LAND RESOURCE INVENTORY AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS OF FARM HOUSEHOLDS FOR WATERSHED PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT RAGHUNATHANAHALLI -1 (4D4A2M3b) MICRO WATERSHED Alavandi Hobli, Koppal Taluk and District, Karnataka

Abstract

The land resource inventory of Raghunathanahalli-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 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 603 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 96 per cent is covered by soils and 4 per cent by habitation and water bodies, settlements and others. The salient findings from the land resource inventory are summarized briefly below.  The soils belong to 18 soil series and 27 soil phases (management units) and 8 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 31 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 4 per cent of the soils are very shallow (<25 cm), 11 per cent of the soils are shallow (50-75 cm), 39 per cent of the soils are moderately shallow (50-75 cm), 7 per cent of the soils are moderately deep (75-100 cm), 23 per cent area has deep (100- 150 cm) and 13 per cent area has very deep (>150 cm) soils.  An area of about 25 per cent has loamy soils and 71 per cent has clayey soils at the surface.  About 20 per cent of the area has non-gravelly (<15%) soils, 49 per cent gravelly (15-35% gravel), 25 per cent very gravelly (35-60%) and 2 per cent has extremely gravelly (60-80%) soils.  About 19 per cent are very low (<50 mm/m), 47 per cent low (51-100 mm/m), 2 per cent medium (101-150 mm/m) and 27 per cent very high (>200 mm/m) in available water capacity.  About 4 per cent area has nearly level (0-1%) and 92 per cent area has very gently sloping (1-3%) lands.  An area of about 65 per cent has soils that are slightly eroded (e1) and 31 per cent moderately eroded (e2) lands.  An area of about <1 per cent neutral (pH 6.5-7.3), 7 per cent are slightly alkaline (pH 7.3-7.8), 14 per cent are moderately alkaline (pH pH 7.8-8.4), 65 per cent are strongly alkaline (pH 8.4-9.0) and 11 per cent are very strongly alkaline (pH >9.0) in soil reaction.  The Electrical Conductivity (EC) of the soils is <2 dS m-1 and as such the soils are non-saline.  Organic carbon is low (<0.5%) in 8 per cent, medium (0.5-0.75%) in 88 per cent and high (>0.75%) in <1 per cent area of the soils.  Available phosphorus is low (<145 kg/ha) in 45 per cent and 51 per cent are medium (23-57 kg/ha) in the microwatershed.  About 1 per cent of the soils are low (<145 kg/ha), 54 per cent are medium (145-337 kg/ha) and 41 per cent soils are high (>337 kg/ha) in available potassium content.  Available sulphur is low (<10 ppm) in 4 per cent, medium (10-20 ppm) in 28 per cent and 65 per cent is high (>20 ppm) in the microwatershed.  Available boron is low (0.5 ppm) in about 85 per cent area and 11 per cent are medium (0.5-1.0 ppm).  Available iron is sufficient (>4.5 ppm) in 58 per cent and deficient (<4.5 ppm) in about 38 per cent area.  Available zinc is deficient (<0.6 ppm) in 72 per cent and sufficient (>0.6 ppm) in about 24 per cent area.  Available manganese and copper are sufficient in all the soils.  The land suitability for 31 major agricultural and horticultural 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 67 (11) 331 (55) Sapota - - Maize - 345 (57) Pomegranate - 178 (29) Bajra - 398 (66) Musambi 53 (9) 124 (21) Groundnut - 212 (35) Lime 53 (9) 124 (21) Sunflower 53 (9) 124 (21) Amla - 476 (79) Red gram - 178 (29) Cashew - 23 (4) Bengalgram 67 (11) 260 (43) Jackfruit - - Cotton 67 (11) 332 (55) Jamun - 163 (27) Chilli - 336 (56) Custard apple 67 (11) 408 (68) Tomato - 161 (27) Tamarind - 163 (27) Brinjal - 443 (73) Mulberry - 187 (31) Onion - 203 (34) Marigold - 399 (66) Bhendi - 441 (73) Chrysanthemum - 399 (66) Drumstick - 232 (38) Jasmine - 221 (37) Mango - 4 (1) Crossandra - 161 (27) Guava - -  Apart from the individual crop suitability, a proposed crop plan has been prepared for the 8 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 that helps in maintaining productivity and ecological balance in the microwatershed.  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. 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 Raghunathanahalli-1 is located at 15014’11.34’’ to 150 12’47.822’’ North and East longitude 750 57’ 11.674’’ to 75054’59.076’’ covering an area of about 535.53 ha coming under Belagatti, Gattareddyhala, Hatti and Raghunathahalli Villages of Koppal taluk.  Socio-economic analysis indicated that, out of the total sample of 39 respondents, 5 (12.82%) were landless, 17 (43.59%) were marginal, 9 (23.08%) were small farmers, 4 (10.26%) were semi medium farmers and medium farmers.  The population characteristics of households indicated that, there were 104 (55.03%) men and 85 (44.97%) women among the sampled households.  The average family size of landless farmers’ was 4.4, marginal farmers’ was 4.8, small farmers’ was 4.1, semi medium farmers’ was 6.25 and medium farmers’ was 5.5.  Majority of the respondents 38 (20.11%) people were in 0-15 years of age, 78 (41.27%) were in 16-35 years of age, 45 (23.81%) were in 36-60 years of age and 28 (14.81%) were above 61 years of age.  Education level of the sample households indicated that, majority there were 32.28 per cent illiterates and primary school, 2.65 per cent of them had Middle school education, 14.29 per cent of them had high school, 12.17 per cent of them had PUC, 1.06 per cent of them had ITI and 2.12 per cent of them had degree education.  About, 89.74 per cent of household heads were practicing agriculture, 7.69 per cent of the household heads were agricultural laborers and 2.56 per cent of the household heads were trade and business.  Agriculture was the major occupation for 38.62 per cent of the household members, 25.93 per cent were agricultural laborers, 0.53 per cent were government services, 1.06 per cent were private service, 0.53 per cent were trade and business, 28.04 were student, 2.12 per cent were housewives and 2.65 per cent were children.  The households possess, 100 per cent of the population in the micro watershed has not participated in any local institutions.  In the study area, 2.56 per cent of the households possess thatched house, 89.74 per cent of the households possess katcha house, 2.56 per cent of the households possess pucca/RCC and 5.13 per cent of the households possess semi pacca.  The durable assets owned by the households showed that, 64.1 per cent of the households possess TV, 23.08 per cent of the households possess mixer/grinder, 15.38 per cent of the households possess bicycle, 43.59 per cent of the household’s possess motor cycle, 2.56 per cent of the household’s tempo and 82.05 per cent of the households possess mobile phones. 2  Farm implements owned by the households indicated that, 20.51 per cent each of the households possess bullock cart, 15.38 per cent each of the households possess plough, 2.56 per cent of the households possess power tiller and earth remover/duster, 5.13 per cent of the households possess tractor and 17.95 per cent of the households possess sprayer and weeder.  Regarding livestock possession by the households, 20.51 per cent of the households possess bullocks, 7.69 per cent of the households possess local cow, 2.56 per cent of the households possess crossbreed, buffalo and poultry birds, 5.13 per cent of the households possess sheep and 7.69 per cent of the households possess goat.  The average own labour men available in the micro watershed was 1.67, average own labour (women) available was 1.31, average hired labour (men) available was 4.34 and average hired labour (women) available was 4.42.  Out of the total land holding of the sample respondents 42.53 ha (80.66%) of dry land, 8.98 ha (17.04%) of irrigated land and 1.21 ha (2.3%) of permanent fallow land.  Marginal farmers possess 11.24 ha (100%) of dry land. Small farmers possess 10.64 ha (83.62%) of dry land and 0.87 ha (6.84%) of irrigated land.  Semi medium farmers possess 8.38 ha (86.90%) of dry land and 1.26 ha (13.1 %) of irrigated land.  Medium farmers possess 2.27 ha (64.17%) of dry land and 6.85 ha (35.83%) of irrigated land.  There were 6 functioning and 2 de-functioning bore wells in the micro watershed.  Bore well was the major irrigation source in the micro water shed for 15.38 per cent of the farmers.  The major crops have grown maize (10.67 ha), sunflower (7.79 ha), bajra (6.09 ha), Bengal gram (4.17 ha), groundnut (3.24 ha), sorghum (2.87 ha), jowar (2.83 ha), red gram (2.74 ha), onion (2.02 ha), sajje (1.62 ha), green gram and rabhi Bengal gram (1.33 ha) and cotton (0.65 ha).  The cropping intensity in micro watershed was found to be 82.98 per cent.  The sample households possessed 35.9 per cent of the households have bank account and savings.  About 35.9 per cent of the households have availed credit from different sources.  The per hectare cost of cultivation for Maize, Bengal gram, Red gram, Bajra, Sorghum, Onion, Sunflower, Groundnut, Cotton and Green gram was Rs. 27409.94, 35724.58, 31633.41, 35109.61, 25180.04, 67351.19, 37509.16, 39885.76, 118817.63 and 24155.59 with benefit cost ratio of 1:1.15, 1:1.33, 1:1.2, 1:0.51, 1:0.97, 1:0.58, 1:1.5, 1:1.2, 1:1.35 and 1:1.83 respectively.  Further, 30.77 per cent of the households opined that dry fodder was adequate, 2.56 per cent of the households opined that dry fodder and green fodder was 3 inadequate and 20.51 per cent of the households opined that green fodder was adequate.  The average annual gross income was Rs. 35,000 for landless farmers, for marginal farmers it was Rs. 40,389.12, for small farmers it was Rs. 55,222.22, semi medium farmers it was Rs. 105,500 and medium farmers it was Rs. 31,940.  The average annual expenditure is Rs. 4,953.63. For landless farmers it was Rs. 2,800, for marginal farmers it was Rs. 3,278.43, for small farmers it was Rs. 6,837.96, for semi medium farmers it was Rs. 9,416.67 and medium farmers it was Rs. 6,062.50.  Sampled households have planted 39 coconut and 2 mango trees in their field and also 1 coconut trees in their backyard to cultivate horticultural crops.  Households have planted 43 neem, 6 tamarind and 5 banyan trees in their field and also 1 neem trees in their backyard to cultivate forest species.  Households have an average investment capacity of Rs. 461.54 for land development and Rs. 102.56 for improved crop production.  Source of funds for additional investment is concerned; own funds was the source of additional investment for 2.56 per cent for land development and improved crop production.  Soft loan was the source of additional investment for 5.13 per cent for land development.  Regarding marketing channels, 17.95 per cent of the farmers sold their produce to agent/traders, 69.23 per cent of the farmers sold their produce to local/village merchant and 35.9 per cent of the farmers sold their produce to regulated market.  Further, 7.69 per cent of the households have used head load, 30.77 per cent of the households used cart and 84.62 per cent of the households have used tractor as a mode of transportation.  Majority of the households 35.9 per cent have shown incidence of soil and water erosion problems.  The household possess, (43.59 %) were interested towards soil testing.  The households posssess, 97.44 per cent of the households used fire wood and 2.56 per cent of the households used biogas as a source of fuel.  Piped supply was the major source of drinking water for 76.92 per cent, 20.51 per cent of the households used bore well and 2.56 per cent of the households used open well in the micro watershed.  Electricity was the major source of light for 100 per cent of the households.  In the study area, 30.77 per cent of the households possess sanitary toilet facility.  Regarding possession of PDS card, 2.56 per cent of the sample households possessed APL cards and 94.87 per cent of the sampled households possessed BPL cards. 4  Cereals were adequate for 94.87 per cent of the households, pulses were adequate for 76.92 per cent, oilseeds were adequate for 17.95 per cent, vegetables were adequate for 25.64 per cent, fruits were adequate for 28.21 per cent, milk were adequate for 23.08 per cent, egg were adequate for 15.38 per cent and meat were adequate for 12.82 per cent of the households.  Cereals were inadequate for 5.13 per cent of the households, pulses were inadequate for 23.08 per cent, oilseed were inadequate for 74.36 per cent, vegetables were inadequate for 71.79 per cent, fruits were inadequate for 48.72 per cent, milk were inadequate for 58.97 per cent, egg and meat were inadequate for 74.36 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 58.97 per cent of the households, wild animal menace on farm field (56.41%), frequent incidence of pest and diseases (30.77%), Inadequacy of irrigation water (20.51%), high cost of fertilizer and plant protection chemicals (41.03%), high rate of interest on credit (10.26%), Low price for the agricultural commodities (35.9%), lack of marketing facilities in the area (20.51%), inadequate extension service (7.69%), Lack of transport for safe transport of the Agril produce to the market (33.33%), less rainfall (58.97%) and Source of Agri-technology information (43.59%).