LAND RESOURCE INVENTORY AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS OF FARM HOUSEHOLDS FOR WATERSHED PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT SHIVAPUR (4D5B1B2a) MICROWATERSHED Gurumitkal Hobli, Yadgir Taluk and District, Karnataka

Abstract

The land resource inventory of Shivapur 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 331 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 313 ha in the microwatershed is covered by soils, about 18 ha by others (Habitation water body). The salient findings from the land resource inventory are summarized briefly below.  The soils belong to 6 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 about 314 ha (95%) in the microwatershed is suitable for agriculture.  About 14 per cent soils are moderately deep (75-100), whereas 13 per cent soils are moderately shallow (50 -75 cm), 69 per cent soils are Very shallow and shallow (<25 -50 cm) in the microwatershed.  About 6 per cent area in the microwatershed has sandy soils, 37 percent soils are loamy and 51 per cent clayey soils at the surface.  Maximum area of about 80 percent soils are non gravelly (<15%), about 14 percent soils are gravelly (15-35%) in the microwatershed.  About 7 percent soils are medium (51-100), 19 per cent soils are low (51-100 mm/m) and 68 per cent area is very low (<50 mm/m) available water capacity.  Entire cultivated area in the microwatershed has very gently sloping (1-3% slope) lands.  Entire cultivated area has moderately (e2) eroded in the microwatershed.  An area of about 83 per cent soil are neutral (pH 6.5-7.3) and 12 per cent soil are slightly alkaline (pH 7.3-7.8).soils.  The Electrical Conductivity (EC) of the soils in the entire cultivated area of the microwatershed is dominately <2 dsm-1 indicating that the soils are non-saline.  Entire cultivated area in the microwatershed has high (>0.75%) in organic carbon content.  An area of 77 percent is medium (23-57 kg/ha) and 18 percent soils are high (>57 kg/ha) in available phosphorus.  An area of about 92 percent is medium (145-337kg/ha) and 3 percent is low (<145kg/ha) in available potassium.  Available sulphur is medium (10-20ppm) in entire cultivated area of the microwatershed.  Available boron is low (<0.5 ppm) in an area of about 41 per cent and medium (0.5- 1.0 ppm) is about 53 per cent soils.  Available iron content is sufficient (>4.5ppm) in entire cultivated area of the microwatershed.  Available manganese and copper are sufficient in all the soils of microwatershed.  Available zinc is deficient (<0.6 ppm) in an area of about 6 per cent and sufficient (>0.6 ppm) which covers maximum area of about 88 percent 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 - 84(25) Sapota - 42(13) Maize - 84(25) Pomegranate - 42(13) Bajra - 84(25) Musambi - 42(13) Groundnut - 42(13) Lime - 42(13) Sunflower - 42(13) Amla - 84(25) Redgram - 42(13) Cashew - - Bengal gram - 64(19) Jackfruit - 42(13) Cotton - 64(19) Jamun - - Chilli - 84(25) Custard apple 42(13) 42(13) Tomato - 84(25) Tamarind - - Drumstick - 42(13) Mulberry - 42(13) Mango - - Marigold - 84(25) Guava - 42(13) Chrysanthemum - 84(25) Brinjal - 84(25) Bhendi 21(6) 64(19) Onion 21(6) 64(19)  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. The land resource inventory of Shivapur 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 331 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 313 ha in the microwatershed is covered by soils, about 18 ha by others (Habitation water body). The salient findings from the land resource inventory are summarized briefly below.  The soils belong to 6 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 about 314 ha (95%) in the microwatershed is suitable for agriculture.  About 14 per cent soils are moderately deep (75-100), whereas 13 per cent soils are moderately shallow (50 -75 cm), 69 per cent soils are Very shallow and shallow (<25 -50 cm) in the microwatershed.  About 6 per cent area in the microwatershed has sandy soils, 37 percent soils are loamy and 51 per cent clayey soils at the surface.  Maximum area of about 80 percent soils are non gravelly (<15%), about 14 percent soils are gravelly (15-35%) in the microwatershed.  About 7 percent soils are medium (51-100), 19 per cent soils are low (51-100 mm/m) and 68 per cent area is very low (<50 mm/m) available water capacity.  Entire cultivated area in the microwatershed has very gently sloping (1-3% slope) lands.  Entire cultivated area has moderately (e2) eroded in the microwatershed.  An area of about 83 per cent soil are neutral (pH 6.5-7.3) and 12 per cent soil are slightly alkaline (pH 7.3-7.8).soils.  The Electrical Conductivity (EC) of the soils in the entire cultivated area of the microwatershed is dominately <2 dsm-1 indicating that the soils are non-saline.  Entire cultivated area in the microwatershed has high (>0.75%) in organic carbon content.  An area of 77 percent is medium (23-57 kg/ha) and 18 percent soils are high (>57 kg/ha) in available phosphorus.  An area of about 92 percent is medium (145-337kg/ha) and 3 percent is low (<145kg/ha) in available potassium.  Available sulphur is medium (10-20ppm) in entire cultivated area of the microwatershed.  Available boron is low (<0.5 ppm) in an area of about 41 per cent and medium (0.5- 1.0 ppm) is about 53 per cent soils.  Available iron content is sufficient (>4.5ppm) in entire cultivated area of the microwatershed.  Available manganese and copper are sufficient in all the soils of microwatershed.  Available zinc is deficient (<0.6 ppm) in an area of about 6 per cent and sufficient (>0.6 ppm) which covers maximum area of about 88 percent 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 - 84(25) Sapota - 42(13) Maize - 84(25) Pomegranate - 42(13) Bajra - 84(25) Musambi - 42(13) Groundnut - 42(13) Lime - 42(13) Sunflower - 42(13) Amla - 84(25) Redgram - 42(13) Cashew - - Bengal gram - 64(19) Jackfruit - 42(13) Cotton - 64(19) Jamun - - Chilli - 84(25) Custard apple 42(13) 42(13) Tomato - 84(25) Tamarind - - Drumstick - 42(13) Mulberry - 42(13) Mango - - Marigold - 84(25) Guava - 42(13) Chrysanthemum - 84(25) Brinjal - 84(25) Bhendi 21(6) 64(19) Onion 21(6) 64(19)  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.The land resource inventory of Shivapur 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 331 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 313 ha in the microwatershed is covered by soils, about 18 ha by others (Habitation water body). The salient findings from the land resource inventory are summarized briefly below.  The soils belong to 6 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 about 314 ha (95%) in the microwatershed is suitable for agriculture.  About 14 per cent soils are moderately deep (75-100), whereas 13 per cent soils are moderately shallow (50 -75 cm), 69 per cent soils are Very shallow and shallow (<25 -50 cm) in the microwatershed.  About 6 per cent area in the microwatershed has sandy soils, 37 percent soils are loamy and 51 per cent clayey soils at the surface.  Maximum area of about 80 percent soils are non gravelly (<15%), about 14 percent soils are gravelly (15-35%) in the microwatershed.  About 7 percent soils are medium (51-100), 19 per cent soils are low (51-100 mm/m) and 68 per cent area is very low (<50 mm/m) available water capacity.  Entire cultivated area in the microwatershed has very gently sloping (1-3% slope) lands.  Entire cultivated area has moderately (e2) eroded in the microwatershed.  An area of about 83 per cent soil are neutral (pH 6.5-7.3) and 12 per cent soil are slightly alkaline (pH 7.3-7.8).soils.  The Electrical Conductivity (EC) of the soils in the entire cultivated area of the microwatershed is dominately <2 dsm-1 indicating that the soils are non-saline.  Entire cultivated area in the microwatershed has high (>0.75%) in organic carbon content.  An area of 77 percent is medium (23-57 kg/ha) and 18 percent soils are high (>57 kg/ha) in available phosphorus.  An area of about 92 percent is medium (145-337kg/ha) and 3 percent is low (<145kg/ha) in available potassium.  Available sulphur is medium (10-20ppm) in entire cultivated area of the microwatershed.  Available boron is low (<0.5 ppm) in an area of about 41 per cent and medium (0.5- 1.0 ppm) is about 53 per cent soils.  Available iron content is sufficient (>4.5ppm) in entire cultivated area of the microwatershed.  Available manganese and copper are sufficient in all the soils of microwatershed.  Available zinc is deficient (<0.6 ppm) in an area of about 6 per cent and sufficient (>0.6 ppm) which covers maximum area of about 88 percent 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 - 84(25) Sapota - 42(13) Maize - 84(25) Pomegranate - 42(13) Bajra - 84(25) Musambi - 42(13) Groundnut - 42(13) Lime - 42(13) Sunflower - 42(13) Amla - 84(25) Redgram - 42(13) Cashew - - Bengal gram - 64(19) Jackfruit - 42(13) Cotton - 64(19) Jamun - - Chilli - 84(25) Custard apple 42(13) 42(13) Tomato - 84(25) Tamarind - - Drumstick - 42(13) Mulberry - 42(13) Mango - - Marigold - 84(25) Guava - 42(13) Chrysanthemum - 84(25) Brinjal - 84(25) Bhendi 21(6) 64(19) Onion 21(6) 64(19)  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.The land resource inventory of Shivapur 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 331 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 313 ha in the microwatershed is covered by soils, about 18 ha by others (Habitation water body). The salient findings from the land resource inventory are summarized briefly below.  The soils belong to 6 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 about 314 ha (95%) in the microwatershed is suitable for agriculture.  About 14 per cent soils are moderately deep (75-100), whereas 13 per cent soils are moderately shallow (50 -75 cm), 69 per cent soils are Very shallow and shallow (<25 -50 cm) in the microwatershed.  About 6 per cent area in the microwatershed has sandy soils, 37 percent soils are loamy and 51 per cent clayey soils at the surface.  Maximum area of about 80 percent soils are non gravelly (<15%), about 14 percent soils are gravelly (15-35%) in the microwatershed.  About 7 percent soils are medium (51-100), 19 per cent soils are low (51-100 mm/m) and 68 per cent area is very low (<50 mm/m) available water capacity.  Entire cultivated area in the microwatershed has very gently sloping (1-3% slope) lands.  Entire cultivated area has moderately (e2) eroded in the microwatershed.  An area of about 83 per cent soil are neutral (pH 6.5-7.3) and 12 per cent soil are slightly alkaline (pH 7.3-7.8).soils.  The Electrical Conductivity (EC) of the soils in the entire cultivated area of the microwatershed is dominately <2 dsm-1 indicating that the soils are non-saline.  Entire cultivated area in the microwatershed has high (>0.75%) in organic carbon content.  An area of 77 percent is medium (23-57 kg/ha) and 18 percent soils are high (>57 kg/ha) in available phosphorus.  An area of about 92 percent is medium (145-337kg/ha) and 3 percent is low (<145kg/ha) in available potassium.  Available sulphur is medium (10-20ppm) in entire cultivated area of the microwatershed.  Available boron is low (<0.5 ppm) in an area of about 41 per cent and medium (0.5- 1.0 ppm) is about 53 per cent soils.  Available iron content is sufficient (>4.5ppm) in entire cultivated area of the microwatershed.  Available manganese and copper are sufficient in all the soils of microwatershed.  Available zinc is deficient (<0.6 ppm) in an area of about 6 per cent and sufficient (>0.6 ppm) which covers maximum area of about 88 percent 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 - 84(25) Sapota - 42(13) Maize - 84(25) Pomegranate - 42(13) Bajra - 84(25) Musambi - 42(13) Groundnut - 42(13) Lime - 42(13) Sunflower - 42(13) Amla - 84(25) Redgram - 42(13) Cashew - - Bengal gram - 64(19) Jackfruit - 42(13) Cotton - 64(19) Jamun - - Chilli - 84(25) Custard apple 42(13) 42(13) Tomato - 84(25) Tamarind - - Drumstick - 42(13) Mulberry - 42(13) Mango - - Marigold - 84(25) Guava - 42(13) Chrysanthemum - 84(25) Brinjal - 84(25) Bhendi 21(6) 64(19) Onion 21(6) 64(19)  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 Shivapur is located at North latitude 160 52’ 42.322” and 160 52’ 0.419” and East longitude 770 18’ 44.615” and 770 16’ 46.186” covering an area of about 331.92 ha coming under Gajarakota, Yadhalapura and KamalanagaraVillages of Yadagiri taluk.  Socio-economic analysis of Shivapur micro watersheds of Shivapur sub-watershed, Yadagiri taluk, Yadagiri District indicated that, out of the total sample of 35 total respondents, 20 were marginal, (57.14 %) were small 7 (20.00%), 2 (5.71 %) were Semi medium and 1 (2.86 %) were medium farmers.  The population characteristics of households indicated that, there were 103 (51.76%) men and 96 (48.24 %) were women.  Majority of the respondents (42.21%) were in the age group of 16-35 years.  Education level of the sample households indicated that, there were 55.28 per cent illiterates, 5.03 percent pre university education and 2.01 per cent attained graduation.  About, 94.29 per cent of household heads practicing agriculture and 5.71 per cent of the household heads were engaged as agricultural labourers.  Agriculture was the major occupation for 16.58 per cent of the household members.  In the study area, 85.71 per cent of the households possess katcha house and 8.57 per cent possess pucca house.  The durable assets owned by the households showed that, 34.29 per cent possess TV, 2.86 per cent possess mixer grinder, 94.29 per cent possess mobile phones and 22.86 per cent possess motor cycles.  Farm implements owned by the households indicated that, 60.00 per cent of the households possess plough, 22.86 per cent possess bullock cart and 22.86 per cent possess sprayer.  Regarding livestock possession by the households, 40.00 per cent possess local cow and 11.43 per cent possess buffalo.  The average labour availability in the study area showed that, own men and women labour availability in the micro watershed was 11.22 each, while the hired labour (men) availability was 1.80.  Further, 100.00 per cent of the households opined that hired labour was inadequate during the agricultural season.  Out of the total land holding of the sample respondents 70.28 per cent (25.85 ha) of the area is under dry condition and the remaining 29.72 per cent area is irrigated land.  There were 5.00 live bore wells and 5.00 dry bore wells among the sampled households. 2  The major crops grown by sample farmers are Redgram, Groundnut, Paddy, Sorghum and Green gram and cropping intensity was recorded as 93.85 per cent.  Out of the sample households 80.00 percent possessed bank account and 80.00 per cent of them have savings in the account.  About 31.43 per cent of the respondents borrowed credit from various sources.  Among the credit borrowed by households, 10.71 per cent from cooperative/ Grameena bank and 3.75 per cent have borrowed loan from money lender.  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 Redgram, Groundnut, Paddy, Sorghum and Green gram was Rs.42150.68 , 50063.72, 50295.71, 19528.45 and 35647.53 with benefit cost ratio of 1:1.1, 1:1.6, 1:1.1, 1:1.6 , and 1:1.4 respectively.  Further, 68.57 per cent of the households opined that dry fodder was adequate.  The average annual gross income of the farmers was Rs. 105021.71 in microwatershed, of which Rs. 38542.86 comes from agriculture.  Sampled households have grown 49 horticulture trees and 58 forestry trees together in the fields and back yards.  Households have an average investment capacity of Rs. 15142.86 for land development and Rs. 17571.43 for irrigation facility.  Source of funds for additional investment is concerned, 8.57 per cent depends on own funds and 11.43 per cent depends on bank loan for land development activities.  Regarding marketing channels, 17.14 per cent of the households have sold agricultural produce to the local/village merchants, while, 74.29 per cent have sold in regulated markets.  Further, 91.43 per cent of the households have used tractor for the transport of agriculture commodity.  Majority of the farmers (88.57 %) have experienced soil and water erosion problems in the watershed and 85.71 per cent of the households were interested towards soil testing.  Fire was the major source of fuel for domestic use for 85.71 per cent of the households and 14.29 per cent households has LPG connection.  Piped supply was the major source for drinking water for 74.29 per cent of the households.  Electricity was the major source of light for 100.00 per cent of the households.  In the study area, 77.14 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 (91.43%) and oilseeds (25.71%) are adequate for consumption. 3  Farming constraints experienced by households in the micro watersheds were lower fertility status of the soil (88.57%) wild animal menace on farm field (88.57%), frequent incidence of pest and diseases (37.14%), inadequacy of irrigation water (17.14%), high cost of fertilizers and plant protection chemicals (22.86%), high rate of interest on credit (8.57%), low price for the agricultural commodities (20.00%), lack of marketing facilities in the area (11.43%), inadequate extension services (8.57%), lack of transport for safe transport of the agricultural produce to the market (22.86%), Less rainfall (31.43%) and Source of Agri-technology information (Newspaper/ TV/Mobile) (48.57%).