LAND RESOURCE INVENTORY AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS OF FARM HOUSEHOLDS FOR WATERSHED PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT RAGHUNATHANAHALLI WEST-1 (4D4A2M4b) MICRO WATERSHED Alavandi Hobli, Koppal Taluk and District, Karnataka

Abstract

The land resource inventory of Raghunathanahalli West-1 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 434 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 98 per cent is covered by soils and 2 per cent by water bodies, settlements and others. The salient findings from the land resource inventory are summarized briefly below  The soils belong to 12 soil series and 20 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 28 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 16 per cent is very shallow (<25 cm), 12 per cent is shallow (25-50 cm), 20 per cent moderately shallow (50-75 cm), 13 per cent moderately deep (75-100 cm) 30 per cent deep (100-150cm) and 6 per cent very deep soils (>150 cm).  Entire area in the microwatershed has clayey soils at the surface.  About 43 per cent of the area has non-gravelly (<15%) soils, 38 per cent gravelly (15-35%) soils and 6 percent has very gravelly (35-60%) soils.  With respect to available water capacity 16 per cent of the area has very low (<50mm/m), 32 per cent of the area has low (51-100 mm/m), 13 per cent of the area has medium (101-150 mm/m) and 36 per cent is very high (>200 mm/m).  An area of about 21 per cent has nearly level (0-1%) lands and 77 per cent very gently sloping (1-3%) lands.  An area of about 44 per cent is slightly eroded (e1) and 54 per cent is moderately eroded (e2) lands.  An area of about <1 per cent moderately alkaline (pH 7.8 to 8.4), 42 per cent strongly alkaline (pH 8.4 to 9.0) and 56 per cent very strongly alkaline (pH >9.0) soils.  The Electrical Conductivity (EC) of the soils are dominantly <2 dsm-1 indicating that soils are non saline.  Organic carbon is low (>0.5%) in 27 per cent, medium (0.5-0.75%) in 59 per cent and high (>0.75%) in 12 per cent area of the microwatershed.  Available phosphorus is low (<23 kg/ha) in 98 per cent and medium (23-57 kg/ha) in 1 of the soils.  Available potassium is medium (145-337 kg/ha) in 3 per cent and high (>337 kg/ha) in 95 per cent of the soils.  Available sulphur is low (<10 ppm) in 3 per cent, medium (10-20 ppm) in 56 per cent and high (>20 ppm) in 39 per cent area of the soils.  Available boron is low (<0.5 ppm) in 37 per cent and medium (0.5-1.0 ppm) in 61 per cent of the microwatershed.  Available iron is deficient in 84 per cent of the area and sufficient (>4.5 ppm) in 14 per cent of the area.  Available zinc is deficient (<0.6 ppm) in 83 per cent and sufficient (>0.6 ppm) in 15 per cent area of the microwatershed.  Available manganese and copper are sufficient in the entire area.  The land suitability for 28 major agricultural and horticultural crops grown in the microwatershed was assessed and the areas that are highly suitable (class S1) and moderately suitable (class 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 76(18) 228(52) Pomegranate - 216(50) Maize - 286(66) Guava - - Bajra - 245(57) Jackfruit - - Redgram - 195(45) Jamun - 157(36) Bengalgram 117(27) 174(40) Musambi 39(9) 178 (41) Groundnut - 13(3) Lime 39(9) 178 (41) Sunflower 39(9) 178(41) Cashew - - Cotton 117(27) 187(43) Custard apple 117(27) 187(43) Chilli - 13(3) Amla - 304(70) Tomato - 13(3) Tamarind - 157(36) Drumstick - 217(50) Marigold - 305(70) Mulberry - 185(42) Chrysanthemum - 305(70) Mango - 46(11) Jasmine - 107(25) Sapota - - Crossandra - 107(25) 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.  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 to these problematic soils like saline/alkali, highly eroded, sandy soils etc.,  Drainage line treatment and 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 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 Raghunathanahalli West-1 is located at North latitude 150 16’ 32.303” and 150 15’ 8.181” and East longitude 750 58’ 8.739'' and 750 56’ 48.64” covering an area of about 434.27 ha coming under Raghunathahalli, Gattareddyhala and Alavandi Villages of Koppal taluk.  Socio-economic analysis of Raghunathanahalli West-1 micro watersheds of Murlapura sub-watershed, Koppala taluk & District indicated that, out of the total sample of 38 farmers were sampled in Raghunathanahalli West-1 micro-watershed among households surveyed 18 (47.37%) were marginal, 12 (31.58%) were small, 1 (2.63 %) were semi medium, 1 (2.63 %) were medium and 1 (2.63 %) were large farmers. 5 landless farmers were also interviewed for the survey.  The population characteristics of households indicated that, there were 116 (64.80%) men and 63 (35.20 %) were women. The average population of landless was 5.6, marginal farmers were 4.8, small farmers were 4.2, semi medium farmers were 6, medium farmers were 4 and large farmers were 4.  Majority of the respondents (40.78%) were in the age group of 16-35 years.  Education level of the sample households indicated that, there were 29.05 per cent illiterates, 62.57 per cent pre university education and 9.50 per cent attained graduation.  About, 36.84 per cent of household heads practicing agriculture and 52.63 per cent of the household heads were engaged as agricultural labourers.  Agriculture was the major occupation for 26.26 per cent of the household members.  In the study area, 76.32 per cent of the households possess katcha house and 0.00 per cent possess pucca house.  The durable assets owned by the households showed that, 63.16 per cent possess TV, 5.26 per cent possess mixer grinder, 89.47 per cent possess mobile phones and 44.74 per cent possess motor cycles.  Farm implements owned by the households indicated that, 13.16 per cent of the households possess plough, 7.89 per cent possess tractor, 15.79 per cent possess bullock cart and 5.26 per cent possess sprayer.  Regarding livestock possession by the households, 28.95 per cent possess local cow and 5.26 per cent possess buffalo.  The average labour availability in the study area showed that, own labour men available in the micro watershed was 1.88, women available in the micro watershed was 1.24, hired labour (men) available was 1.88 and hired labour (women) available was 13.97.  Further, 7.89 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 92.98 per cent (53.40 ha) of the area is under dry condition and the remaining 4.74 per cent area is irrigated land.  There were 3.00 live bore wells and 1.00 dry bore wells among the sampled households.  Bore well was the major source of irrigation for 7.89 per cent of the households.  The major crops grown by sample farmers are Jowar, Bengal gram, Cotton, Sunflower and Groundnut and cropping intensity was recorded as 77.01 per cent.  Out of the sample households 81.58 percent possessed bank account and 5.26 per cent of them have savings in the account.  About 7.89 per cent of the respondents borrowed credit from various sources.  Among the credit borrowed by households, 66.67 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, 50.00 per cent of the households opined that credit helped to perform timely agricultural operations, while, only 6.25 per cent respondents opined that loan amount was adequate to fulfil their requirement.  The per hectare cost of cultivation for Jowar, Bengal gram, Cotton, Sunflower and Groundnut was Rs.38404.43 , 21560.79, 23755.52, 43797.85 and 67086.67 with benefit cost ratio of 1:1.00, 1: 1.40, 1: 2.10, 1: 1.60 and 1:1.10 respectively.  Further, 15.79 per cent of the households opined that dry fodder was adequate.  The average annual gross income of the farmers was Rs. 90576.32 in microwatershed, of which Rs. 70365.79 comes from agriculture.  Sampled households have grown 79 horticulture trees and 48 forestry trees together in the fields and back yards.  Households have an average investment capacity of Rs. 3052.63 for land development.  Source of funds for additional investment is concerned, 47.37 per cent depends on bank loan for land development activities.  Regarding marketing channels, 23.68 per cent of the households have sold agricultural produce to the local/village merchants, while, 65.79 per cent have sold in regulated markets.  Further, 81.58 per cent of the households have used tractor for the transport of agriculture commodity.  Majority of the farmers (47.37%) have experienced soil and water erosion problems in the watershed and 78.95 per cent of the households were interested towards soil testing.  Firewood was the major source of fuel for domestic use for 92.11 per cent of the households and 21.05 per cent households has LPG connection. 3  Piped supply was the major source for drinking water for 84.21 per cent of the households.  Electricity was the major source of light for 100.00 per cent of the households.  In the study area, 26.32 per cent of the households possess toilet facility.  Regarding possession of PDS card, 92.11 per cent of the households possessed BPL card, 2.63 per cent of the household’s possessed APL card and 5.26 per cent of the household’s were not having ration cards.  Households opined that, the requirement of cereals (44.74%), pulses (31.58%) and oilseeds (5.26%) are adequate for consumption.  Farming constraints experienced by households in the micro watersheds were lower fertility status of the soil (47.37%) wild animal menace on farm field (76.32%), frequent incidence of pest and diseases (65.79%), inadequacy of irrigation water (73.68%), high cost of fertilizers and plant protection chemicals (71.05%), high rate of interest on credit (60.53%), low price for the agricultural commodities (71.05%), lack of marketing facilities in the area (68.42%), inadequate extension services (63.16%) and lack of transport for safe transport of the agricultural produce to the market (42.11%).