LAND RESOURCE INVENTORY AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS OF FARM HOUSEHOLDS FOR WATERSHED PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT ARAKERA KHURD-2 (4D2D6B1c) MICROWATERSHED Balichakra & Yadgir Hobli, Yadgir Taluk and District, Karnataka

Abstract

The land resource inventory of Arakera Khurd-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 626 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 569 ha in the microwatershed is covered by soils, An area of about 57 ha by others (Habitation and water bodies). The salient findings from the land resource inventory are summarized briefly below.  The soils belong to 14 soil series and 23 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.  An area about 569 ha (91%) in the microwatershed is suitable for agriculture.  About 61 per cent area of the microwatershed has soils that are moderately deep to very deep (75 - >150 cm) whereas <1 per cent soils are moderately shallow (50 -75 cm). Shallow (25-50cm) and very shallow (<25cm) soil cover 22 and 7 percent respectively.  About 17 per cent area in the microwatershed has sandy soils, 30 per cent area in the microwatershed has loamy soils and 44 per cent clayey soils at the surface.  About 66 per cent area in the microwatershed has non gravelly (<15%) soils and 25 percent gravelly (15-35%) soils.  About 49 per cent area of the microwatershed is very high (>200 mm/m) in available water capacity, 9 per cent is low (51-100 mm/m) and 30 per cent area very low (<51 mm/m) in available water capacity.  About 81 per cent area of the microwatershed has very gently sloping (1-3% slope) land and 10 per cent is nearly level sloping (0-1%) soils.  An area of about 1 per cent area is severely (e3) eroded, about 79 per cent area is moderately (e2) eroded and 10 percent soils are slightly eroded (e1).  An area of about 25 per cent soils are neutral (pH 6.5-7.3) in soil reaction, about 25 per cent soil are slightly alkaline (pH 7.3-7.8) soils and 41 per cent soil are moderately alkaline (pH 7.3-7.8) soils.  The Electrical Conductivity (EC) of the soils in the entire area of the microwatershed is dominated by <2 dsm-1 indicating that the soils are non-saline.  About 33 per cent of the soils are low (<0.5%) in organic carbon and 57 per cent medium (0.5-0.75%) soils.  About 49 percent medium (23-57 kg/ha) in available phosphorus and 42 percent soils are low (<23 kg/ha) in available phosphorus.  About 88 percent of the soils are medium (145-337kg/ha) in available potassium and 3 percent area low (<145 kg/ha) in available potassium.  Entire area in the microwatershed has low (<10 ppm) in available sulphur  Available boron is low (<0.5 ppm) in an area of about 90 per cent and medium (0.5-1.0 ppm) of about <1 per cent. soils  Available iron is sufficient (>4.5ppm) in the entire area of the microwatershed.  Available manganese and copper are sufficient in all the soils of the microwatershed.  Available zinc is deficient (<0.6 ppm) in the entire 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 255(41) 77(12) Sapota - 56(9) Maize - 332(53) Pomegranate - 330(53) Bajra - 332(53) Musambi 274(44) 56 (9) Groundnut - 58(9) Lime 274(44) 56 (9) Sunflower 255(41) 75(12) Amla 54(9) 278(44) Redgram - 331(53) Cashew - - Bengal gram 274(44) 58(9) Jackfruit - 56(9) Cotton 274(44) 58(9) Jamun - 274(44) Chilli - 313(50) Custard apple 330(53) 2(<1) Tomato - 259(41) Tamarind - 274(44) Drumstick - 331(53) Mulberry - 56(9) Mango - 61(10) Marigold - 333(53) Guava - 56(9) Chrysanthemum - 333(53) Brinjal 61(10) 271(43) Bhendi 61(10) 272(43) Onion - 154(24)  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 Arakera Khurd-2 is located at North latitude 160 46’ 28.312” and 160 44’ 33.005” and East longitude 770 18’ 41.936'' and 770 15’ 31.785” covering an area of about 627.75 ha coming under Arekera. K, Ganapura and Gopalapura Villages of Yadagiri taluk.  Socio-economic analysis of Arakera Khurd-2 micro watersheds of Gopalapur subwatershed, Yadgiri taluk & District indicated that, out of the total sample of 36 farmers were sampled in Arakera Khurd-2 micro-watershed among households surveyed 14 (38.89%) were marginal, 7 (19.44%) were small, 8 (22.22 %) were semi medium and 2 (5.56 %) were medium farmers. 5 landless farmers were also interviewed for the survey.  The population characteristics of households indicated that, there were 101 (61.59%) men and 63 (38.41 %) were women. The average population of landless was 4.6, marginal farmers were 4.7, small farmers were 3.9, semi medium farmers 4.8 and medium farmers were 5.  Majority of the respondents (44.51%) were in the age group of 16-35 years.  Education level of the sample households indicated that, there were 46.34 per cent of illiterates, 30.49 per cent of them had primary school education, 3.66 per cent middle school education, 5.49 per cent high school education, 9.15 per cent of them had PUC education, 2.44 per cent attained graduation and 1.83 them had other education.  About, 86.11 per cent of household heads practicing agriculture and 13.89 per cent of the household heads were engaged as agricultural labourers.  Agriculture was the major occupation for 62.20 per cent of the household members.  In the study area, 63.89 per cent of the households possess katcha house and 22.22 per cent possess pucca house.  The durable assets owned by the households showed that, 58.33 per cent possess TV, 11.11 per cent possess mixer grinder, 91.67 per cent possess mobile phones and 25.00 per cent possess motor cycles.  Farm implements owned by the households indicated that, 2.78 per cent of the households possess Bullock Cart, 30.56 per cent possess plough and 11.11 per cent possess Seed/Fertilizer Drill and Sprinkler, 30.56 per cent possess Sprayer and 27.78 per cent possess Weeder.  Regarding livestock possession by the households, 11.11 per cent possess local cow and 8.33 per cent possess buffalo.  The average labour availability in the study area showed that, own labour men available in the micro watershed was 1.6, women available in the micro watershed 2 was 1.29, hired labour (men) available was 5.6 and hired labour (women) available was 5.60.  Out of the total land holding of the sample respondents 67.82 per cent (38.98 ha) of the area is under dry condition and the remaining 32.18 per cent area is irrigated land.  There were 6.00 live bore wells and 5.00 dry bore wells among the sampled households.  Bore well was the major source of irrigation for 19.45 per cent of the households.  The major crops grown by sample farmers are Red gram, Cotton, Green gram, Groundnut and Paddy and cropping intensity was recorded as 83.31 per cent.  Out of the sample households 85.71 percent possessed bank account and 82.86 per cent of them have savings in the account.  About 69.44 per cent of the respondents borrowed credit from various sources.  Among the credit borrowed by households, 87.50 per cent have borrowed loan from commercial banks and 12.50 per cent from co-operative/Grameena bank.  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.  The per hectare cost of cultivation for Red gram, Cotton, Green gram, Groundnut and Paddy was Rs.31094.90 , 18891.58, 24416.19, 25262.78, and 32071.34 with benefit cost ratio of 1:2.40, 1: 2.90, 1: 1.60, 1: 0.80, and 1:4.80 , respectively.  Further, 16.67 per cent of the households opined that dry fodder was adequate.  The average annual gross income of the farmers was Rs. 113202.78 in microwatershed, of which Rs. 43933.33 comes from agriculture.  Sampled households have grown 9 horticulture trees and 49 forestry trees together in the fields and back yards.  About 2.78 per cent of the households shown interest to cultivate horticultural crops.  Households have an average investment capacity of Rs. 277.78 for land development and Rs. 1388.89 for irrigation facility.  Source of funds for additional investment is concerned, 5.56 per cent depends on bank loan for land development activities.  Regarding marketing channels, 72.22 per cent of the households have sold agricultural produce to the local/village merchants, while, 11.11 per cent have sold in regulated markets.  Further, 47.22 per cent of the households have used tractor for the transport of agriculture commodity.  Majority of the farmers (38.89%) have experienced soil and water erosion problems in the watershed and 80.56 per cent of the households were interested towards soil testing. 3  Fire was the major source of fuel for domestic use for 75.00 per cent of the households and 19.44 per cent households has LPG connection.  Piped supply was the major source for drinking water for 77.78 per cent of the households.  Electricity was the major source of light for 94.44 per cent of the households.  In the study area, 47.22 per cent of the households possess toilet facility.  Regarding possession of PDS card, 88.89 per cent of the households possessed BPL card and 5.56 per cent of the household’s possessed APL card.  Households opined that, the requirement of cereals (91.67%), pulses (77.78%) and oilseeds (80.56%) are adequate for consumption.  Farming constraints experienced by households in the micro watersheds were lower fertility status of the soil (91.67%) wild animal menace on farm field (77.78%), frequent incidence of pest and diseases (80.56%), inadequacy of irrigation water (83.33%), high cost of fertilizers and plant protection chemicals (80.56%), high rate of interest on credit (80.56%), low price for the agricultural commodities (77.78%), lack of marketing facilities in the area (75.00%), inadequate extension services (50.00%), lack of transport for safe transport of the agricultural produce to the market (80.56%).