LAND RESOURCE INVENTORY AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS OF FARM HOUSEHOLDS FOR WATERSHED PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT HIRE WADRAKAL (4D3A9R1c) MICRO WATERSHED Koppal Taluk and District, Karnataka

Abstract

The land resource inventory of Hire Wadarkal 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 708 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 90 per cent is covered by soils, 7 per cent by rock outcrops and 3 per cent is by habitation and settlements. The salient findings from the land resource inventory are summarized briefly below.  The soils belong to 16 soil series and 29 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.  An area of about 90 per cent is suitable for agriculture.  About 24 per cent of the soils are shallow to moderately shallow (25-75 cm) and 66 per cent of the soils are moderately deep to deep (75-150 cm).  About 2 per cent area in the microwatershed has sandy soils, 74 per cent area in the microwatershed has loamy soils and 14 per cent clayey soils at the surface.  About 18 per cent area has non-gravelly (<15% gravel) soils and 72 per cent has gravelly to very gravelly (15-60% gravel) soils.  About 79 per cent area is very low to low (<50-100 mm/m) and 11 per cent area is medium (101-150 mm/m) in available water capacity.  About 2 per cent area of the microwatershed has nearly level (0-1% slope) lands, 84 per cent area of the microwatershed has very gently sloping(1-3% slope) lands and 4 per cent area of the microwatershed has gently sloping (3-5% slope) lands.  An area of about 3 per cent area is severely (e3) eroded, 68 per cent area is moderately (e2) eroded and about 19 per cent area is slightly (e1) eroded.  An area of about 35 per cent soils are neutral (pH 6.5-7.3) and 56 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 low (0.5%) in 26 per cent area, medium (0.5-0.75%) in 47 per cent area and high (>0.75%) in 17 per cent area.  An area of about 30 per cent is medium (23-57 kg/ha) and 60 per cent is low (<23 kg/ha) in available phosphorus.  An area of about 11 per cent is low (<145 kg/ha), 74 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 42 per cent area, medium (10 -20 ppm) in 26 per cent area and high (>20 ppm) in 23 per cent area of the microwatershed.  An area of about 68 per cent is low (<0.5ppm), 20 per cent is medium (0.5-1.0 ppm) and 1 per cent is high (>1.0 ppm) in available boron content.  An area of about 48 per cent is sufficient (>4.5 ppm) and 42 per cent is deficient (<4.5 ppm) in available iron content.  Entire cultivated area of the microwatershed is sufficient (>1.0 ppm) in available manganese content.  Entire cultivated area of the microwatershed is sufficient (>0.2 ppm) in available copper content.  Entire cultivated area of the microwatershed is deficient (<0.6 ppm) in available zinc content.  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 54(8) 231(33) Sapota 38(5) 353(50) Maize 54(8) 231(33) Pomegranate 38(5) 353(50) Bajra 101(14) 425(60) Guava 38(5) 354(50) Groundnut 81(11) 456(64) Jackfruit 38(5) 353(50) Sunflower 38(5) 114(16) Jamun - 340(48) Cotton - 249(35) Musambi 38(5) 353(50) Red gram 38(5) 78(11) Lime 38(5) 353(50) Bengalgram 16(2) 170(24) Cashew 4(1) 364(51) Chilli 42(6) 231(33) Custard apple 100(14) 500(70) Tomato 57(8) 215(30) Amla 89(13) 511(72) Brinjal 79(11) 256(36) Tamarind 61(9) 405(51) Onion 64(9) 259(36) Marigold 38(5) 247(35) Bhendi 64(9) 221(31) Chrysanthemum 38(5) 247(35) Drumstick 43(6) 135(19) Jasmine 38(5) 247(35) Mulberry 62(9) 405(57) Crossandra 38(5) 199(28) Mango - 61(9)  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.  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 Hire Wadarkal is located at North latitude 760 17’ 36.021” and 760 16’ 17.724” and East longitude 150 36’ 59.965” and 150 36’ 5.239” covering an area of about 118.69 ha coming under Hirebommanala village of Koppal taluk.  Socio-economic analysis of Hire Wadarkal micro watersheds of Katagihalli subwatershed, Koppala taluk & District indicated that, out of the total sample of 40 farmers were sampled in Hire Wadarkal micro-watershed among households surveyed 5 (12.50%) were marginal, 13 (32.50%) were small, 10 (25.00 %) were semi medium and 7 (17.50 %) were medium farmers. 5 landless farmers were also interviewed for the survey.  The population characteristics of households indicated that, there were 116 (54.98%) men and 95 (45.02 %) were women. The average population of landless was 5.2, marginal farmers were 4.2, small farmers were 4.8, semi medium farmers were 5.7 and medium farmers were 6.4.  Majority of the respondents (36.02%) were in the age group of 16-35 years.  Education level of the sample households indicated that, there were 16.11 per cent illiterates, 84.83 per cent pre university education and 2.84 per cent attained graduation.  About, 77.50 per cent of household heads practicing agriculture and 17.50 per cent of the household heads were engaged as agricultural labourers.  Agriculture was the major occupation for 43.13 per cent of the household members.  In the study area, 47.50 per cent of the households possess katcha house and 17.50 per cent possess pucca house.  The durable assets owned by the households showed that, 87.50 per cent possess TV, 80.00 per cent possess mixer grinder, 87.50 per cent possess mobile phones and 15.00 per cent possess motor cycles.  Farm implements owned by the households indicated that, 27.50 per cent of the households possess plough, 17.50 per cent possess bullock cart and 10.00 per cent possess sprayer.  Regarding livestock possession by the households, 17.50 per cent possess local cow and 2.50 per cent possess buffalo.  The average labour availability in the study area showed that, own labour men available in the micro watershed was 1.75, women available in the micro watershed was 1.98, hired labour (men) available was 7.58 and hired labour (women) available was 11.68.  Further, 55.00 per cent of the households opined that hired labour was inadequate during the agricultural season. 2  In the study area, about 0.47 per cent of the respondents migrated from the micro watershed in search of jobs with an average distance of 400.00 kms for about 2.00 months.  Out of the total land holding of the sample respondents 65.25 per cent (63.50 ha) of the area is under dry condition and the remaining 34.75 per cent area is irrigated land.  There were 20.00 live bore wells and 20.00 dry bore wells among the sampled households.  Bore/open well was the major source of irrigation for 50.00 per cent of the households.  The major crops grown by sample farmers are Maize, Bajra, Sunflower, Red gram and Groundut and cropping intensity was recorded as 100.00 per cent.  Out of the sample households 90.00 percent possessed bank account and 50.00 per cent of them have savings in the account.  About 90.00 per cent of the respondents borrowed credit from various sources.  Among the credit borrowed by households, 31.58 per cent have borrowed loan from commercial banks and 47.37 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, 78.95 per cent of the households opined that credit helped to perform timely agricultural operations.  The per hectare cost of cultivation for Maize, Bajra, Sunflower, Red gram and Groundut was Rs.33772.11, 24265.59, 35980.72, 59003.81 and 58133.96 with benefit cost ratio of 1:0.98, 1: 1.10, 1: 1.00, 1: 0.90 and 1:0.80 respectively.  Further, 50.00 per cent of the households opined that dry fodder was adequate and 2.50 per cent of the households have opined that the green fodder was adequate.  The average annual gross income of the farmers was Rs. 67232.50 in microwatershed, of which Rs. 42770.00 comes from agriculture.  Sampled households have grown 6 horticulture trees and 35 forestry trees together in the fields and back yards.  About 60.00 per cent of the households shown interest to cultivate horticultural crops.  Households have an average investment capacity of Rs. 5775.00 for land development and Rs. 3525.00 for irrigation facility.  Source of funds for additional investment is concerned, 40.00 per cent depends on own funds.  Regarding marketing channels, 80.00 per cent of the households have sold agricultural produce to the local/village merchants, while, 12.50 per cent have sold in regulated markets.  Further, 40.00 per cent of the households have used tractor for the transport of agriculture commodity. 3  Majority of the farmers (62.50%) have experienced soil and water erosion problems in the watershed and 72.50 per cent of the households were interested towards soil testing.  Fire was the major source of fuel for domestic use for 82.50 per cent of the households and 17.50 per cent households has LPG connection.  Piped supply was the major source for drinking water for 80.00 per cent of the households.  Electricity was the major source of light for 100.00 per cent of the households.  In the study area, 35.00 per cent of the households possess toilet facility.  Regarding possession of PDS card, 100.00 per cent of the households possessed BPL card.  Households opined that, the requirement of cereals (62.50%), pulses (57.50%) and oilseeds (47.50%) are adequate for consumption.  Farming constraints experienced by households in the micro watersheds were lower fertility status of the soil (67.50%) wild animal menace on farm field (60.00%), frequent incidence of pest and diseases (47.50%), inadequacy of irrigation water (55.00%), high cost of fertilizers and plant protection chemicals (70.00%), high rate of interest on credit (70.00%), low price for the agricultural commodities (72.50%), lack of marketing facilities in the area (67.50%), inadequate extension services (15.00%), lack of transport for safe transport of the agricultural produce to the market (60.00%), Less rainfall (5.00%) and Source of Agri-technology information (Newspaper/ TV/Mobile) (5.00%).