LAND RESOURCE INVENTORY AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS OF FARM HOUSEHOLDS FOR WATERSHED PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT PIRLAGAR-2 (4D5B1F1b) MICROWATERSHED Gurumitkal Hobli, Yadgir Taluk and District, Karnataka

Abstract

The land resource inventory of Pirlagar-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 475 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 384 ha in the microwatershed is covered by soils, 36 ha by forest, 44 ha by rock outcrops and 10 ha by others (habitation and water body). The salient findings from the land resource inventory are summarized briefly below.  The soils belong to 9 soil series and 12 soil phases (management units) and 6 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.  About 384 ha area in the microwatershed is suitable for agriculture.  About 21 per cent area is very shallow (<25 cm), 32 per cent area is shallow (25- 50 cm), 9 per cent area is moderately shallow (50-75 cm), 1 per cent area is moderately deep (75-100 cm) and 18 per cent area of the microwatershed has soils that are deep (100-150 cm).  About 26 per cent area in the microwatershed has sandy soils, 52 per cent loamy soils and 3 per cent clayey soils at the surface.  About 70 per cent area in the microwatershed is gravelly (15-35%) and 11 per cent is non gravelly (<15%).  About 60 per cent is very low (<50 mm/m) in available water capacity, 13 per cent is low (51-100 mm/m), 1 per cent is medium (101-150 mm/m) and 6 per cent is very high (>200 mm/m).  About 58 per cent area in the microwatershed has very gently sloping (1-3% slope), 6 per cent has nearly level (0-1%) lands and 17 per cent has gently sloping (3-5% slope) lands.  An area of about 6 per cent is slightly eroded (e1), 69 per cent is moderately (e2) eroded and 6 per cent area is severely (e3) eroded.  An area of about 46 per cent is slightly acid (pH 6.0-6.5) in soil reaction and 35 per cent area is neutral (pH 6.5-7.3).  The Electrical Conductivity (EC) of the entire soils of the microwatershed is dominantly <2 dsm-1indicating that the soils are non-saline.  Entire cultivated area of 81 per cent of the soils are high (>0.75%) in organic carbon content.  An area of about 75 per cent is medium (23-57 kg/ha) in available phosphorus and 6 per cent area is low (<23 kg/ha) in the microwatershed.  About 27 per cent is low (<145 kg/ha) in available potassium and 54 per cent is medium (145-337 kg/ha) in the microwatershed.  Available sulphur is medium (10-20 ppm) in the entire area of the microwatershed.  Available boron is low (<0.5 ppm) in an area of about 8 per cent and medium (0.5-1.0 ppm) in 73 per cent area of the microwatershed.  Available iron is sufficient (>4.5 ppm) in the entire cultivated area of the microwatershed.  Available manganese and copper are sufficient in all the cultivated soils of the microwatershed.  Available zinc is deficient (<0.6 ppm) in an area of 13 per cent and sufficient (>0.6 ppm) in 68 per cent of cultivated area 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 30 (6) 9 (2) Guava - - Maize - 39 (8) Sapota - - Bajra - 39 (8) Pomegranate - 30 (6) Groundnut - - Musambi 30 (6) - Sunflower 30 (6) - Lime 30 (6) - Redgram - 30 (6) Amla - 39 (8) Bengal gram 30 (6) 9 (2) Cashew - - Cotton 30 (6) 9 (2) Jackfruit - - Chilli - 39 (8) Jamun - 30 (6) Tomato - 39 (8) Custard apple 30 (6) 9 (2) Brinjal 30 (6) 9 (2) Tamarind - 30 (6) Onion 30 (6) 9 (2) Mulberry - - Bhendi 30 (6) 9 (2) Marigold - 39 (8) Drumstick - 30 (6) Chrysanthemum - 39 (8) Mango - 30 (6)  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, 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. This would help in not only supplementing the farm income but also provide fodder and fuel and generate lot of biomass which would help in maintaining an ecological balance and also contribute to mitigating the climate change. SALIENT FINDINGS OF THE SURVEY  The data indicated that there were 94 (56.29%) men and 73 (43.71%) women among the sampled households.  The average family size of landless farmers’ was 4.8, marginal farmers’ was 4.7, small farmers’ was 4 and semi medium farmers’ was 5.  The data indicated that, 40 (23.95%) people were in 0-15 years of age, 63 (37.72%) were in 16-35 years of age, 46 (27.54%) were in 36-60 years of age and 18 (10.78%) were above 61 years of age.  The results indicated that Pirlagar-2 had 50.9 per cent illiterates, 16.77 per cent of them had primary school, 7.78 per cent of them had Middle school, 11.98 per cent of them had high school, 5.39 per cent of them had PUC education, 0.6 per cent of them had diploma education, 1.20 per cent of them had ITI and 2.99 per cent of them had degree education.  The results indicate that, 72.73 per cent of household heads were practicing agriculture, 18.18 per cent of the household heads were agricultural labourers and 6.06 cent of the household heads was general labour and trade and business.  The results indicate that agriculture was the major occupation for 51.50 per cent of the household members, 11.98 per cent were agricultural labourers, 2.40 per cent were general labour, trade and business, housewives and children, 0.60 per cent were private service and 26.35 per cent student.  The results show that, 1.20 per cent of the population has participated in gram panchayat and 98.8 per cent of the population in the micro watershed has not participated in any local institutions.  The results indicate that 3.03 per cent of the households possess thatched, 69.7 per cent of the households possess katcha house and 27.27 per cent of the households possess pucca/RCC house.  The results show that 75.76 per cent of the households possess TV, 3.03 per cent of the households possess mixer/grinder and auto, 6.06 per cent of the households possess refrigerator, 12.12 per cent of the households possess bicycle, 27.27 per cent of the households possess motor cycle and 81.82 per cent of the households possess mobile phones.  The results show that the average value of television was Rs. 6,840, mixer/grinder was Rs. 600, refrigerator was Rs. 8,000, bicycle was Rs. 1,612, motor cycle was Rs. 45,777, auto was Rs. 80,000 and mobile phone was Rs. 3,230.  About 3.03 per cent each of the households possess bullock cart and power tiller, 36.36 per cent each of the households possess plough, 24.24 per cent of the households possess seed/fertilizer drill, 6.06 per cent of the households possess tractor, 27.27 per cent of the households possess sprayer and 9.09 per cent of the households possess weeder. 2  The results show that the average value of bullock cart was Rs. 25,000, plough was Rs. 6,366, seed/fertilizer drill was Rs. 4,650, power tiller was Rs. 100,000, Tractor was RS. 600,000, sprayer was Rs. 3,188 and the average value of weeder was Rs. 231.  The results indicate that, 39.39 per cent of the households possess bullocks, 12.12 per cent of the households possess local cow, 6.06 per cent of the households possess crossbreed cow and 15.15 per cent of the households possess buffalo.  The results indicate that, average own labour men available in the micro watershed was 1.97, average own labour (women) available was 1.31, average hired labour (men) available was 6.77 and average hired labour (women) available was 6.94.  The results indicate that, 84.85 per cent of the households opined that the hired labour was adequate.  The results indicate that, households of the Pirlagar-2 micro-watershed possess 18.35 ha (75.77%) of dry land and 5.87 ha (24.23%) of irrigated land. Marginal farmers possess 8.05 ha (85.03%) of dry land and 1.42 ha (14.97%) of irrigated land. Small farmers possess 10.31 ha (92.72%) of dry land and 0.81 ha (7.28%) of irrigated land. Semi medium farmers possess 3.64 ha (100%) of irrigated land.  The results indicate that, the average value of dry land was Rs. 562,081.59 and the average value of irrigated land was Rs. 800,620.69. In case of marginal famers, the average land value was Rs. 735,533.20 for dry land and the average land value was Rs. 1,270,285.71. In case of small famers, the average land value was Rs. 426,698.08 for dry land and the average land value was Rs. 617,500 for irrigated land. In case of semi medium famers, the average land value was Rs. 658,666.67 for irrigated land.  The results indicate that, there were 4 functioning bore wells in the micro watershed.  The results indicate that, there were 2 functioning bore wells in the micro watershed.  The results indicate that, 12.12 per cent of the farmers used bore well was the major irrigation source and 6.06 per cent of the farmers used canal and open well was the source of irrigation source in the micro watershed.  The results indicate that, the depth of bore well was found to be 3.23 meters and the depth of open well was found to be 0.28 meters.  The results indicate that, marginal and small farmers, semi medium farmers had an irrigated area of 0.81 ha and 2.43 ha respectively.  The results indicate that, farmers have grown cotton (1.21%), paddy (2.23 ha), red gram (17.97 ha), groundnut (0.42 ha) and jowar (2.20 ha). Marginal farmers have grown paddy, red gram, groundnut and jowar. Small farmers have grown jowar and red gram. Semi medium farmers have grown cotton, paddy and red gram.  The results indicate that, the cropping intensity in Pirlagar-2 micro-watershed was found to be 100 per cent. 3  The results indicate that, 96.97 per cent of the households have bank account and 45.45 per cent have savings.  The results indicate that, 45.45 per cent of the households have availed credit from different sources.  The results indicate that, 11.11 per cent of the households have borrowed from commercial bank, friends/relatives and money lender and 55.56 per cent of the households have borrowed from grameena bank.  The results indicate that, the average credit amount borrowed by households in micro-watershed was Rs, 38,333.33.  The results indicate that, 100 per cent of the households borrowed from institutional sources for the purpose of agricultural production.  The results indicated that 33.33 per cent of the households partially their loan borrowed from institutional sources and 66.67 per cent of the households do not repay their loan from institutional sources.  The results indicated that 100 per cent of the households not paid their loan borrowed from institutional sources.  The results indicate that, 83.33 per cent opined that the loan amount borrowed from helped to perform timely agricultural operations.  The results indicate that, 50 per cent opined that the loan amount borrowed from easy accessibility of credit and helped to perform timely agricultural operations.  The results indicate that, the total cost of cultivation for Cotton was Rs. 44145.97. The gross income realized by the farmers was Rs. 79698.67. The net income from Cotton cultivation was Rs. 35552.69. Thus the benefit cost ratio was found to be 1:1.81.  The total cost of cultivation for paddy was Rs. 86832.53. The gross income realized by the farmers was Rs. 128476.59. The net income from paddy cultivation was Rs. 41644.06. Thus the benefit cost ratio was found to be 1:1.48.  The total cost of cultivation for Red gram was Rs. 38460.29. The gross income realized by the farmers was Rs. 80776.91. The net income from Red gram cultivation was Rs. 42316.62. Thus the benefit cost ratio was found to be 1:2.1.  The total cost of cultivation for groundnut was Rs. 68999.14. The gross income realized by the farmers was Rs. 62349.52. The net income from groundnut cultivation was Rs. -6649.63. Thus the benefit cost ratio was found to be 1:0.9.  The total cost of cultivation for jowar was Rs. 37039.41. The gross income realized by the farmers was Rs. 44208.76. The net income from jowar cultivation was Rs. 7169.35. Thus the benefit cost ratio was found to be 1:1.19.  The results indicate that, 63.64 per cent of the households opined that dry fodder was adequate. 4  The results indicate that the annual gross income was Rs. 51,800 for landless farmers, for marginal farmers it was Rs. 116,347.06, for small farmers it was Rs. 126,137.50 and semi medium farmers it was Rs. 175,666.67.  The results indicate that the average annual expenditure is Rs. 7,450.19. For landless farmers it was Rs. 6,640, marginal farmers it was Rs. 4,080.98, for small farmers it was Rs. 7,368.30 and for semi medium farmers it was Rs. 28,111.11.  The results indicate that, households have planted 1 coconut, 7 custard apple and 11 mandarin and 2 custard apple trees in their field.  The results indicate that, households have planted 7 eucalyptus, 3 teak, 29 neem and 10 tamarind trees in their field and also 3 neem trees in their backyard.  The results indicated that, households have an average investment capacity of Rs. 200 for land development, households have an average investment capacity of Rs.11,515.15 for irrigation facility, households have an average investment capacity of Rs.606.06 for improved crop production and households have an average investment capacity of Rs. 5,454.55 for improved livestock management.  The results indicated that Government subsidy was the source of additional investment for 3.03 per cent for land development and irrigation facility. Loan from bank was the source of additional investment for 15.15 per cent for land development, 18.18 per cent for irrigation facility and 9.09 per cent for improved livestock management. Own funds was the source of additional investment for 6.06 per cent for land development. Soft loan was the source of additional investment for 3.03 per cent for land development, improved crop production and improved livestock management.  The results indicated that, cotton was sold to the extent of 100 per cent, groundnut was sold to the extent of 80, jowar was sold to the extent of 82.61 per cent, red gram was sold to the extent of 88.48 per cent and paddy was sold to the extent of 92.63 per cent.  The results indicated that, about 57.58 per cent of the farmers sold their produce to local/village merchant and 21.21 per cent of the farmers sold their produce to regulated market.  The results indicated that, 51.52 per cent of the households have used tractor and 27.27 per cent of the households used truck as a mode of transportation.  The results indicated that, 36.36 per cent of the households have experienced soil and water erosion problems in the farm.  The results indicated that, 81.82 per cent have shown interest in soil test.  The results indicated that, 3.03 per cent of the population adopted field bunding and farm pond and 6.06 per cent of the population adopted graded bund.  The results indicated that, condition of farm bond, field bunding and graded bund was 100 per cent good. 5  The results indicated that, 51.52 per cent of the households used fire wood and 48.48 per cent of the households used LPG as a source of fuel.  The results indicated that, piped supply was the major source of drinking water for 63.64 per cent in the micro watershed.  Electricity was the major source of light for 100 per cent of the households in micro watershed.  The results indicated that, 42.42 per cent of the households possess sanitary toilet facility.  The results indicated that, 3.03 per cent of the households’ possessed APL cards, 93.94 per cent of the sampled households possessed BPL cards and 3.03 per cent of the households does not possessed PDS card.  The results indicated that, 87.5 per cent of the households participated in NREGA programme.  The results indicated that, cereals and pulse were adequate for 84.85 per cent of the households, oilseed were adequate for 33.33 per cent, vegetables were adequate for 30.30 per cent, fruits were adequate for 15.15 per cent, milk were adequate for 24.24 per cent, egg were adequate for 12.12 per cent and meat were adequate for 9.90 per cent.  The results indicated that, cereals were inadequate for 12.12 percent of the households, pulses were inadequate for 15.15 per cent, oilseed were inadequate for 63.64 per cent, vegetables were inadequate for 66.67 per cent, fruits were inadequate for 78.79 per cent, milk were inadequate for 72.73 per cent, egg were inadequate for 81.82 per cent and meat were inadequate for 87.88 per cent of the households.  The results indicated that, lower fertility status of the soil in the area was the constraint experienced by 66.67 per cent of the households, wild animal menace on farm field (60.61%), frequent incidence of pest and diseases (78.79%), Inadequacy of irrigation water (63.64%), high cost of fertilizer and plant protection chemicals (81.82%), high rate of interest on credit (84.85%), low price for the agricultural commodities (81.82%), lack of marketing facilities in the area (69.7%), inadequate extension service (45.45%), Lack of transport for safe transport of the Agril produce to the market (54.55%), less rainfall (3.03%).