LAND RESOURCE INVENTORY AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS OF FARM HOUSEHOLDS FOR WATERSHED PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT BELUR-3 (4D3A2R2d) MICRO WATERSHED Koppal Taluk and District, Karnataka

Abstract

The land resource inventory of Belur-3 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 773 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 74 per cent is covered by soil and 26 per cent is by habitation and settlements. The salient findings from the land resource inventory are summarized briefly below.  The soils belong to 11 soil series and 17 soil phases (management units) and 5 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.  An area of about 74 per cent is suitable for agriculture.  About 17 per cent of the soils are shallow (25-50 cm), 46 per cent of the soils are moderately deep to deep (75-150 cm) and 11 per cent soils are very deep (>150 cm).  About 3 per cent area in the microwatershed has loamy soils and 71 per cent clayey soils at the surface.  About 53 per cent area has non-gravelly (<15% gravel) soils and 21 per cent has gravelly to very gravelly (15-60% gravel) soils.  About 44 per cent area is very low to low (<50-100 mm/m), 15 per cent area is medium (101-150 mm/m) and 15 per cent area is very high (>200 mm/m) in available water capacity.  About 14 per cent area of the microwatershed has nearly level (0-1% slope) lands and 60 per cent area of the microwatershed has very gently sloping (1-3% slope) lands.  An area of about 59 per cent area is moderately (e2) eroded and about 15 per cent area is slightly (e1) eroded.  Entire cultivated area of the soils in the microwatershed are slightly alkaline to strongly alkaline (pH 7.3-9.0) 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.  Organic carbon is low (0.5%) in 3 per cent area, medium (0.5-0.75%) in 67 per cent area and high (>0.75%) in 5 per cent area.  An area of about 17 per cent is medium (23-57 kg/ha) and 57 per cent is high (>57 kg/ha) in available phosphorus.  An area of about 23 per cent is medium (145-337 kg/ha) and 51 per cent is high (>337 kg/ha) in available potassium.  Available sulphur is low (<10 ppm) in the entire cultivated area of the microwatershed.  Entire cultivated area of the microwatershed is low (<0.5ppm) in available boron content.  An area of about 9 per cent is sufficient (>4.5 ppm) and 65 per cent is deficient (<4.5 ppm) in available iron content.  Entire cultivated area of the microwatershed is sufficient (>1.0 ppm) in available manganese content.  Entire cultivated area of the microwatershed is sufficient (>0.2 ppm) in available copper content.  Entire cultivated area of the microwatershed is deficient (<0.6 ppm) in available zinc content.  The land suitability for 31 major crops grown in the microwatershed was 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 169(22) 118(15) Sapota 56(7) 92(12) Maize 56(7) 231(30) Pomegranate 56(7) 307(40) Bajra 72(9) 275(36) Guava - 148(19) Groundnut - 227(29) Jackfruit 56(7) 92(12) Sunflower 102(13) 185(24) Jamun 56(7) 206(27) Cotton 169(22) 118(15) Musambi 102(13) 261(34) Red gram 56(7) 226(29) Lime 102(13) 261(34) Bengalgram 113(15) 174(23) Cashew - 148(19) Chilli 56(7) 16(2) Custard apple 185(24) 257(33) Tomato 56(7) 16(2) Amla 72(9) 370(48) Brinjal 16(2) 350(45) Tamarind 56(7) 130(17) Onion - 151(20) Marigold 56(7) 231(30) Bhendi - 367(47) Chrysanthemum 56(7) 231(30) Drumstick 72(9) 294(38) Jasmine 56(7) 16(2) Mulberry 72(9) 286(37) Crossandra 56(7) 37(5) Mango 56(7) 16(2)  Apart from the individual crop suitability, a proposed crop plan has been prepared for the 5 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.  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 Belur-3 is located at North latitude 150 14’ 19.625” and 150 12’ 17.551” and East longitude 760 8’ 41.954'' and 760 6’ 2.989” covering an area of about 772.99 ha coming under Gudlanura and Akkapura villages of Koppal taluk.  Socio-economic analysis of Belur-3 micro watersheds of Katarki subwatershed, Koppal taluk & District indicated that, out of the total sample of 35 total respondents, 12 (34.29 %) were marginal, 8 (22.86%) were small, 9 (25.71 %) were Semi medium and 1 (2.86 %) were medium farmers.  The population characteristics of households indicated that, there were 93 (59.62%) men and 63 (40.38 %) were women. The average population of landless was 4.4, marginal farmers were 4.8, small farmers were 4.3, semi medium farmers were 4.1 and medium farmers were 5.  Majority of the respondents (48.08%) were in the age group of 16-35 years.  Education level of the sample households indicated that, there were 27.56 per cent illiterates, 26.28 per cent of them had primary school education, 7.69 per cent middle school education and 14.10 per cent high school education, 14.10 per cent of them had PUC education, 0.64 per cent of them had Diploma, 4.49 per cent attained graduation and 5.13 them had other education.  About, 85.71 per cent of household heads practicing agriculture and 14.29 per cent of the household heads were engaged as agricultural labourers.  Agriculture was the major occupation for 19.87 per cent of the household members.  In the study area, 85.71 per cent of the households possess katcha house and 11.43 per cent possess pucca house.  The durable assets owned by the households showed that, 71.43 per cent possess TV, 5.71 per cent possess mixer grinder, 91.43 per cent possess mobile phones and 42.86 per cent possess motor cycles.  Farm implements owned by the households indicated that, 8.57 per cent of the households possess plough, 2.86 per cent possess tractor, 20.00 per cent possess bullock cart and 2.86 per cent possess sprayer.  Regarding livestock possession by the households, 22.86 per cent possess local cow and 11.43 per cent possess buffalo.  The average labour availability in the study area showed that, own labour men available in the micro watershed was 1.92, women available in the micro watershed was 1.20, hired labour (men) available was 13.22 and hired labour (women) available was 13.43.  Further, 102.86 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 76.16 per cent (42.76 ha) of the area is under dry condition and the remaining 23.84 per cent area is irrigated land.  There were 11.00 live bore wells and 8.00 dry bore wells among the sampled households.  Bore well was the major source of irrigation for 34.29 per cent of the households.  The major crops grown by sample farmers are Maize, Onion, Cotton, Groundnut and Sorghum and cropping intensity was recorded as 91.62 per cent.  Out of the sample households 85.71 percent possessed bank account and 85.71 per cent of them have savings in the account.  About 85.71 per cent of the respondents borrowed credit from various sources.  Among the credit borrowed by households, 10.00 per cent have borrowed loan from commercial banks.  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.  Per hectare cost of cultivation for Maize, Onion, Cotton, Groundnut and Sorghum was Rs.27331.63 , 35492.45, 23968.40, 51700.52, and 114699.18 with benefit cost ratio of 1:1.30, 1: 3.20, 1: 2.10, 1: 2.70, and 1:1.00 , respectively.  Further, 31.43 per cent of the households opined that dry fodder was adequate and 2.86 per cent of the households have opined that the green fodder was adequate.  The average annual gross income of the farmers was Rs. 91371.43 in microwatershed, of which Rs. 73657.14 comes from agriculture.  Sampled households have grown 133 horticulture trees and 125 forestry trees together in the fields and back yards.  Households have an average investment capacity of Rs. 800.00 for land development.  Source of funds for additional investment is concerned, 5.71 per cent depends on own funds and 2.86 per cent depends on bank loan for land development activities.  Regarding marketing channels, 5.71 per cent of the households have sold agricultural produce to the local/village merchants, while, 80.00 per cent have sold in regulated markets.  Further, 85.71 per cent of the households have used tractor for the transport of agriculture commodity. 3  Majority of the farmers (85.71%) have experienced soil and water erosion problems in the watershed and 85.71 per cent of the households were interested towards soil testing.  Fire wood was the major source of fuel for domestic use for 100.00 per cent of the households.  Piped supply was the major source for drinking water for 97.14 per cent of the households.  Electricity was the major source of light for 100.00 per cent of the households.  In the study area, 100.00 per cent of the households possess toilet facility.  Regarding possession of PDS card, 97.14 per cent of the households possessed BPL card and 2.86 per cent of the household’s possessed APL card.  Households opined that, the requirement of cereals (91.43%), pulses (88.57%) and oilseeds (25.71%) are adequate for consumption.  Farming constraints experienced by households in the micro watersheds were lower fertility status of the soil (88.57%) wild animal menace on farm field (74.29%), frequent incidence of pest and diseases (48.57%), inadequacy of irrigation water (25.71%), high cost of fertilizers and plant protection chemicals (20.00%), high rate of interest on credit (8.57%), low price for the agricultural commodities (40.00%), lack of marketing facilities in the area (11.43%), inadequate extension services (5.71%), lack of transport for safe transport of the agricultural produce to the market (40.00%), Less rainfall (54.29%) and Source of Agri-technology information (Newspaper/ TV/Mobile) (40.00%).