LAND RESOURCE INVENTORY AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS OF FARM HOUSEHOLDS FOR WATERSHED PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT KINHALU (4D4A1Q2e) MICROWATERSHED Irakallagada Hobli, Koppal Taluk & District, Karnataka

Abstract

The land resource inventory of Kinhalu 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 313 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 92 per cent is covered by soils and 8 per cent by rock outcrops, habitation and water bodies, settlements and others. The salient findings from the land resource inventory are summarized briefly below.  The soils belong to 7 soil series and 12 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 3 per cent of the soils are very shallow (<25 cm), 8 per cent of the soils are moderately shallow (50-75 cm), 2 per cent of the soils are moderately deep (75-100 cm), 30 per cent area has deep (100-150 cm) and 32 per cent has very deep (>150 cm) soils.  About 8 per cent has loamy soils at the surface and 66 per cent has clayey soils at the surface.  About 68 per cent of the area has non-gravelly (<15%) soils and 6 per cent gravelly (15-35% gravel) soils.  About 11 per cent are very low (<50 mm/m), 2 per cent medium (101-150 mm/m) and 62 per cent very high (>200 mm/m) in available water capacity.  An area of about 15 per cent has nearly level (0-1%) and 59 per cent area has very gently sloping (1-3%) lands.  An area of about 39 per cent has soils that are slightly eroded (e1) and 35 per cent moderately eroded (e2) lands.  An area of about 25 per cent are moderately alkaline (pH 7.8-8.4), 41 per cent are strongly alkaline (pH 8.4-9.0) and 8 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 <1 per cent, medium (0.5-0.75%) in 29 per cent and high (>0.75%) in 44 per cent area of the soils.  Available phosphorus is medium (23-57 kg/ha) in 74 per cent in the microwatershed.  Entire area of about 74 per cent soils are high (>337 kg/ha) in available potassium content.  Available sulphur is low (<10 ppm) in about 9 per cent, medium (10-20 ppm) in 22 per cent and high (>320 ppm) in the area of about 43 per cent soils.  Available boron is low (0.5 ppm) in about 5 per cent, medium (0.5-1.0 ppm) in 66 per cent and high (>1.0 ppm) in 2 per cent area.  Available iron is sufficient (>4.5 ppm) in the entire area of the microwatershed.  Available zinc is deficient (<0.6 ppm) in the entire area of the microwatershed.  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 104 (33) 119 (38) Sapota - - Maize - 223 (71) Pomegranate - 198 (63) Bajra - 150 (48) Musambi 104 (33) 94 (30) Groundnut - 25 (8) Lime 104 (33) 94 (30) Sunflower 104 (33) 94 (30) Amla 20 (6) 203 (65) Red gram - 198 (63) Cashew - - Bengalgram 104 (33) 119 (38) Jackfruit - - Cotton 104 (33) 119 (38) Jamun - 193 (62) Chilli - 61 (19) Custard apple 104 (33) 119 (38) Tomato - 45 (14) Tamarind - 193 (62) Brinjal - 198 (63) Mulberry - 78 (25) Onion - - Marigold - 223 (71) Bhendi - 198 (63) Chrysanthemum - 223 (71) Drumstick - 198 (63) Jasmine - 25 (8) Mango - 73 (23) Crossandra - 109 (35) 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 Kinhalu mciro-watershed is located at 15027’34.896’’ to 150 26’1.335’’ North and East longitude 760 7’43.183’’ to 7606’36.201’’ covering an area of about 246.65 ha coming under Mudhlapura and Kinnala B villages of Koppal taluk.  Socio-economic analysis indicated that, out of the total sample of 34 respondents5 (14.71%) were landless, 7 (20.59%) were marginal, 10 (29.41%) were small farmers, 11 (32.35%) were semi medium farmers and 1 (2.94%) medium farmers.  The population characteristics of households indicated that, there were 96 (55.49%) men and 77 (44.51%) women among the sampled households.  The average family size of landless farmers’ was 4.4, marginal farmers’ was 5.1, small farmers’ was 4.8, semi medium farmers’ was 5.7 and medium farmers were 4.  Majority of the respondents 40 (23.12%) people were in 0-15 years of age, 67 (38.73%) were in 16-35 years of age, 49 (28.32%) were in 36-60 years of age and 17 (9.83%) were above 61 years of age.  Education level of the sample households indicated that, majority there were 24.28 per cent illiterates, 1.16 per cent of them had functional literate, 26.59 per cent of them had primary school, 5.78 per cent of them had Middle school education, 22.54 per cent of them had high school, 9.25 per cent of them had PUC and 3.47 per cent of them had degree education.  About, 79.41 per cent of household heads were practicing agriculture and 20.59 per cent of the household heads were agricultural laborers.  Agriculture was the major occupation for 47.98 per cent of the household members, 12.14 per cent were agricultural labourers, 1.73 per cent were general labour, 1.16 per cent were were private service, 24.86 per cent student, 5.78 per cent were housewives and 5.2 per cent were children.  The household possess, 0.58 per cent of the population in the micro watershed has participated in sthree shakthi sangha and self help group, 98.84 per cent of the population in the micro watershed has not participated in local institutions.  In the study area, 73.53 per cent of the households possess thatched, 2.94 per cent of the households possess katcha house and 29.41 per cent of the households possess semi pacca.  The durable assets owned by the households showed that, 76.47 per cent of the households possess TV, 88.24 per cent of the households possess mixer/grinder, 5.88 per cent of the households possess bicycle, 50 per cent of the household’s posses motor cycle, 2.94 per cent of the households possess landline phone and 94.12 per cent of the households possess mobile phones. 2  Farm implements owned by the households indicated that, 32.35 per cent each of the households possess bullock cart, 20.59 per cent each of the households possess plough, 8.82 per cent of the households possess seed/fertilizer drill and tractor, 5.88 per cent of the households possess irrigation pump and harvester, 2.94 per cent of the households possess power tiller, 11.76 per cent of the households possess sprayer and 55.88 per cent of the households possess weeder.  Regarding livestock possession by the households, 29.41 per cent of the households possess bullocks, 44.12 per cent of the households possess local cow, 8.82 per cent of the households possess buffalo and 2.94 per cent of the households possess sheep and poultry birds.  The average own labour men available in the micro watershed was 2, average own labour (women) available was 1, average hired labour (men) available was 18.44 and average hired labour (women) available was 17.78.  Out of the total land holding of the sample respondents 20.96 ha (55.7%) of dry land and 16.67 ha (44.30%) of irrigated land.  Marginal farmers possess 2.57 ha (74.91%) of dry land and 0.86 ha (25.09%) of irrigated land.  Small farmers possess 4.28 ha (45.12%) of dry land and 5.21 ha (54.88%) of irrigated land.  Semi medium farmers possess 9.97 ha (48.47%) of dry land and 10.6 ha (51.53%) of irrigated land.  Medium farmers possess 4.13 ha (100%) of dry land.  There were 8 functioning bore wells in the micro watershed.  Bore well was the major irrigation source in the micro water shed for 23.53 per cent of the farmers.  The major crops have grown maize (19.54 ha), paddy (12.87 ha), sunflower (2.63 ha), groundnut (1.21 ha) and bajra (0.81 ha).  The cropping intensity in Kinhalu Micro-watershed was found to be 93.82 per cent.  The sample households possessed 38.24 per cent of the households have bank account.  About 38.24 per cent of the households have availed credit from different sources.  The per hectare cost of cultivation for Maize, paddy groundnut, sunflower and Bajra was Rs. 29282.45, 58473.68, 34657.87, 28063.50, 16322.22, 81933.24 and 24536.53 with benefit cost ratio of 1:1.57, 1:1.44, 1:1.28, 1:1.14 and 1:1.59, respectively.  Further, 61.76 per cent of the households opined that dry fodder was adequate and 44.12 per cent of the households opined that green fodder was adequate. 3  The average annual gross income was Rs. 35,000 for marginal farmers, for small farmers it was Rs. 77,400, semi medium farmers it was Rs. 115,000 and medium farmers it was Rs. 100,000.  The average annual expenditure is Rs. 3,711.15. For marginal farmers it was Rs. 3,306.12, for small farmers it was Rs. 6,560, for semi medium farmers it was Rs. 2,494.21 and for medium farmers it was Rs. 10,000.  Sampled households have planted 8 coconut trees in their field to cultivate horticultural crops.  Households have planted 13 neem and 2 tamarind trees in their field to cultivate forest species.  Households have an average investment capacity of Rs. 3,235.29 for land development and Rs. 1,382.35 for improved crop production.  Source of funds for additional investment is concerned; loan from bank was the source of additional investment for 32.35 per cent for land development and improved crop production.  Regarding marketing channels, 29.41 per cent of the farmers sold their produce to agent/traders, 58.82 per cent of the farmers sold their produce to local/village merchant and 5.88 per cent of the farmers sold their produce to regulated market.  Further, 8.82 per cent of the households have used cart and 85.29 per cent of the households used tractor as a mode of transportation.  Majority of the households 52.94 per cent have incidence of soil and water erosion problems.  The household possess, (52.94 %) were interested towards soil testing.  The households possess, 2.5 per cent of the households used dung cake, 91.18 per cent of the households used fire wood, 5.88 per cent households used kerosene and 2.94 per cent of the household’s biogas as a source of fuel.  Piped supply was the major source of drinking water for 76.47 per cent, 20.59 per cent of the households used bore well and 2.94 per cent of the households used used lake/tank well in the micro watershed.  Electricity was the major source of light for 100 per cent of the households.  In the study area, 32.35 per cent of the households possess sanitary toilet facility.  Regarding possession of PDS card, 100 per cent of the households possessed BPL card.  Cereals were adequate for 100 per cent of the households, pulses were adequate for 91.18 per cent, oilseeds were adequate for 79.41 per cent, vegetables were adequate for 85.29 per cent, milk were adequate for 91.18 per cent and egg were adequate for 35.29 per cent and meat were adequate for 17.65 per cent of the households.  Cereals were inadequate for 2.94 per cent of the households, pulses were inadequate for 8.82 per cent, oilseed and vegetables were inadequate for 14.71 4 per cent, fruits were inadequate for 70.59 per cent, milk were inadequate for 8.82 per cent, egg were inadequate for 55.88 per cent and meat were inadequate for 70.59 per cent of the households.  Farming constraints experienced by households in the micro watersheds were lower fertility status of the soil was the constraint experienced by 55.88 per cent of the households, wild animal menace on farm field (61.76%), frequent incidence of pest and diseases (58.82%), Inadequacy of irrigation water (11.76 %), high cost of fertilizer and plant protection chemicals (50%), high rate of interest on credit (64.71%), Low price for the agricultural commodities (47.06%), lack of marketing facilities in the area (58.82%), inadequate extension service (5.88%), Lack of transport for safe transport of the Agril produce to the market (44.12%), less rainfall (32.35%) and Source of Agri-technology information (8.82%).