LAND RESOURCE INVENTORY AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS OF FARM HOUSEHOLDS FOR WATERSHED PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT CHIKKA ALUR-1 (4D5B2A2b) MICROWATERSHED Yadgir Taluk and District, Karnataka

Abstract

The land resource inventory of Chikka Alur-1 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 591 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 383 ha in the microwatershed is covered by soils, about 141 ha by rock outcrops, about 36 ha by quarry and about 30 ha cover by others. 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 5 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.  An area of about 65 per cent is suitable for agriculture in the microwatershed.  About 17 per cent area of the microwatershed has soils that are deep to very deep (100- >150 cm), about 38 per cent soils are moderately deep (75-100 cm), whereas 10 per cent soils are moderately shallow (50-75 cm) and <1 per cent soils very shallow (<25 cm) in the microwatershed.  About <1 percent soils are sandy, 3 percent soils are loamy and 61 per cent is clayey soils at the surface.  An area of about 60 per cent is non gravelly (<15%) soils, about 5 per cent soils are gravelly (15-35%) in the microwatershed.  About 11 per cent area of the microwatershed is very high (>200 mm/m) in available water capacity, 42 per cent soils are medium (101-150 mm/m) and 12 per cent soils are low (51-100 mm/m) and very low (<50mm/m) in available water capacity.  Entire cultivated area falls under very gently sloping (1-3% slope) lands in the microwatershed.  Soils that are moderately eroded (e2 class) cover entire cultivated area of the microwatershed.  An area of about 1 per cent is neutral (pH 6.5-7.3) and about 64 per cent is slightly and moderately alkaline in soil reaction in the microwatershed.  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.  An area of 33 per cent is high (>0.75%) and 32 percent is medium (0.50-0.75%) in organic carbon content.  An area of about 52 percent is medium (23-57 kg/ha) and 13 percent soils are high (>57 kg/ha) in available phosphorus.  Available potassium content is high (>337 kg/ha) in an area of 57 per cent, medium (145-337 kg/ha) in about 8 per cent and low (<145 kg/ha) in about <1 per cent in the microwatershed.  Available sulphur content is low (<10 ppm) in the entire cultivated area of the microwatershed.  Available boron content is low (<0.5 ppm) in about 62 per cent, medium (0.5-1.0 ppm) in about 3 per cent in the microwatershed.  Available iron content is sufficient (>4.5 ppm) in an area of 5 per cent and about deficient (<4.5 ppm) in about 60 per cent in 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 cultivated 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 12(2) 371(63) Guava 37(6) 14(2) Maize 49(8) 334(57) Sapota 37(6) 14(2) Bajra 51(9) 332(56) Pomegranate 37(6) 225(38) Groundnut 39(7) 69(12) Musambi 37(6) 225(38) Sunflower - 262(44) Lime 37(6) 225(38) Redgram - 326(55) Amla 51(9) 268(45) Bengal gram 211(36) 47(8) Cashew - 51(9) Cotton - 223(38) Jackfruit 37(6) 14(2) Chilli 49(8) 270(46) Jamun - 37(6) Tomato 49(8) 59(10) Custard apple 51(9) 268(45) Brinjal 49(8) 59(10) Tamarind - 37(6) Onion 49(8) 59(10) Mulberry 37(6) 14(2) Bhendi 49(8) 59(10) Marigold 49(8) 270(46) Drumstick 37(6) 225(38) Chrysanthemum 49(8) 270(46) Mango - 37(6)  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, fiber and horticulture crops.  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. This would help in not only supplementing the farm income but also provide fodder and fuel to 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 Chikka Alur-1 is located at North latitude 160 59’ 58.922” and 160 57’ 59.983" and East longitude 770 10’ 16.077'' and 770 8’ 28.685” covering an area of about 575.94 ha coming under Allura. K and Allura .B villages of Chithapura taluk.  Socio-economic analysis of Chikka Alur-1 micro watersheds of Chikka Alur subwatershed, Chithapura taluk & Kalaburagi District indicated that, out of the total sample of 37 farmers were sampled in Chikka Alur-1 micro-watershed among households surveyed 6 (16.22%) were marginal, 15 (40.54%) were small, 10 (27.03 %) were semi medium and 1 (2.70 %) were medium farmers. 5 landless farmers were also interviewed for the survey.  The population characteristics of households indicated that, there were 81 (57.45%) men and 60 (42.55 %) were women. The average population of landless was 3.2, marginal farmers were 3.8, small farmers were 3.8, semi medium farmers 4 and medium farmers were 5.  Majority of the respondents (43.97%) were in the age group of 16-35 years.  Education level of the sample households indicated that, there were 47.52 per cent illiterates, 52.49 per cent pre university education and 2.13 per cent attained graduation.  About, 78.38 per cent of household heads practicing agriculture.  Agriculture was the major occupation for 66.67 per cent of the household members.  In the study area and 97.30 per cent of the households possess katcha house.  The durable assets owned by the households showed that, 83.78 per cent possess TV, 72.97 per cent possess mixer grinder, 97.30 per cent possess mobile phones and 35.14 per cent possess motor cycles.  Farm implements owned by the households indicated that, 13.51 per cent of the households possess Bullock Cart and Chaff cutter, 27.03 per cent possess plough and 8.11 per cent possess Sprayer and 89.19 per cent possess Weeder.  Regarding livestock possession by the households, 2.70 per cent possess local cow and 2.70 per cent possess buffalo.  The average labour availability in the study area showed that, own labour men available in the micro watershed was 1.46, women available in the micro watershed was 1.30, hired labour (men) available was 14.97 and hired labour (women) available was 13.24.  Further, 13.51 per cent of the households opined that hired labour was inadequate during the agricultural season.  In the study area, about 2.13 per cent of the respondents migrated from the micro watershed in search of jobs with an average distance of 110.00 kms for about 6.00 months. 2  Out of the total land holding of the sample respondents 100.00 per cent (57.55 ha) of the area is under dry condition.  The major crops grown by sample farmers are Red gram, Jowar, Bajra and cropping intensity was recorded as 100.00 per cent.  Out of the sample households 86.49 percent possessed bank account and 81.08 per cent of them have savings in the account.  About 89.19 per cent of the respondents borrowed credit from various sources.  Among the credit borrowed by households, 12.12 per cent have borrowed loan from commercial banks and 54.55 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.  The per hectare cost of cultivation for Red gram, Jowar and Bajra was Rs.29233.98, 19193.81 and 13750.85 with benefit cost ratio of 1:1.50, 1:1.90 and 1:1.70 respectively.  Further, 10.81 per cent of the households opined that dry fodder was adequate.  The average annual gross income of the farmers was Rs. 93136.49 in microwatershed, of which Rs. 58704.05 comes from agriculture.  Sampled households have grown 4 horticulture trees and 166 forestry trees together in the fields and back yards.  Households have an average investment capacity of Rs.351.35 For land development.  Source of funds for additional investment is concerned, 5.13 per cent depends on bank loan for land development activities.  Regarding marketing channels, 81.08 per cent of the households have sold agricultural produce to the local/village merchants.  Further, 29.73 per cent of the households have used tractor for the transport of agriculture commodity.  Majority of the farmers (5.41%) have experienced soil and water erosion problems in the watershed and 86.49 per cent of the households were interested towards soil testing.  Firewood was the major source of fuel for domestic use for 70.27 per cent of the households and 32.43 per cent households has LPG connection.  Piped supply was the major source for drinking water for 100 per cent of the households.  Electricity was the major source of light for 100 per cent of the households.  In the study area, 56.76 per cent of the households possess toilet facility.  Regarding possession of PDS card, 100 per cent of the households possessed BPL card. 3  Households opined that, the requirement of cereals (100.00%), pulses (97.30%) and oilseeds (5.41%) 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 (91.89 %) per cent of the households, wild animal menace on farm field (86.49%), frequent incidence of pest and diseases (89.19%), inadequacy of irrigation water (89.19%), high cost of fertilizers and plant protection chemicals (86.49%), high rate of interest on credit (89.19%), low price for the agricultural commodities (86.49 %), lack of marketing facilities in the area (86.49%), inadequate extension services (86.49 %) and lack of transport for safe transport of the agricultural produce to the market (86.49%).