LAND RESOURCE INVENTORY AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS OF FARM HOUSEHOLDS FOR WATERSHED PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT CHIKBAMANHAL (4D3A9O2b) MICRO WATERSHED Irakallagada Hobli, Koppal Taluk and District, Karnataka

Abstract

The land resource inventory of Chikbamanhal 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 483 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 95 per cent is covered by soils, 1 per cent by rock outcrops and 4 per cent is by water bodies. The salient findings from the land resource inventory are summarized briefly below.  The soils belong to 10 soil series and 24 soil phases (management units) and 6 land use classes.  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 31 major agricultural and horticultural crops were assessed and maps showing the degree of suitability along with constraints were generated.  An area of about 95 per cent is suitable for agriculture.  About 15 per cent of the soils are shallow to moderately shallow (25-75 cm), 78 per cent of the soils are moderately deep to deep (75-150 cm) and 2 per cent soils are very deep (>150 cm).  About 10 per cent area in the microwatershed has sandy soils, 79 per cent area in the microwatershed has loamy soils and 6 per cent clayey soils at the surface.  About 18 per cent area has non-gravelly (<15% gravel) soils and 77 per cent has gravelly to very gravelly (15-60%) soils.  About 82 per cent area is very low to low (<50-100 mm/m), 9 per cent area is medium (101-150 mm/m) and 4 per cent area is very high (>200 mm/m) in available water capacity.  About 91 per cent area of the microwatershed has very gently sloping (1-3% slope) lands and about 4 per cent area of the microwatershed has nearly level (0-1% slope) lands.  An area of about 88 per cent area is moderately (e2) eroded and about 7 per cent area is slightly (e1) eroded.  An area of about 2 per cent soils are moderately acid to slightly acid (pH 5.5-6.5), 10 per cent soils are neutral (pH 6.5-7.3) and 83 per cent soil are slightly alkaline to strongly alkaline (pH 7.3-9.0) in soil reaction.  The Electrical Conductivity (EC) of the soils in the entire cultivated area of the microwatershed is dominantly <2 dsm-1 indicating that the soils are non-saline.  Organic carbon is medium (0.5-0.75%) in 38 per cent area and high (>0.75%) in 57 per cent area.  Entire cultivated area is medium (23-57 kg/ha) in available phosphorus content.  An area of about 40 per cent is low (<145 kg/ha), 49 per cent is medium (145-337 kg/ha) and 6 per cent is high (>337 kg/ha) in available potassium.  Available sulphur is low (<10 ppm) in an area of about 19 per cent and medium (10 - 20 ppm) in 76 per area of the microwatershed.  Available boron is low (<0.5 ppm) in an area about 95 per cent and medium (0.5-1.0 ppm) in <1 per cent area of the microwatershed.  An area of about 11 per cent is deficient (<4.5 ppm) and 84 per cent area is sufficient (>4.5 ppm) in available iron content.  Entire cultivated area is sufficient (>1.0 ppm) in available manganese content.  Entire cultivated area is sufficient (>0.2 ppm) in available copper content.  Available zinc content is deficient (<0.6 ppm) in 91 per cent area and sufficient (>0.6 ppm) in 4 per cent area of the microwatershed.  The land suitability for 31 major 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 39(8) 198(41) Sapota 38(8) 207(43) Maize 21(4) 217(45) Pomegranate 38(8) 225(47) Bajra 122(25) 206(42) Guava 38(8) 207(43) Groundnut 122(25) 299(62) Jackfruit 38(8) 207(43) Sunflower 39(8) 134(28) Jamun - 260(54) Cotton 18(4) 215(44) Musambi 56(12) 207(43) Red gram 21(4) 148(31) Lime 56(12) 207(43) Bengalgram 18(4) 185(38) Cashew 18(4) 206(43) Chilli 21(4) 217(45) Custard apple 159(33) 292(60) Tomato 21(4) 217(45) Amla 159(33) 292(60) Brinjal 134(28) 220(46) Tamarind - 174(36) Onion 134(28) 202(42) Marigold 21(4) 217(45) Bhendi 134(28) 220(46) Chrysanthemum 21(4) 217(45) Drumstick 22(5) 274(57) Jasmine 21(4) 199(41) Mulberry 22(5) 274(57) Crossandra 21(4) 194(40) Mango - 50(10) Apart from the individual crop suitability, a proposed crop plan has been prepared for the 6 identified LUCs 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 conserves 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. 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. SALIENT FINDINGS OF THE SURVEY  The data indicated that there were 99 (60.37%) men and 65 (39.63%) women among the sampled households.  The average family size of landless farmers’ was 4.8, marginal farmers’ was 4.8, small farmers’ was 4.4, semi medium farmers’ was 5.4 and medium farmers’ was 5.3.  The data indicated that, 30 (18.29%) people were in 0-15 years of age, 70 (42.68%) were in 16-35 years of age, 47 (28.66%) were in 36-60 years of age and 17 (10.37%) were above 61 years of age.  The results indicated that Chikbamanhal had 37.20 per cent illiterates, 28.66 per cent of them had primary school education, 4.27 per cent of them had middle school education, 10.98 per cent of them had high school education, 5.49 per cent of them had PUC education, 0.61 per cent had diploma, 0.61 per cent of them did ITI, 6.10 per cent of them had degree education and 1.83 per cent did masters.  The results indicate that, 14.71 per cent of households were practicing agriculture and 85.29 per cent of the households were agricultural labourers.  The results indicate that agriculture was the major occupation for 7.93 per cent of the household members, 62.20 per cent were agricultural laborers, 1.83 per cent of the households general labourers, 3.66 per cent were in private service, 21.34 per cent were students and 3.05 per cent were children.  The results show that 100 per cent of the population in the micro watershed has not participated in any local institutions.  The results indicate that 32.35 per cent of the households possess thatched house, 47.06 per cent of the households possess Katcha house and 20.59 per cent of the households possess pucca/RCC house.  The results show that 97.06 per cent of the households possess TV, 88.24 per cent of the households possess Mixer grinder, 14.71 per cent of the households possess bicycle, 8.82 per cent of the households possess motor cycle and 97.06 per cent of the households possess mobile phones.  The results show that the average value of television was Rs.9000, mixer grinder was Rs.1966, bicycle was Rs. 2000, motor cycle was Rs.41666 and mobile phone was Rs.2146.  About 8.82 per cent of the households possess bullock cart, 17.65 per cent of the households possess plough, 2.94 per cent of them possess sprayer and 52.94 per cent of them possess weeder.  The results show that the average value of bullock cart was Rs.36666, the average value of plough was Rs.1500, the average value of sprayer was Rs.2000 and the average value of weeder was Rs.53. 2  The results indicate that, 20.59 per cent of the households possess bullocks and 20.59 per cent of the households possess local cow.  The results indicate that, average own labour men available in the micro watershed was 1.83, average own labour (women) available was 1.30, average hired labour (men) available was 8.33 and average hired labour (women) available was 5.67.  The results indicate that, 88.24 per cent of the households opined that the hired labour was adequate.  The results indicate that, households of the Chikbamanhal micro-watershed possess 24.41 ha (56.72%) of dry land and 18.62 ha (43.28%) of irrigated land. Marginal farmers possess 3.44 ha (100%) of dry land. Small farmers possess 14.02 ha (85.24%) of dry land and 2.43 ha (14.76%) of irrigated land. Semi medium farmers possess 6.95 ha (48.34%) of dry land and 7.43 per cent (51.66%) of irrigated land. Medium farmers possess 8.77 ha (100%) of irrigated land.  The results indicate that, the average value of dry land was Rs. 384,977.62 and average value of irrigated land was Rs. 398,871.99. In case of marginal famers, the average land value was Rs. 756,419.32 for dry land. In case of small famers, the average land value was Rs. 370,678.21 for dry land and was Rs. 1,029,166.67 for irrigated land. In case of semi medium famers, the average land value was Rs. 230,168.90 for dry land and Rs. 444,196.19 for irrigated land. In case of medium famers, the average land value was Rs. 185,877.19 for irrigated land.  The results indicate that, there were 11 functioning bore wells in the micro watershed.  The results indicate that, bore well was the major irrigation source in the micro water shed for 35.29 per cent of the farmers.  The results indicate that, the depth of bore well was found to be 34.07 meters.  The results indicate that, small, semi medium and medium farmers had irrigated area of 2.43 ha, 7.43 ha and 8.77 ha respectively.  The results indicate that, farmers have grown bajra (10.98 ha), groundnut (0.81 ha), maize (28.77 ha), navane (0.81 ha) and sunflower (2.43 ha).  Marginal farmers have grown bajra and maize. Small farmers have grown bajra, groundnut, maize and navane. Semi medium farmers have grown bajra, sunflower and maize. Medium farmers have grown maize only.  The results indicate that, the cropping intensity in Chikbamanhal micro-watershed was found to be 86.10 per cent. In case of marginal farmers it was 100 per cent, small farmers it was 81.85 per cent, in case of semi medium farmers it was 85.07 and medium farmers it was 93.07 per cent.  The results indicate that, 44.12 per cent of the households have bank account and 2.94 per cent have savings. 3  The results indicate that, 44.12 per cent of the households have availed credit from different sources.  The results indicate that, 13.33 per cent of the households availed loan from commercial bank, 40 per cent of the households availed loan from cooperative bank, 40 per cent of the households availed loan from grameena bank and 6.67 per cent of the households obtained loan from SHGs/CBOs.  The results indicate that, average credit availed in the micro watershed was Rs. 682,333.33.  The results indicate that, 100 per cent of the households have borrowed loan from institutional sources for the purpose of agricultural production.  The results indicated that 100 per cent of the households did not repay their loan borrowed from institutional sources.  The results indicate that, around 71.43 per cent opined that the loan amount borrowed from institutional sources helped to perform timely agricultural operations and 28.57 per cent of them opined that the rate of interest was higher in institutional sources.  The results indicate that, the total cost of cultivation for sunflower was Rs. 36418.50. The gross income realized by the farmers was Rs. 50017.50. The net income from sunflower cultivation was Rs. 13599. Thus the benefit cost ratio was found to be 1:1.37.  the total cost of cultivation for groundnut was Rs. 79348.19. The gross income realized by the farmers was Rs. 77187.50. The net income from groundnut cultivation was Rs. -2160.69. Thus the benefit cost ratio was found to be 1:0.97.  the total cost of cultivation for maize was Rs. 28669.15. The gross income realized by the farmers was Rs. 34640.24. The net income from maize cultivation was Rs. 5971.09. Thus the benefit cost ratio was found to be 1:1.21.  the total cost of cultivation for bajra was Rs. 24831. The gross income realized by the farmers was Rs. 30477.66. The net income from bajra cultivation was Rs. 5646.66. Thus the benefit cost ratio was found to be 1:1.23.  the total cost of cultivation for navane was Rs. 25967.83. The gross income realized by the farmers was Rs. 14820. The net income from navane cultivation was Rs. -11147.83. Thus the benefit cost ratio was found to be 1:0.57.  The results indicate that, 14.71 per cent of the households opined that dry fodder was adequate and 14.71 per cent opined that green fodder was adequate.  The results indicate that the average annual gross income was Rs. 19,200 for landless farmers, for marginal farmers it was Rs. 62,800, for small farmers it was Rs. 57,092.31, for semi medium farmers it was Rs. 63,000 and for medium farmers it was Rs. 122,500.  The results indicate that the average annual expenditure is Rs. 8,355.78. For landless households it was Rs. 2,600, for marginal farmers it was Rs. 16,480, for 4 small farmers it was Rs. 4,428.57, for semi medium farmers it was Rs. 5,203.13 and for medium farmers it was Rs. 29,833.33.  The results indicate that, households have planted 111 neem tree, 1 tamarind tree, 1 teak and 1 banyan tree in their fields.  The results indicate that, the average additional investment capacity with the households for land development was Rs. 5,014.71, for improved crop production Rs. 3,529.41 and for irrigation facility it was Rs. 2,176.47.  The results indicate that, loan from bank was the source of additional investment capacity for 58.82 per cent for land development, for another 61.76 per cent for improved crop production, for 29.41 per cent for irrigation facility, 13.33 per cent for improved livestock management and for 8.82 per cent for orchard development/maintenance. Own funds were the source of additional investment for 2.94 per cent for land development. Soft loan was the source of additional investment capacity for 5.88 per cent for land development, for 2.94 per cent for irrigation facility, for 5.88 per cent for improved crop production and for 2.94 per cent for improved livestock management.  The results indicated that, all crops were sold to the extent of 100 per cent.  The results indicated that, about 11.76 per cent of the famers have sold their produce in regulated markets, 79.41 per cent of the farmers have sold to local/village merchants and 5.88 per cent have sold their produce to cooperative marketing society.  The results indicated that, 97.06 per cent of the households have used tractor as a mode of transportation for their agricultural produce.  The results indicated that, 76.47 per cent of the households have experienced soil and water erosion problems in the farm i.e., 100 per cent of the marginal farmers, 100 per cent of the small farmers, 75 per cent of semi medium and 66.67 per cent of medium farmers have experienced soil and water erosion problems.  The results indicated that, 85.29 per cent have shown interest in soil test i.e 100 per cent of marginal, small, semi medium and medium farmers.  The results indicated that, 91.18 per cent of the households used firewood and 8.82 per cent used LPG as a source of fuel.  The results indicated that, bore well was the major source of drinking water for 67.65 per cent of the households, piped supply was the source of drinking water for 14.71 per cent of the households and lake/tank was the major source of drinking water for 17.65 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.  The results indicated that, 47.06 per cent of the households possess sanitary toilet i.e. 20 per cent of the landless, 100 per cent of the marginal farmers, 30.77 per 5 cent of the small farmers, 25 per cent of the semi medium farmers and 100 per cent of the medium farmers.  The results indicated that, 100 per cent of the sampled households possessed BPL card.  The results indicated that, 50 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 94.12 per cent, vegetables were adequate for 17.65 per cent, fruits were adequate for 5.88 per cent, milk was adequate for 100 per cent, eggs were adequate for 97.06 per cent and meat was adequate for 2.94 per cent.  The results indicated that, pulses were inadequate for 5.88 per cent of the households, oilseeds were inadequate for 100 per cent, vegetables were inadequate for 82.35 per cent, fruits were inadequate for 94.12 per cent, eggs were inadequate for 2.94 per cent and meat was inadequate for 97.06 per cent of the households.  The results indicated that, lower fertility status of the soil was the constraint experienced by 47.06 per cent of the households, wild animal menace on farm field (47.06%), frequent incidence of pest and diseases (58.82%), inadequacy of irrigation water (35.29%), high cost of fertilizers and plant protection chemicals (44.12%), high rate of interest on credit (41.18%), low price for the agricultural commodities (67.65%), lack of marketing facilities in the area (58.82%), lack of transport for safe transport of the agricultural produce to the market (61.76%) and inadequate extension services (70.59%).