LAND RESOURCE INVENTORY AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS OF FARM HOUSEHOLDS FOR WATERSHED PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT KOTAGEI-2 (4D5B1B2d) MICROWATERSHED Yadgir Taluk and District, Karnataka

Abstract

The land resource inventory of Kotageri-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 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 302 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 265 ha in the microwatershed is covered by soils and about 37 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 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 88 per cent is suitable for agriculture in the microwatershed.  About 5 per cent soils are moderately deep (75-100), whereas 6 per cent soils are moderately shallow (50-75 cm) and 76 per cent soils are shallow (25-50 cm) and very shallow (<25cm) in the microwatershed.  About 4 percent soils are sandy, 32 percent soils are loamy and 52 per cent is clayey soils at the surface.  An area of about 79 per cent is non gravelly (<15%) soils, about 8 per cent soils are gravelly (15-35%) in the microwatershed.  About <1 per cent soils are medium (101-150 mm/m) and 88 per cent soils are low (51-100 mm/m) and very low (<50mm/m) in available water capacity.  An area of about 84 per cent is very gently sloping (1-3% slope) lands and about 4 per cent is gently sloping (3-5% slope) lands.  An area of about 40 per cent is moderately (e2) eroded and about 48 per cent is severely (e3) eroded in the microwatershed.  Entire cultivated area in the microwatershed is neutral (pH 6.5-7.3), in soil reaction.  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 <1 per cent is high (>0.75%), 19 percent is medium (0.50-0.75%) and 69 percent is low (<0.50%) in organic carbon content.  An area of about 56 percent is medium (23-57 kg/ha) and 32 percent soils are high (>57 kg/ha) in available phosphorus.  An area of about 6 percent is low (<145 kg/ha) and about 81 percent is medium (145-337kg/ha) in available potassium.  Available sulphur is medium (10-20 ppm) in an area of about 62 percent and low (<10 ppm) in about 26 per cent of microwatershed.  Available boron content is medium (0.5-1.0 ppm) in an area of 15 per cent and about 73 per cent is low (<0.5 ppm) in available boron in the microwatershed.  Available iron content is sufficient (>4.5ppm) in the entire cultivated 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) covering a maximum area of 72 per cent and sufficient (>0.6 ppm) about15 per cent 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 <1(<1) 33(11) Guava - 15(5) Maize 15(5) 18(6) Sapota - 15(5) Bajra 15(5) 18(6) Pomegranate - 15(5) Groundnut 15(5) 18(6) Musambi - 15(5) Sunflower - 15(5) Lime - 15(5) Redgram - 15(5) Amla 15(5) 18(6) Bengal gram - - Cashew - <1(<1) Cotton - <1(<1) Jackfruit - 15(5) Chilli 15(5) 18(6) Jamun - - Tomato 15(5) 18(6) Custard apple 15(5) 18(6) Brinjal 15(5) 18(6) Tamarind - - Onion 15(5) 18(6) Mulberry - 15(5) Bhendi 15(5) 18(6) Marigold 15(5) 18(6) Drumstick - 15(5) Chrysanthemum 15(5) 18(6) 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, 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 Kotageri-2 is located at North latitude 160 54’ 2.29" and 160 52' 44.243" and East longitude 770 15’ 21.73'' and 770 13’ 47.096” covering an area of about 301.61 ha coming unde Kootagera, Gajarakota and Fatthepura Villages of Yadagiri taluk.  Socio-economic analysis of Kotageri-2 micro watersheds of Shivapur subwatershed, Yadgiri taluk & District indicated that, out of the total sample of 36 total respondents, 15 (41.67 %) were marginal, 10 (27.78%)were small, 5 (13.89 %) were Semi medium and 2 (5.56 %) were medium and 1 (2.78 %) were large farmers.  The population characteristics of households indicated that, there were 108 (54.82%) men and 89 (45.18 %) were women. The average population of landless was 4.7, marginal farmers were 4.7, small farmers were 6.3, semi medium farmers were 4.5 and medium farmers were 10.  Majority of the respondents (47.21%) were in the age group of 16-35 years.  Education level of the sample households indicated that, there were 37.06 per cent illiterates, 67.02 per cent pre university education and 5.08 per cent attained graduation.  About, 69.44 per cent of household heads practicing agriculture and 16.67 per cent of the household heads were engaged as agricultural labourers.  Agriculture was the major occupation for 46.19 per cent of the household members.  In the study area, 55.56 per cent of the households possess katcha house and 38.89 per cent possess pucca house.  The durable assets owned by the households showed that, 58.33 per cent possess TV, 2.78 per cent possess mixer grinder, 91.67 per cent possess mobile phones and 22.22 per cent possess motor cycles.  Farm implements owned by the households indicated that, 44.44 per cent of the households possess plough, 8.33 per cent possess tractor, 19.44 per cent possess bullock cart and 38.89 per cent possess sprayer.  Regarding livestock possession by the households, 25.00 per cent possess local cow and 19.44 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 1.56 and 2.06 each, while the hired labour (women) availability was 12.94 and the hired labour (men) availability was 8.57.  Further, 11.11 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 42.05 per cent (38.73 ha) of the area is under dry condition and the remaining 56.91 per cent area is irrigated land.  There were 11.00 live bore wells and 12.00 dry bore wells among the sampled households.  Bore well was the major source of irrigation for 30.56 per cent of the households.  The major crops grown by sample farmers are Red gram, Paddy, Green gram, Groundnut and Cotton and cropping intensity was recorded as 100.00 per cent.  Out of the sample households 94.44 percent possessed bank account and 41.67 per cent of them have savings in the account.  About 83.33 per cent of the respondents borrowed credit from various sources.  Among the credit borrowed by households, 22.22 per cent have borrowed loan from Cooperative bank , 100 per cent have borrowed loan from Grameena Bank, and 33.33 per cent have borrowed loan from money lender.  Majority of the respondents (92.86%) have borrowed loan for agriculture purpose.  Regarding the opinion on institutional sources of credit, 64.29 per cent of the households opined that credit helped to perform timely agricultural operations, while, only 7.14 per cent respondents opined that loan amount was adequate to fulfil their requirement.  The per hectare cost of cultivation for Red gram, Paddy, Green gram, Groundnut and Cotton was Rs.45496.44 , 93955.24, 54349.84, 45538.76 and 45070.85 with benefit cost ratio of 1:1.20, 1: 1.10, 1: 0.92, 1: 1.20 and 1:1.80 respectively.  Further, 41.67 per cent of the households opined that dry fodder was adequate .  The average annual gross income of the farmers was Rs. 137441.67 in microwatershed, of which Rs. 60461.11 comes from agriculture.  Sampled households have grown 10 horticulture trees and 12 forestry trees together in the fields and back yards.  Households have an average investment capacity of Rs. 2777.78 for land development and Rs. 4166.67 for irrigation facility.  Source of funds for additional investment is concerned, 2.78 per cent a Government subsidy for land development activities.  Regarding marketing channels, 44.44 per cent of the households have sold agricultural produce to the local/village merchants, while, 55.56 per cent have sold in regulated markets.  Further, 77.78 per cent of the households have used tractor for the transport of agriculture commodity.  Majority of the farmers (44.44%) have experienced soil and water erosion problems in the watershed and 83.33 per cent of the households were interested towards soil testing. 3  About, 92.89 per cent of farmers practicing summer ploughing as soil and water conservation practice.  Fire was the major source of fuel for domestic use for 47.22 per cent of the households and 50.00 per cent households has LPG connection.  Piped supply was the major source for drinking water for 86.11 per cent of the households.  Electricity was the major source of light for 100.00 per cent of the households.  In the study area, 41.67 per cent of the households possess toilet facility.  Regarding possession of PDS card, 91.67 per cent of the households possessed BPL card, 2.78 per cent of the household’s possessed APL card and 5.56 per cent of the household’s were not having ration cards.  Households opined that, the requirement of cereals (94.44%), pulses (83.33%) and oilseeds (63.89%) are adequate for consumption.  Farming constraints experienced by households in the micro watersheds were lower fertility status of the soil (75.00%) wild animal menace on farm field (66.67%), frequent incidence of pest and diseases (83.33%), inadequacy of irrigation water (61.11%), high cost of fertilizers and plant protection chemicals (88.89%), high rate of interest on credit (83.33%), low price for the agricultural commodities (83.33%), lack of marketing facilities in the area (63.89%), inadequate extension services (30.56%) and lack of transport for safe transport of the agricultural produce to the market (63.89%).