LAND RESOURCE INVENTORY AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS OF FARM HOUSEHOLDS FOR WATERSHED PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT POGALAPUR-1 (4D5B1K1c) MICROWATERSHED Yadgir Hobli, Yadgir Taluk and District, Karnataka

Abstract

The land resource inventory of Pogalapur-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 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 351 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 343 ha (98%) in the microwatershed is covered by soils, 1 ha (<1%) by railway, 1 ha (<%) by rock out crops and 6 ha (2%) by others (habitation and water bodies). The salient findings from the land resource inventory are summarized briefly below.  The soils belong to 10 soil series and 14 soil phases (management units) and 4 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.  Entire area in the microwatershed is suitable for agriculture.  About 30 per cent area of the microwatershed has soils that are very deep (>150 cm), 58 per cent soils are deep (100 to 150 cm), 3 per cent soils are moderately deep (75-100 cm) and 7 per cent soils are shallow to moderately shallow (25 to 75 cm).  About 11 per cent are sandy soils at the surface, 12 per cent area in the microwatershed has loamy soils and 75 per cent clayey soils at the surface.  About 95 per cent area of the microwatershed has non gravelly (<15%) and 3 per cent has gravelly (15-35%) at the surface.  About 6 per cent area of the microwatershed is very low (<50 mm/m) in available water capacity, 4 per cent low (51-100 mm/m), 1 per cent medium (101-150 mm/m) and 87 per cent area is very high (>200 mm/m) in available water capacity.  An area of about <1 per cent is nearly level (0-1%) and 98 per cent area in the microwatershed has very gently sloping (1-3%) lands.  An area of about <1 per cent is slightly eroded (e1), 91 per cent is moderately (e2) eroded and 7 per cent is severely eroded in the microwatershed.  An area of about 5 per cent is neutral (pH 6.5-7.3), 27 per cent is slightly alkaline (pH 7.3-7.8), 44 per cent is moderately alkaline (pH 7.8-8.4) and 21 per cent is strongly alkaline (pH 8.4-9.0) in reaction.  The Electrical Conductivity (EC) of the soils in the entire area of the microwatershed is <2 dsm-1indicating that the soils are non-saline.  About 59 per cent of soils are low (<0.5%) and 39 per cent of soils are medium (0.5-0.75%) in organic carbon.  About 16 per cent area is low (<23 kg/ha) and 82 per cent area is medium (23-57 kg/ha) in available phosphorus.  About 1 per cent is low (<145 kg/ha), 72 per cent is medium (145-337 kg/ha) and 25 per cent is high (>337 kg/ha) in available potassium.  Available sulphur is low (<10 ppm) in an area of about 50 per cent, 30 per cent medium (10 -20 ppm) and 17 per cent of the soils are high (>20 ppm) in the microwatershed.  Available boron is low (<0.5 ppm) in an area of about 85 per cent and medium (0.5-1.0 ppm) in an area of 13 per cent area of the microwatershed.  Available iron is deficient in an area of about 49 per cent and sufficient in 49 per cent area of the microwatershed.  Available manganese is sufficient in all the soils of the microwatershed.  Available copper is sufficient in all the soils of the microwatershed.  Available zinc is deficient in all the soils of the microwatershed.  The land suitability for 29 major agricultural and horticultural 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 309(89) 13(3) Guava - 10(3) Maize - 322(92) Sapota - 10(3) Bajra - 322(92) Pomegranate - 319(92) Groundnut - 13(4) Musambi 285(82) 34(10) Sunflower 285(82) 34(10) Lime 285(82) 34(10) Redgram - 318(91) Amla 58(17) 264(75) Bengal gram 309(89) 3(1) Cashew - - Cotton 285(82) 27(8) Jackfruit - 10(3) Chilli - 321(92) Jamun - 309(89) Tomato - 234(68) Custard apple 319(92) 3(<1) Brinjal 70(20) 251(72) Tamarind - 309(89) Onion 234(67) 3(1) Mulberry - 10(3) Bhendi 81(23) 241(69) Marigold - 321(92) Drumstick - 318(92) Chrysanthemum - 321(92) Mango - 46(13)  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 on households sampled for socio economic survey in Pogalapur-1 microwatershed indicated that 36 farmers were sampled in Pogalapur-1 micro-watershed among them 5 (13.89 %) were landless, 13 (36.11 %) were marginal farmers, 12 (33.33 %) were small farmers, 2 (5.56 %) were semi medium farmers and 4 (11.11 %) were medium farmers.  The data indicated that there were 116 (54.98 %) men and 95 (45.02 %) women among the sampled households. The average family size of landless farmers’ was 5.6, marginal farmers’ was 5.46, small farmers’ was 5.5, semi medium farmers’ was 6 and medium farmers’ was 8.5.  The data indicated that, 39 (18.48 %) people were in 0-15 years of age, 96 (45.50 %) were in 16-35 years of age, 54 (25.59 %) were in 36-60 years of age and 22 (10.43 %) were above 61 years of age.  The results indicated that Pogalapur-1 had 54.03 per cent illiterates, 16.11 per cent of them had primary school education, 1.42 per cent of them had middle school education, 15.17 per cent of them had high school education, 4.74 per cent of them had PUC education, 0.95 per cent had diploma education, 0.47 per cent had ITI education, 2.84 per cent of them had degree education and 0.95 per cent of them had Masters education.  The results indicate that, 75 per cent of household heads were practicing agriculture, 11.11 per cent of the household heads were agricultural labourer, 5.56 per cent were general labour and 8.33 per cent were Housewife.  The results indicate that agriculture was the major occupation for 45.02 per cent of the household members, 10.9 per cent were agricultural laborers, 3.32 per cent were general laborers, 0.47 per cent were Government Service, 2.84 per cent were in private service, 0.47 per cent were Trade & Business, 21.8 per cent were students, 11.37 per cent were housewives and 3.79 per cent were children.  The results show that, 0.47 per cent was participating in Self Help Group.  The results indicate that 77.78 per cent of the households possess Katcha house and 22.22 per cent of them possess pucca/RCC house.  The results show that 61.11 per cent of the households possess TV, 16.67 per cent of them possess mixer/grinder, 2.78 per cent of them possess Bicycle, 33.33 per cent of the households possess motor cycle, 2.78 per cent of them possess Landline Phone and 94.44 per cent of the households possess mobile phones.  The results show that the average value of television was Rs.5,227, mixer/grinder was Rs.1,583, Bicycle was Rs.2,500, motor cycle was Rs.42,538, Landline Phone was Rs. 2,000 and mobile phone was Rs. 1,692.  About 11.11 per cent of the households possess bullock cart, 52.78 per cent of them possess plough, 44.44 per cent of them possess seed/fertilizer drill, 22.22 per cent of them possess power tiller, 25 per cent of them possess tractor, 41.67 per cent of them 2 possess sprayer, 8.33 per cent of them possess Sprinkler and 55.56 per cent of them possess weeder.  The results show that the average value of bullock cart was Rs. 20,250, plough was Rs. 4,000, seed/fertilizer drill was Rs. 6,150, power tiller was Rs.100,000, tractor was Rs. 635,555, sprayer was Rs. 4,533, Sprinkler was Rs. 656 and the average value of weeder was Rs. 33.  The results indicate that, 36.11 per cent of the households possess bullocks, 47.22 per cent of the households possess local cow, 16.67 per cent of the households possess buffalo, 13.89 per cent of the households possess Goat and 11.11 per cent of the households possess poultry birds.  The results indicate that, average own labour men available in the micro watershed was 1.94, average own labour (women) available was 1.52, average hired labour (men) available was 10.35 and average hired labour (women) available was 12.03.  The results indicate that, 86.11 per cent of the households opined that the hired labour was adequate.  The results indicate that, households of the Pogalapur-1 micro-watershed possess 24.65 ha (61.44 %) of dry land and 13.02 ha (32.46 %) of irrigated land. Marginal farmers possess 6.96 ha (89.35 %) of dry land and 0.40 ha (6.69%) of Permanent Fallow. Small farmers possess 7.98 ha (61.83 %) of dry land and 4.93 ha (38.17 %) of irrigated land. Semi medium farmers possess 2.02 ha (55.56 %) of dry land and 1.62 ha (44.44 %) of irrigated land. Medium farmers possess 7.69 ha (48.72 %) of dry land, 6.48 ha (41.03 %) of irrigated l and 1.62 ha (10.26 %) of Permanent Fallow.  The results indicate that, the average value of dry land was Rs. 672,050.91, the average value of irrigated land was Rs. 656,465.65 and the average value of permanent fallow was Rs. 898,181.83. In case of marginal famers, the average land value was Rs. 994,322.28 for dry land and Rs. 1,686,829.31 for permanent fallow. In case of small famers, the average land value was Rs. 745,636.74 for dry land and Rs. 1,268,488.09 for irrigated land. In case of semi medium famers, the average land value was Rs. 247,000 for dry land and the average land value was Rs. 494,000 of irrigated land. In case of medium famers, the average land value was Rs. 416,000 for dry land, the average land value was Rs. 231,562.50 for Irrigated land and the average land value was Rs. 494,000 of permanent fallow.  The results indicate that, there were 10 functioning and 2 De-functioning bore well in the micro watershed. Bore well was the major irrigation source in the micro water shed for 27.78 per cent of the farmers. The depth of bore well was found to be 14.77 meters.  The results indicate that marginal, small, semi-medium and medium farmers had an irrigated area of 1.62 ha, 3.88 ha, 1.62 ha and 6.48 ha respectively.  The results indicate that, farmers have grown cotton (15.17 ha), sorghum (6.24 ha), paddy (7.49 ha), groundnut (3.76 ha) and red gram (4.21 ha). Marginal farmers have 3 grown cotton, red gram, sorghum, paddy and groundnut. Small farmers have grown cotton, red gram, sorghum, paddy and groundnut. Semi medium farmers have grown cotton and paddy. Medium farmers have grown cotton, red gram, sorghum, paddy and groundnut. The cropping intensity in Pogalapur-1 micro-watershed was found to be 81.99 per cent.  The results indicate that, 55.56 per cent of the households have bank account. 55.56 per cent of the households have availed credit from different sources.  The results indicate that, the total cost of cultivation for red gram was Rs.30943.28. The gross income realized by the farmers was Rs.39115.28. The net income from red gram cultivation was Rs.8172. Thus the benefit cost ratio was found to be 1: 1.26.  The results indicate that, the total cost of cultivation for cotton was Rs. 63596.44. The gross income realized by the farmers was Rs. 71764.56. The net income from cotton cultivation was Rs. 8168.12. Thus the benefit cost ratio was found to be 1: 1.13.  The results indicate that, the total cost of cultivation for paddy was Rs. 51208.72. The gross income realized by the farmers was Rs. 62580.64. The net income from paddy cultivation was Rs. 11371.93. Thus the benefit cost ratio was found to be 1: 1.22.  The results indicate that, the total cost of cultivation for sorghum was Rs. 25429.03. The gross income realized by the farmers was Rs. 31498. The net income from sorghum cultivation was Rs. 6068.97. Thus the benefit cost ratio was found to be 1: 1.24.  The results indicate that, the total cost of cultivation for groundnut was Rs. 66871.31. The gross income realized by the farmers was Rs. 78926.34. The net income from groundnut cultivation was Rs. 12055.03. Thus the benefit cost ratio was found to be 1: 1.18.  The results indicate that, 47.22 per cent of the households opined that dry fodder was adequate.  The results indicate that the annual gross income was Rs. 186,592 for landless farmers, for marginal farmers it was Rs. 121,381.54, for small farmers it was Rs. 144,578.33, for semi medium farmers it was Rs.181,180 and for medium farmers it was Rs. 347,000.  The results indicate that the average annual expenditure is Rs. 15,934.45. For landless households it was Rs. 34,700, for marginal farmers it was Rs. 37,851.80, for small farmers it was Rs. 15,350.61, for semi medium farmers it was Rs. 20,280 and medium farmers it was Rs. 54,250.  The results indicate that, sampled households have grown 2 Coconut and 3 mango trees in their field. Households have planted 2 banyan, 4 tamarind, 1 Eucalyptus, 6 Teak and 32 neem trees in their field.  The results indicated that, households have an average investment capacity of Rs. 8,888.89 for land development, Rs. 16,250 for irrigation facility and Rs. 1,111.11 for improved crop production. Indicated that government subsidy was the source of additional investment for 2.78 per cent for land development and for 8.33 per cent for 4 irrigation facility. Loan from bank was the source of additional investment for 16.67 per cent for land development and for 16.67 per cent for irrigation facility. Soft loan was the source of additional investment for 5.56 per cent for improved crop production.  The results indicated that, cotton was sold to the extent of 100 per cent, groundnut was sold to the extent of 96.15 per cent, paddy was sold to the extent of 74.82 per cent, red gram was sold to the extent of 90.0 per cent and sorghum was sold to the extent of 85.92 per cent.  The results indicated that, about 94.44 per cent of the farmers sold their produce to local/village merchants and 2.78 per cent of them sold in regulated markets. 97.22 per cent of the households have used tractor as a mode of transportation for their agricultural produce.  The results indicated that, 80.56 per cent of the households have experienced soil and water erosion problems in the farm. 86.11 per cent have shown interest in soil test.  The results indicated that, 72.22 per cent of the households used firewood, 5.56 per cent of the households used Kerosene and 27.78 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 94.44 per cent of the households in the micro watershed. Electricity was the major source of light for 100 per cent of the households in micro watershed. 69.44 per cent of the households possess sanitary toilet facility.  The results indicated that, 2.86 per cent of the sampled households possessed APL card and 97.14 per cent of the sampled households possessed BPL card.  The results indicated that, 88.89 per cent of the households participated in NREGA programme.  The results indicated that, cereals were adequate for 100 per cent of the households, pulses were adequate for 100 per cent, oilseeds were adequate for 91.67 per cent, vegetables were adequate for 83.33 per cent, milk was adequate for 83.33 per cent and eggs were adequate for 13.89 per cent.  The results indicated that, oilseeds were inadequate for 8.33 per cent, fruits were inadequate for 100 per cent, Milk were inadequate for 13.89 per cent, eggs were inadequate for 86.11 per cent and meat was inadequate for 100 per cent of the households.  The results indicated that, lower fertility status of the soil was the constraint experienced by 86.11 per cent of the households, wild animal menace on farm field (86.11 %), frequent incidence of pest and diseases (86.11 %), inadequacy of irrigation water (8.33 %), high cost of fertilizers and plant protection chemicals (80.56 %), High rate of interest on credit(63.89 %), low price for the agricultural commodities (83.33 %), lack of marketing facilities in the area (72.22 %) and lack of transport for safe transport of the agricultural produce to the market (69.44 %).