LAND RESOURCE INVENTORY AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS OF FARM HOUSEHOLDS FOR WATERSHED PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT HOLANDGIRA (4D5B2K2a) MICROWATERSHED Yadgir Taluk and District, Karnataka

Abstract

The land resource inventory of Holandgira 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 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 678 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 587 ha in the microwatershed is covered by soils, 43 ha is covered by rock outcrops and 49 ha by others (habitation and water body). The salient findings from the land resource inventory are summarized briefly below.  The soils belong to 8 soil series and 10 soil phases (management units) and 4 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 587 ha area in the microwatershed is suitable for agriculture.  About 10 per cent of area is shallow (25-50 cm), <1 per cent of area of the microwatershed has soils that are moderately shallow (50-75 cm), 18 per cent of area of the microwatershed has soils that are moderately deep (75-100 cm), 13 per cent of area is deep (100 - 150 cm) and 45 per cent of area is very deep (>150 cm).  About 11 per cent area in the microwatershed has loamy soils and 76 per cent clayey soils at the surface.  Non gravelly (<15%) soils cover in 32 per cent area and gravelly (15-35%) in 54 per cent area of the microwatershed.  About 58 per cent area of the microwatershed is very high (>200 mm/m) in available water capacity, 18 per cent is medium (51-100 mm/m), <1 per cent is low (51-100 mm/m) and 10 per cent area is very low (<50 mm/m).  About 84 per cent area in the microwatershed is under very gently sloping (1-3% slope) lands and 3 per cent area has nearly level (0-1%) lands.  Maximum area of about 84 per cent is moderately (e2) eroded and 3 per cent area is slightly eroded (e1).  About 47 per cent area is slightly alkaline (pH 7.3-7.8), 10 per cent area is moderately alkaline (pH 7.8-8.4) and 29 per cent area is neutral (pH 6.5-7.3) 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 75 per cent area is medium (0.5-0.75) and 12 per cent area is high (>0.75%) in organic carbon content of the soil.  About 17 per cent of area is medium (23-57 kg/ha) in available phosphorus content of the soil and 69 per cent of area is high (>57 kg/ha) in the microwatershed.  Available potassium content is medium (145-337 kg/ha) in 47 per cent area, low (<145 kg/ha) in 7 per cent area and high (>337 kg/ha) in 32 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 the entire area of the microwatershed.  Available iron is sufficient (>4.5 ppm) in 86 per cent area and deficient (<4.5 ppm) in <1 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 39 per cent area and sufficient (>0.6 ppm) in 48 per cent area in 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 113 (17) 367 (54) Guava - 66 (10) Maize 66 (10) 414 (61) Sapota - 66 (10) Bajra 66 (10) 414 (61) Pomegranate - 203 (30) Groundnut - 70 (10) Musambi 47 (7) 156 (23) Sunflower 47 (7) 156 (23) Lime 47 (7) 156 (23) Redgram - 476 (70) Amla 66 (10) 4 (<1) Bengal gram 104 (15) 306 (45) Cashew - - Cotton 47 (7) 156 (26) Jackfruit - 66 (10) Chilli 66 (10) 141 (21) Jamun - 47 (7) Tomato 66 (10) 4 (<1) Custard apple 47 (7) 160 (23) Brinjal 66 (10) 4 (<1) Tamarind 47 (7) - Onion 66 (10) 4 (<1) Mulberry - 66 (10) Bhendi 66 (10) 141 (21) Marigold 66 (10) 141 (21) Drumstick - 170 (25) Chrysanthemum 66 (10) 141 (21) 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 Holandgira is located at North latitude 160 50’ 44.924” and 160 49’ 4.393" and East longitude 760 58’ 44.548'' and 760 57’ 5.599” covering an area of about 690.33 ha coming under Holamkera and Bannahatti villages of Chithapura taluk.  Socio-economic analysis of Holandgira micro watersheds of Hadagimadara subwatershed, Chithapura taluk & Kalaburagi District indicated that, out of the total sample of 36 farmers were sampled in Holandgira micro-watershed among households surveyed 13 (36.11%) were marginal, 13 (36.11%) were small and 7 (19.44 %) were semi medium farmers. 3 landless farmers were also interviewed for the survey.  The population characteristics of households indicated that, there were 110 (55.28%) men and 89 (44.72 %) were women. The average population of landless was 3.7, marginal farmers were 5.3, small farmers were 5.5 and semi medium farmers were 6.7.  Majority of the respondents (52.26%) were in the age group of 16-35 years.  Education level of the sample households indicated that, there were 59.30 per cent illiterates, 0.50 percent were functional literates, 40.21 per cent pre university education and 2.51 per cent attained graduation.  About, 83.33 per cent of household heads practicing agriculture and 2.78 per cent of the household heads were engaged as agricultural labourers.  Agriculture was the major occupation for 62.31 per cent of the household members.  In the study area, 58.33 per cent of the households possess katcha house and 11.11 per cent possess pucca house.  The durable assets owned by the households showed that, 97.22 per cent possess TV, 63.89 per cent possess mixer grinder, 100.00 per cent possess mobile phones and 8.33 per cent possess motor cycles.  Farm implements owned by the households indicated that, 25.00 per cent of the households possess Bullock Cart, 41.67 per cent possess plough and 80.56 per cent possess Weeder.  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 labour men available in the micro watershed was 1.83, women available in the micro watershed was 1.56, hired labour (men) available was 11.83 and hired labour (women) available was 9.94. 2  In the study area, about 2.01 per cent of the respondents migrated from the micro watershed in search of jobs with an average distance of 320.00 kms for about 4.00 months.  Out of the total land holding of the sample respondents 65.99 per cent (39.08 ha) of the area is under dry condition and the remaining 34.01 per cent area is irrigated land.  There were 12.00 live bore wells and 12.00 dry bore wells among the sampled households.  Bore well was the major source of irrigation for 33.33 per cent of the households.  The major crops grown by sample farmers are Red gram, Cotton, Groundnut, Sorghum and Sugarcane and cropping intensity was recorded as 84.22 per cent.  Out of the sample households 91.67 percent possessed bank account and 27.78 per cent of them have savings in the account.  About 27.78 per cent of the respondents borrowed credit from various sources.  Among the credit borrowed by households, 60.00 per cent have borrowed loan from commercial banks and 120.00 per cent from co-operative/Grameena bank.  Majority of the respondents (90.00%) have borrowed loan for agriculture purpose.  Regarding the opinion on institutional sources of credit, 45.00 per cent of the households opined that credit helped to perform timely agricultural operations.  The per hectare cost of cultivation for Red gram, Cotton, Groundnut, Sorghum and Sugarcane was Rs.35406.45, 39207.70, 47585.57, 30949.51 and 32109.45 with benefit cost ratio of 1:1.30, 1: 1.40, 1: 1.60, 1: 1.30 and 1:2.40 respectively.  Further, 41.67 per cent of the households opined that dry fodder was adequate and 19.44 per cent of the households have opined that the green fodder was adequate.  The average annual gross income of the farmers was Rs. 105138.89 in microwatershed, of which Rs. 77055.56 comes from agriculture.  Sampled households have grown 7 horticulture trees and 56 forestry trees together in the fields and back yards.  Households have an average investment capacity of Rs. 10361.11 for land development and Rs. 1027.78 for irrigation facility.  Source of funds for additional investment is concerned, 16.67 per cent depends on own funds and 47.22 per cent depends on bank loan for land development activities.  Regarding marketing channels, 30.56 per cent have sold in regulated markets.  Further, 86.11 per cent of the households have used tractor for the transport of agriculture commodity. 3  Majority of the farmers (91.67%) have experienced soil and water erosion problems in the watershed and 91.67 per cent of the households were interested towards soil testing.  Fire was the major source of fuel for domestic use for 100.00 per cent of the households.  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 119.44 per cent of the households.  In the study area, 75.00 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 (97.22%), pulses (94.44%) and oilseeds (30.56%) are adequate for consumption.  Farming constraints experienced by households in the micro watersheds were lower fertility status of the soil was the constraint experienced by (100.00 %) per cent of the households, wild animal menace on farm field (94.44%), frequent incidence of pest and diseases (50.00%), inadequacy of irrigation water (66.67%), high cost of fertilizers and plant protection chesmicals (63.89%), high rate of interest on credit (91.67%), low price for the agricultural commodities (94.44 %), lack of marketing facilities in the area (83.33%), inadequate extension services (63.89 %) and lack of transport for safe transport of the agricultural produce to the market (80.56%).