, 65.71 per cent of the households have sold agricultural produce to the local/village merchants, while, 42.86 per cent have sold in regulated markets.  Further, 42.86 per cent of the households have used tractor for the transport of agriculture commodity.  Majority of the farmers (105.71%) have experienced soil and water erosion problems in the watershed and 91.43 per cent of the households were interested towards soil testing.  Fire was the major source of fuel for domestic use for 97.14 per cent of the households and 2.86 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, 37.14 per cent of the households possess toilet facility.  Regarding possession of PDS card, 100.00 per cent of the households possessed BPL card.  Households opined that, the requirement of cereals (100.00%), pulses (65.71%) and oilseeds (20.00%) are adequate for consumption. 3  Farming constraints experienced by households in the micro watersheds were lower fertility status of the soil (117.14%) wild animal menace on farm field (40.00%), frequent incidence of pest and diseases (40.00%), inadequacy of irrigation water (74.29%), high cost of fertilizers and plant protection chemicals (80.00%), high rate of interest on credit (77.14%), low price for the agricultural commodities (88.57%), lack of marketing facilities in the area (94.29%), inadequate extension services (20.00%) and lack of transport for safe transport of the agricultural produce to the market (65.71%).