LAND RESOURCE INVENTORY AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS OF FARM HOUSEHOLDS FOR WATERSHED PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT KALHALLI (4D4A2M3d) MICRO WATERSHED Koppal Taluk and District, Karnataka

Abstract

The land resource inventory of Kalhalli 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 569 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 99 per cent is covered by soil and 1 per cent by water bodies and others. The salient findings from the land resource inventory are summarized briefly below  The soils belong to 17 soil series and 35 soil phases (management units) and 7 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 of the soils are very shallow (<25 cm), 13 per cent shallow (25-50 cm), 29 per cent moderately shallow (50-75 cm), 23 per cent moderately deep (75- 100 cm) and 18 per cent is deep to very deep (100->150cm) soils.  About 38 per cent is loamy (sandy loam and sandy clay loam) and 61 per cent has clayey (sandy clay and clay) soils at the surface.  About 32 per cent of the area has non-gravelly (<15%) soils, 27 per cent has gravelly soils (15-35 %), 35 per cent has very gravelly (35-60 %) soils and 5 per cent has extremely gravelly (60-80%).  With respect to available water capacity 58 per cent of the area has very low (<50mm/m), 27 per cent of the area has low (51-100 mm/m), 7 per cent medium (101- 150 mm/m) and 8 per cent area has very high (>200mm/m) in available water capacity.  Entire area in the microwatershed has very gently sloping (3-5%) lands.  An area of about 40 per cent is slightly eroded (e1) and 59 per cent is moderately eroded (e2) lands.  An area of about 39 per cent is slightly alkaline (pH 7.3 to 7.8), 19 per cent moderately alkaline (pH 7.8 to 8.4), 37 per cent strongly alkaline (pH 8.4 to 9.0) and 4 per cent very strongly alkaline (pH >9.0).  The Electrical Conductivity (EC) of the soils are dominantly <2 dsm-1 indicating that soils are non saline.  Organic carbon is medium (0.5-0.75%) in 58 per cent and high (>0.75%) in 41 per cent area of the soils.  Available phosphorus is low (<23 kg/ha) in 41 per cent, medium (23-57 kg/ha) in 40 per cent and high (>57 kg/ha) in 18 per cent of the soils.  Available potassium is medium (145-337 kg/ha) in 51 per cent and high (>337 kg/ha) in 48 per cent of the soils.  Available sulphur is low (<10 ppm) in 45 per cent, medium (10-20 ppm) in 33 per cent and high (>20 ppm) in 21 per cent area of the soils.  Available boron is low (<0.5 ppm) in 11 per cent, medium (0.5-1.0) in 85 per cent and high (>1.0 ppm) in 3 per cent area of the microwatershed.  Available iron is deficient in 96 per cent of the area and sufficient (>4.5 ppm) in 2 per cent of the area.  Available zinc is deficient (<0.6 ppm) in 82 per cent and sufficient (>0.6 ppm) in 16 per cent 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 44 (8) 241 (43) Pomegranate 39(7) 170(30) Maize 39(7) 246 (43) Guava 39(7) 128(23) Bajra 110(19) 266(47) Jackfruit 39(7) 128 (23) Redgram 39(7) 113 (20) Jamun - 209(37) Bengal gram 5(<1) 297(52) Musambi 44 (7) 165(29) Groundnut 71(13) 175 (31) Lime 44(7) 165 (29) Sunflower 44(8) 108 (19) Cashew 39(7) 128(23) Cotton 5(<1) 281(49) Custard apple 115(20) 281(49) Chilli 39(7) 204(36) Amla 110(19) 286 (50) Tomato 39(7) 204(36) Tamarind - 81(14) Drumstick 39(7) 133 (24) Marigold 39(7) 246(43) Mulbery 39(7) 153(27) Chrysanthemum 39(7) 246(43) Mango - 39(7) Jasmine 39(7) 204(36) Sapota 39 (7) 128(23) Crossandra 39(7) 204(36)  Apart from the individual crop suitability, a proposed crop plan has been prepared for the 7 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.,  Soil and water conservation and drainage line 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 Kalhalli mciro-watershed is located at 15012’48.492’’ to 150 11’30.734’’ North and East 750 59’ 24.617’’ to 75056’47.418’’covering an area of about 569.51 ha coming under Kallahalli, Byrapura and Alavandi villages of Koppal taluk.  Socio-economic analysis indicated that, out of the total sample of 46 houaeholds in the micro watershed, 5 (10.87%) were landless, 12 (26.09%) were marginal, farmers 18 (39.13%) were small farmers, 8 (17.39%) were semi medium and 3 (6.52%) medium farmers.  The population characteristics of households indicated that, there were 135 (58.95%) men and 94 (41.05%) women among the sampled households.  The average family size of landless farmers’ was 3.8, marginal farmers’ and small farmers’ was 4.9, semi medium farmers’ was 5.5 and medium farmers were 6.  Majority of the respondents 42 (18.34%) people were in 0-15 years of age, 99 (43.23%) were in 16-35 years of age, 58 (25.33%) were in 36-60 years of age and 30 (13.1%) were above 61 years of age.  Education level of the sample households indicated that, majority there were 37.55 per cent illiterates, 20.52 per cent of them had primary school, 12.66 per cent of them had Middle school education, 18.78 per cent of them had high school, 3.49 per cent of them had PUC and 3.93 per cent of them had degree education.  About, 26.09 per cent of household heads were practicing agriculture, 58.7 per cent of the household heads were agricultural laborers and 2.17 per cent of the household heads were trade and business.  Agriculture was the major occupation for 16.59 per cent of the household members, 48.47 per cent were agricultural laborers, 0.87 per cent were government and trade and business, 17.03 per cent student, 0.44 per cent were housewives and 4.37 per cent were children.  The household possess, 100 per cent of the population in the micro watershed has not participated in local institutions.  In the study area, 21.74 per cent of the households possess thatched house, 63.04 per cent of the households possess katcha house, 8.70 per cent of the households possess pucca/RCC and 6.52 per cent of the households possess semi pacca.  The durable assets owned by the households showed that, 63.04 per cent of the households possess TV, 15.22 per cent of the households possess mixer/grinder, 19.57 per cent of the household’s posses bicycle, 47.83 per cent of the households possesses motor cycle and 93.48 per cent of the households possess mobile phones.  Farm implements owned by the households indicated that, 17.39 per cent each of the households possess bullock cart and sprayer, 13.04 per cent of the households possess plough, 4.35 per cent of the households possess seed/fertilizer drill, 2.17 per 2 cent of the households possess irrigation pump and tractor, 39.13 per cent of the households possess weeder and 6.52 per cent of the households possess chaff cutter.  Regarding livestock possession by the households, 15.22 per cent of the households possess bullocks and sheep, 19.57 per cent of the households possess local cow, 4.35 per cent of the households possess buffalo and 2.17 per cent of the households possess goat and poultry birds.  The average own labour men available in the micro watershed was 2.15, average own labour (women) available was 1.26, average hired labour (men) available was 10.5 and average hired labour (women) available was 7.8.  Out of the total land holding of the sample respondents 54.44 ha (83.65%) of dry land and 10.64 ha (16.35%) of irrigated land.  Marginal farmers possess 8.75 ha (100%) of dry land.  Small farmers possess 22.25 ha (93.22%) of dry land and 1.62 ha (6.78%) of irrigated land.  Semi medium farmers possess 16.35 ha (88.86%)of dry land and 2.07 ha (11.14%) of irrigated land.  Medium farmers possess 6.91 ha (49.84%) of dry land and 6.95 ha (50.16%) of irrigated land.  There were 12 functioning and 22 de-functioning bore wells in the micro watershed.  Bore well was the major irrigation source in the micro water shed for 26.09 per cent of the farmers.  The major crops have grown sunflower (22.1 ha), bajra (10.68 ha), maize (12.94 ha), sorghum (6.77 ha), groundnut (6.64 ha), Bengal gram (3.66 ha), cotton (1.69 ha), pea (2.84 ha), sugarcane (1.26 ha), sajje and sunflower (0.92 ha), red gram (0.81 ha), chick pea (0.61 ha) and horse gram (0.4 ha).  The cropping intensity in Kalhalli Micro-watershed was found to be 93.29 per cent.  The sample households possessed 58.7 per cent of the households have bank and 10.87 per cent have savings account.  About 4.35 per cent of the households have availed credit from different sources.  The sample households possessed, 38 per cent of the households have borrowed from commercial bank, 6 per cent of the households have borrowed from cooperative bank, 56 per cent of the households have borrowed from grameena bank and 19 per cent of the households have borrowed from SHGs/CBOs.  The household posess, the average credit amount borrowed by households in microwatershed was Rs, 35000.  The households possessed, 100 per cent of the households borrowed from institutional sources for the purpose of agricultural production.  The households possess, 100 per cent of the households do not repay their loan from institutional sources.  The households possess, 100 per cent of the households do not repay their loan from private sources. 3  The households possess, 68.75 per cent opined that the loan amount borrowed from helped to perform timely agricultural operations and 31.25 per cent opined that the loan amount borrowed from forced to sell the produce at low price to repay loan in time.  The per hectare cost of cultivation for Maize, Pea, Groundnut, Sugarcane, Bajra, Sunflower, Bengal gram, Red gram, Horse gram, sorghum and cotton was Rs. 35497.48, 28205.39, 93696.92, 90775.21, 39299.87, 27402.59, 31256.71, 69552.02, 14999.24, 38286.97 and 19850.01 with benefit cost ratio of 1:1.44, 1:5.13, 1:0.96, 1:5.03, 1:0.64, 1:1.33, 1:1.21, 1:1.43, 1:0.99, 1:0.97 and 1:1.92 respectively.  Further, 15.22 per cent of the households opined that dry fodder was adequate, 21.74 per cent of the households opined that dry fodder was inadequate, 13.04 per cent of the households opined that green fodder was adequate and 23.91 per cent of the households opined that green fodder was inadequate.  The average annual gross income was Rs. 108,850 for marginal farmers, for small farmers it was Rs. 78,211.11, semi medium farmers it was Rs. 155,330 and medium farmers it was Rs. 290,083.33.  The average annual expenditure is Rs. 15,002.26. For marginal farmers it was Rs. 14,208.33, for small farmers it was Rs. 4,408.56, for semi medium farmers it was Rs. 13,156.25 and for medium farmers it was Rs. 111,666.67.  Sampled households have planted 94 coconut and 1 mango trees in their field to cultivate horticultural crops.  Households have planted 1 teak, acacia and peepul tree, 53 neem and 3 banyan trees in their field and also 1 neem trees in their backyard in their field to cultivate forest species.  Households have an average investment capacity of of Rs. 3,760.87 for land development, Rs. 282.61 for irrigation facility, Rs. 1,717.39 for improved crop production and Rs.1,108.7 for improved livestock management.  Source of funds for additional investment is concerned; loan from bank was the source of additional investment for 30.43 per cent for land development, 6.52 per cent for irrigation facility, 19.57 per cent for improved crop production and 8.7 per cent for improved livestock management.  Own funds was the source of additional investment for 23.91 per cent for land development, 21.74 per cent for improved crop production and 8.7 per cent for improved livestock management.  Regarding marketing channels, 52.17 per cent of the farmers sold their produce to agent/traders, 56.52 per cent of the farmers sold their produce to local/village merchant and 2.17 per cent of the farmers sold their produce to regulated market.  Further, 10.87 per cent of the households have used cart and 100 per cent of the households used tractor as a mode of transportation.  Majority of the households 26.09 per cent have incidence of soil and water erosion problems. 4  The household possess, (67.39%) were interested towards soil testing.  The households possess, 13.04 per cent of households adopted field bunding structure was adopted.  The households possess, 16.67 per cent have field bunding condition was good and severely damaged and 66.67 per cent of the field bunding condition was slightly damaged.  The households possess, 8.7 per cent of the NGOs are involved in soil and water conservation structure and 4.35 per cent of the farmers are involved in soil and water conservation structure.  The households possess, 91.3 per cent of the households used fire wood and 8.7 per cent of the households used LPG as a source of fuel.  Piped supply was the major source of drinking water for 45.65 per cent, 54.35 per cent of the households used bore well and 2.17 per cent of the households used lake/tank in the micro watershed.  Kerosene lamp was the major source of light for 100 per cent of the households.  In the study area, 28.26 per cent of the households possess sanitary toilet facility.  Regarding possession of PDS card, 100 per cent of the households possess BPL cards and 2.17 per cent of the sampled households does not possessed PDS cards.  Cereals were adequate for 60.87 per cent of the households, pulses were adequate for 43.48 per cent, oilseeds and meat were adequate for 26.09 per cent, vegetables were adequate for 58.7 per cent, fruits were adequate for 13.04 per cent, milk were adequate for 56.52 per cent and egg were adequate for 28.26 per cent of the households.  Cereals were inadequate for 13.04 per cent of the households, pulses were inadequate for 26.09 per cent, oilseed were inadequate for 30.43 per cent, vegetables were inadequate for 4.35 per cent, fruits were inadequate for 28.26 per cent, milk and egg were inadequate for 15.22 per cent, and meat were inadequate for 8.7 per cent of the households.  Farming constraints experienced by households in the micro watersheds were lower fertility status of the soil was the constraint experienced by 63.04 per cent of the households, wild animal menace on farm field (80.43%), frequent incidence of pest and diseases (73.91%), Inadequacy of irrigation water (69.75%), high cost of fertilizer and plant protection chemicals, high rate of interest on credit and Low price for the agricultural commodities (76.09%), lack of marketing facilities in the area (43.48%), inadequate extension service (32.61%), Lack of transport for safe transport of the Agril produce to the market (30.43%), less rainfall (13.04%) and Source of Agri-technology information (6.52%).