LAND RESOURCE INVENTORY AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS OF FARM HOUSEHOLDS FOR WATERSHED PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT HANDRAHALU-2 (4D4A1V2c) MICRO WATERSHED Alavandi Hobli, Koppal Taluk and District, Karnataka

Abstract

The land resource inventory of Handrahalu-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 462 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 about 96 per cent is covered by soils and 4 per cent by others. The salient findings from the land resource inventory are summarized briefly below.  The soils belong to 10 soil series and 18 soil phases (management units) and 4 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.  Entire area is suitable for agriculture.  About 2 per cent of the soils are very shallow (<25 cm), 9 per cent of the soils are shallow (50-75 cm), 12 per cent of the soils are moderately shallow (50-75 cm), 38 per cent of the soils are moderately deep (75-100 cm), 22 per cent soils are deep (100-150 cm) and 12 per cent area has very deep (>150 cm) soils.  Entire area of about 96 per cent area has clayey soils at the surface at the surface.  About 49 per cent of the area has non-gravelly (<15%) soils, 44 per cent gravelly (15-35 % gravel) and 3 per cent very gravelly (35-60%) soils.  About 2 per cent are very low (<50 mm/m), 22 per cent low (51-100 mm/m), 38 per cent medium (101-150 mm/m) and 34 per cent very high (>200 mm/m) in available water capacity.  An area of about 7 per cent has nearly level sloping (0-1%) and 90 per cent has very gently sloping (1-3%) lands.  An area of about 43 per cent has soils that are slightly eroded (e1) and 53 per cent moderately eroded (e2) lands.  An area of about 2 per cent are moderately alkaline (pH 7.8-8.4), 70 per cent strongly alkaline (pH 8.4-9.0) and 25 per cent are very strongly alkaline (pH>9.0) in soil reaction.  The Electrical Conductivity (EC) of the soils is <2 dS m-1 and as such the soils are non-saline.  Organic carbon is low (<0.5%) in about 20 per cent, medium (0.5-0.75%) in about 76 per cent and 1 per cent is high (>0.75%) of the soils in organic carbon.  Available phosphorus is low (<23 kg/ha) in about 23 per cent and medium (23-57 kg/ha) in 74 per cent in the microwatershed.  About 2 per cent of the soils are medium (145-337 kg/ha) and 95 per cent soils are high (>337 kg/ha) in available potassium content.  Available sulphur is medium (10-20 ppm) in 21 per cent and 75 per cent are high (>20 ppm) in the microwatershed.  Available boron is low (0.5 ppm) in about 66 per cent area, 31 per cent area is medium (0.5-1.0 ppm) in soils.  Available iron is sufficient (>4.5 ppm) in entire area of about 96 per cent.  Available zinc is deficient (<0.6 ppm) in 4 per cent and sufficient (>0.6 ppm) in about 92 per cent area.  Available manganese and copper are sufficient in all the soils.  The land suitability for 31 major agricultural and horticultural 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 212 (46) 176 (38) Sapota - - Maize - 393 (85) Pomegranate - 336 (73) Bajra 388 (84) Musambi 51 (11) 285 (62) Groundnut - - Lime 51 (11) 285 (62) Sunflower 51 (11) 280 (61) Amla - 393 (85) Red gram - 315 (68) Cashew - - Bengalgram 230 (50) 159 (34) Jackfruit - - Cotton 230 (50) 159 (34) Jamun - 138 (33) Chilli - - Custard apple 230 (50) 163 (35) Tomato - - Tamarind - 159 (34) Brinjal - 394 (85) Mulberry - 300 (65) Onion - - Marigold - 388 (84) Bhendi - 394 (85) Chrysanthemum - 388 (84) Drumstick - 336 (73) Jasmine - 57 (12) Mango - - Crossandra - 85 (18) Guava - -  Apart from the individual crop suitability, a proposed crop plan has been prepared for the 4 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 that helps in maintaining productivity and ecological balance in the microwatershed.  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 Handrahalu-2 is located at North latitude 150 19’ 52.722” and 150 17’ 50.924” and East longitude 760 3’ 8.831'' and 760 1’ 41.664” covering an area of about 450.01 ha coming under Handrala, Hireshindogi and Hanavala Villages of Koppal taluk.  Socio-economic analysis of Handrahalu-2 micro watersheds of Tadakal subwatershed, Koppala taluk & District indicated that, out of the total sample of 34 farmers were sampled in Handrahalu-2 micro-watershed among households surveyed 6 (17.65%) were marginal, 10 (29.41%) were small and 13 (38.24 %) were semi medium farmers. 5 landless farmers were also interviewed for the survey.  The population characteristics of households indicated that, there were 92 (57.14%) men and 69 (42.86 %) were women. The average population of landless was 4.8, marginal farmers were 4.8, small farmers were 5 and semi medium farmers were 4.5.  Majority of the respondents (37.27%) were in the age group of 16-35 years.  Education level of the sample households indicated that, there were 37.27 per cent illiterates, 60.87 per cent pre university education and 2.48 per cent attained graduation.  About, 97.06 per cent of household heads practicing agriculture.  Agriculture was the major occupation for 59.63 per cent of the household members.  In the study area, 79.41 per cent of the households possess katcha house and 2.94 per cent possess pucca house.  The durable assets owned by the households showed that, 70.59 per cent possess TV, 23.53 per cent possess mixer grinder, 94.12 per cent possess mobile phones and 20.59 per cent possess motor cycles.  Farm implements owned by the households indicated that, 14.71 per cent of the households possess plough, 2.94 per cent possess tractor, 20.59 per cent possess bullock cart.  Regarding livestock possession by the households, 17.65 per cent possess local cow.  The average labour availability in the study area showed that, own labour men available in the micro watershed was 1.68, women available in the micro watershed was 1.38, hired labour (men) available was 10 and hired labour (women) available was 8.24.  Further, 17.65 per cent of the households opined that hired labour was inadequate during the agricultural season. 2  Out of the total land holding of the sample respondents 65.19 per cent (39.67 ha) of the area is under dry condition and the remaining 34.81 per cent area is irrigated land.  There were 16.00 live bore wells and 15.00 dry bore wells among the sampled households.  Bore well was the major source of irrigation for 47.06 per cent of the households.  The major crops grown by sample farmers are Maize, Sunflower, Green gram, Cotton and Onion and cropping intensity was recorded as 91.83 per cent.  Out of the sample households 73.53 percent possessed bank account.  Majority of the respondents (100.00%) have borrowed loan for agriculture purpose.  Regarding the opinion on institutional sources of credit, 69.23 per cent of the households opined that credit helped to perform timely agricultural operations.  The per hectare cost of cultivation for Maize, Sunflower, Green gram, Cotton and Onion was Rs.34869.68 , 44381.39, 28905.04, 28381.13 and 42875.32 with benefit cost ratio of 1:1.10, 1: 3.60, 1: 1.30, 1: 2.10 and 1:4.80 respectively.  Further, 2.94 per cent of the households opined that dry fodder was adequate and 2.94 per cent of the households have opined that the green fodder was adequate.  The average annual gross income of the farmers was Rs. 68723.53 in microwatershed, of which Rs. 60282.35 comes from agriculture.  Sampled households have grown 1 horticulture trees and 48 forestry trees together in the fields and back yards.  Households have an average investment capacity of Rs. 3705.88 for land development and Rs. 941.18 for irrigation facility.  Source of funds for additional investment is concerned, 55.88 per cent depends on own funds and 5.88 per cent depends on bank loan for land development activities.  Regarding marketing channels, 61.76 per cent of the households have sold agricultural produce to the local/village merchants, while, 2.94 per cent have sold in regulated markets.  Further, 67.65 per cent of the households have used tractor for the transport of agriculture commodity.  Majority of the farmers (61.76%) have experienced soil and water erosion problems in the watershed and 76.47 per cent of the households were interested towards soil testing.  Fire was the major source of fuel for domestic use for 79.41 per cent of the households and 23.53 per cent households has LPG connection.  Piped supply was the major source for drinking water for 73.53 per cent of the households.  Electricity was the major source of light for 100.00 per cent of the households. 3  In the study area, 32.35 per cent of the households possess toilet facility.  Regarding possession of PDS card, 94.12 per cent of the households possessed BPL card, 2.94 per cent of the household’s possessed APL card and 2.94 per cent of the household’s were not having ration cards.  Households opined that, the requirement of cereals (73.53%), pulses (67.65%) and oilseeds (14.71%) are adequate for consumption.  Farming constraints experienced by households in the micro watersheds were lower fertility status of the soil (61.76%) wild animal menace on farm field (76.47%), frequent incidence of pest and diseases (35.29%), inadequacy of irrigation water (50.00%), high cost of fertilizers and plant protection chemicals (73.53%), high rate of interest on credit (61.76%), low price for the agricultural commodities (47.06%), lack of marketing facilities in the area (61.76%), inadequate extension services (38.24%), lack of transport for safe transport of the agricultural produce to the market (47.06%), Less rainfall (8.82%) and Source of Agri-technology information (Newspaper/ TV/Mobile) (8.82%).