LAND RESOURCE INVENTORY AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS OF FARM HOUSEHOLDS FOR WATERSHED PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT RAGHUNATHANAHALLI-2 (4D4A2M3a) MICROWATERSHED Alavandi Hobli, Koppal Taluk & District, Karnataka

Abstract

The land resource inventory of Raghunathanahalli-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 441 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 of 99 per cent is covered by soils and 1 per cent is by habitation and settlements. The salient findings from the land resource inventory are summarized briefly below.  The soils belong to 10 soil series and 17 soil phases (management units) and 6 Land Management Units.  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 31 major agricultural and horticultural crops were assessed and maps showing the degree of suitability along with constraints were generated.  An area of about 99 per cent is suitable for agriculture.  An area of about 27 per cent of the soils are very shallow to shallow (<25-50 cm), 64 per cent of the soils are moderately shallow to moderately deep (50-100 cm) and 8 per cent soils are deep to very deep (100->150 cm).  Entire cultivated area of the microwatershed falls under clayey soils at the surface.  An area of about 29 per cent area has non-gravelly (<15% gravel) soils and 70 per cent has gravelly to very gravelly (15-60% gravel) soils.  An area of about 74 per cent area is very low to low (<50-100 mm/m), 17 per cent area is medium (101-150 mm/m) and 8 per cent area is very high (>200 mm/m) in available water capacity.  An area of about 11 per cent area of the microwatershed has nearly level (0-1% slope) lands and 87 per cent area of the microwatershed has very gently sloping (1- 3% slope) lands.  An area of about 41 per cent area is moderately (e2) eroded and about 58 per cent area is slightly (e1) eroded.  Entire cultivated area of the microwatershed soils are moderately alkaline to strongly alkaline (pH 7.8-9.0) in soil reaction.  The Electrical Conductivity (EC) of the soils in the entire cultivated area of the microwatershed is <2 dsm-1 indicating that the soils are non-saline.  Organic carbon is medium (0.5-0.75%) in 77 per cent area and low (<0.5%) in 22 per cent area of the microwatershed.  An area of about 4 per cent is medium (23-57 kg/ha) and 95 per cent is low (<23 kg/ha) in available phosphorus.  Entire cultivated area of the microwatershed is high (>337 kg/ha) in available potassium.  Available sulphur is medium (10-20 ppm) in 30 per cent area and high (>20 ppm) in 69 per cent area of the microwatershed.  An area of about 80 per cent is low (<0.5ppm) and 19 per cent is medium (0.5-1.0 ppm) in available boron content.  An area of about 67 per cent is sufficient (>4.5 ppm) and 32 per cent is deficient (<4.5 ppm) in available iron content.  Entire cultivated area of the microwatershed is sufficient (>1.0 ppm) in available manganese content.  Entire cultivated area of the microwatershed is sufficient (>0.2 ppm) in available copper content.  Entire cultivated area of the microwatershed is deficient (<0.6 ppm) in available zinc content.  The land suitability for 31 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 microwatershed Crop Suitability Area in ha (%) Crop Suitability Area in ha (%) Highly suitable (S1) Moderately suitable (S2) Highly suitable (S1) Moderately suitable (S2) Sorghum 21(5) 296(67) Sapota - 152(35) Maize - 300(68) Pomegranate - 260(59) Bajra - 317(72) Guava - 152(35) Groundnut - 152(35) Jackfruit - 152(35) Sunflower 14(3) 246(56) Jamun - 34(8) Cotton 21(5) 297(67) Musambi 14(3) 246(56) Red gram - 210(48) Lime 14(3) 246(56) Bengalgram 21(5) 296(67) Cashew - - Chilli - 169(38) Custard apple 21(5) 296(67) Tomato - 165(37) Amla - 316(72) Brinjal - 316(72) Tamarind - 34(8) Onion - 165(38) Marigold - 316(72) Bhendi - 316(72) Chrysanthemum - 316(72) Drumstick - 260(59) Jasmine - 208(47) Mulberry - 240(55) Crossandra - 215(49) Mango - - Apart from the individual crop suitability, a proposed crop plan has been prepared for the 6 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. That would help in supplementing the farm income, provide fodder and fuel, and generate lot of biomass which in turn 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 Raghunathanahalli-2 is located at North latitude 150 14’ 31.598” and 150 13’ 30.436” and East longitude 750 56’ 30.124” and 750 54’ 44.824” covering an area of about 440.93 ha coming under Raghunathahalli, Gattareddyhala and Belagatti Villages of Koppal taluk.  Socio-economic analysis of Raghunathanahalli-2 micro watersheds of Murlapura subwatershed, Koppal taluk & District indicated that, out of the total sample of 35 farmers were sampled in Raghunathanahalli-2 micro-watershed among households surveyed 15 (42.86%) were marginal, 12 (34.29%) were small and 8 (22.86 %) were semi medium farmers.  The population characteristics of households indicated that, there were 96 (56.47%) men and 74 (43.53 %) were women. The average population of marginal farmers was 5.06, small farmers were 4.83 and semi medium farmers were 4.5.  Majority of the respondents (47.06%) were in the age group of 16-35 years.  Education level of the sample households indicated that, there were 26.47 per cent illiterates, 68.83 per cent pre university education and 7.65 per cent attained graduation.  About, 77.14 per cent of household heads practicing agriculture and 22.86 per cent of the household heads were engaged as agricultural labourers.  Agriculture was the major occupation for 62.94 per cent of the household members.  In the study area, 97.14 per cent of the households possess katcha house.  The durable assets owned by the households showed that, 77.14 per cent possess TV, 34.29 per cent possess mixer grinder, 77.14 per cent possess mobile phones and 28.57 per cent possess motor cycles.  Farm implements owned by the households indicated that, 11.43 per cent of the households possess plough, 8.57 per cent possess bullock cart.  Regarding livestock possession by the households, 5.71 per cent possess local cow and 5.71 per cent possess buffalo.  The average labour availability in the study area showed that, own labour men available in the micro watershed was 1.81, women available in the micro watershed was 1.44, hired labour (men) available was 6.58 and hired labour (women) available was 6.31.  In the study area, about 0.59 per cent of the respondents migrated from the micro watershed in search of jobs.  Out of the total land holding of the sample respondents 85.19 per cent (44.86 ha) of the area is under dry condition and the remaining 5.56 per cent area is irrigated land.  There were 2.00 live bore wells among the sampled households.  Bore well was the major source of irrigation for 5.71 per cent of the households. 2  The major crops grown by sample farmers are Sunflower, Redgram, Sorghum, Groundnut and Maize and cropping intensity was recorded as 83.72 per cent.  Out of the sample households 8.57 percent possessed bank account.  About 8.57 per cent of the respondents borrowed credit from various sources.  Per hectare cost of cultivation for Sunflower, Redgram, Sorghum, Groundnut and Maize was Rs.38349.84, 55753.72, 30816.36, 75904.68 and 30591.23 with benefit cost ratio of 1:0.80, 1: 2.10, 1: 0.50, 1: 1.60 and 1:0.70 respectively.  Further, 42.86 per cent of the households opined that dry fodder was adequate and 8.57 per cent of the households have opined that the green fodder was adequate.  The average annual gross income of the farmers was Rs. 78168.00 in microwatershed, of which Rs. 25131.43 comes from agriculture.  Sampled households have grown 12 horticulture trees and 108 forestry trees together in the fields and back yards.  Households have an average investment capacity of Rs. 1571.43 for land development and Rs. 142.86 for irrigation facility.  Source of funds for additional investment is concerned, 25.71 per cent depends on bank loan for land development activities.  Regarding marketing channels, 100 per cent of the households have sold agricultural produce to the local/village merchants.  Further, 100 per cent of the households have used tractor for the transport of agriculture commodity.  Majority of the farmers (60.00%) have experienced soil and water erosion problems in the watershed and 54.29 per cent of the households were interested towards soil testing.  Fire was the major source of fuel for domestic use for 100 per cent of the households.  Piped supply was the major source for drinking water for 48.57 per cent of the households.  Electricity was the major source of light for 100.00 per cent of the households.  In the study area, 54.29 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 (60.00%) and oilseeds (22.86%) are adequate for consumption.  Farming constraints experienced by households in the micro watersheds were lower fertility status of the soil (100.00%) wild animal menace on farm field (51.43%), frequent incidence of pest and diseases (91.43%), inadequacy of irrigation water (2.86%), high cost of fertilizers and plant protection chemicals (91.43%), high rate of interest on credit (40.00%), low price for the agricultural commodities (88.57%), lack of marketing facilities in the area (80.00%), inadequate extension services (5.71%), lack of transport for safe transport of the agricultural produce to the market (74.29%).