LAND RESOURCE INVENTORY AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS OF FARM HOUSEHOLDS FOR WATERSHED PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT SUDAPUR-2 (4D5B4J2a) MICROWATERSHED Gurumitkal Hobli, Yadgir Taluk and District, Karnataka

Abstract

The land resource inventory of Sudapur-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 589 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 480 ha in the microwatershed is covered by soils, 108 ha by rock outcrops and 1 ha by others (habitation and water body). The salient findings from the land resource inventory are summarized briefly below.  The soils belong to 6 soil series and 8 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.  About 480 ha area in the microwatershed is suitable for agriculture.  About 13 per cent area is shallow (25-50 cm), 2 per cent area is moderately shallow (50-75 cm), 19 per cent area is moderately deep (75-100 cm), 10 per cent area of the microwatershed has soils that are deep (100-150 cm) and 39 per cent area of the microwatershed has soils that are very deep (>150 cm).  About 13 per cent loamy soils and 68 per cent clayey soils at the surface.  About 48 per cent area in the microwatershed is gravelly (15-35%) and 34 per cent is non gravelly (<15%).  About 13 per cent is very low (<50 mm/m) in available water capacity, 20 per cent is low (51-100 mm/m) and 48 per cent is very high (>200 mm/m).  About 62 per cent area in the microwatershed has very gently sloping (1-3% slope) and 19 per cent has nearly level (0-1%) lands.  An area of about 19 per cent is slightly eroded (e1) and 62 per cent is moderately (e2) eroded.  An area of about 44 per cent is slightly acid (pH 6.0-6.5) in soil reaction and 37 per cent area is neutral (pH 6.5-7.3).  The Electrical Conductivity (EC) of the entire soils of the microwatershed is dominantly <2 dsm-1indicating that the soils are non-saline.  Available organic carbon content is high (>0.75%) in the entire microwatershed area.  An area of about 18 per cent is medium (23-57 kg/ha) in available phosphorus, 52 per cent area is low (<23 kg/ha) and 11 per cent is high (>57 kg/ha) in the microwatershed.  Available potassium content is medium (145-337 kg/ha) in the entire area of the microwatershed.  Available sulphur is medium (10-20 ppm) in an area of 22 per cent and low in an area of 59 per cent of the microwatershed.  Available boron is low (<0.5 ppm) in an area of about 80 per cent and medium (0.5-1.0 ppm) in 2 per cent area of the microwatershed.  Available iron is sufficient (>4.5 ppm) in the entire cultivated area of the microwatershed.  Available manganese and copper are sufficient in all the cultivated soils of the microwatershed.  Available zinc is deficient (<0.6 ppm) in an area of 44 per cent and sufficient (>0.6 ppm) in 38 per cent of 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 - 404 (69) Guava - 110 (19) Maize 33 (6) 371 (63) Sapota - 110 (19) Bajra 110 (19) 294 (50) Pomegranate - 394 (67) Groundnut 110 (19) 10(2) Musambi - 394 (67) Sunflower - - Lime - 394 (67) Redgram - 394 (67) Amla 110 (19) 10 (2) Bengal gram - 284 (48) Cashew - 110 (19) Cotton - 284 (48) Jackfruit - 110 (19) Chilli 33 (6) 371 (63) Jamun - - Tomato 33 (6) 87 (15) Custard apple 110 (19) 294 (50) Brinjal 33 (6) 87 (15) Tamarind - - Onion 33 (6) 87 (15) Mulberry - 110 (19) Bhendi 33 (6) 371 (63) Marigold 33 (6) 371 (63) Drumstick - 110 (19) Chrysanthemum 33 (6) 371 (63) Mango - -  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 indicated that 35 farmers were sampled in Sudapur-2 micro-watershed among them 1 (2.86 %) were landless, 19 (54.29 %) were marginal farmers, 7 (20 %) were small farmers and semi medium farmers and 1 (2.86 %) were medium farmers.  The data indicated that there were 95 (51.91 %) men and 88 (48.09 %) women among the sampled households. The average family size of landless farmers’ was 5, marginal farmers’ was 5.57, small farmers’ was 4.14, semi medium farmers’ was 5.57 and medium farmers’ was 4.  The data indicated that, 39 (21.31 %) people were in 0-15 years of age, 83 (45.36 %) were in 16-35 years of age, 40 (21.86 %) were in 36-60 years of age and 21 (11.48 %) were above 61 years of age.  The results indicated that Sudapur-2 had 55.19 per cent illiterates, 1.09 per cent Functional Literate, 14.75 per cent of them had primary school, 1.64 per cent of them had middle school, 12.02 per cent of them had high school education, 4.37 per cent of them had PUC, 1.24 per cent of them had Diploma, 0.62 per cent of them had ITI and 5.46 per cent of them had Degree education.  The results indicate that, 68.57 per cent of household heads were practicing agriculture, 25.71 per cent of the household heads were agricultural labourers, 5.71 per cent of the household heads were in Private Service and 2.86 per cent of the household heads were Housewives.  The results indicate that agriculture was the major occupation for 46.99 per cent of the household members, 10.93 per cent were agricultural labourers, 0.55 per cent were General Labour, 1.09 per cent were Government Service, 3.28 per cent were Private Service, 0.55 per cent were Trade & Business, 19.67 per cent were Student, 9.84 per cent were Housewife and 7.10 per cent were children.  The results show that, 100 per cent of the population in the micro watershed has not participated in any institutions.  The results indicate that 11.43 per cent of the households possess thatched house, 77.14 per cent of the households possess katcha house and 11.43 per cent of them possess pucca/RCC house.  The results show that 88.57 per cent of the households possess TV, 20 per cent of the households possess mixer/grinder, 5.71 per cent of the households possess Refrigerator, 14.29 per cent of the households possess Bicycle, 40 per cent of the households possess Motor Cycle and 100 per cent of the households possess mobile phones.  The results show that the average value of television was Rs. 9,000, mixer/grinder was Rs. 2,000, Refrigerator was Rs. 8,500, Bicycle was Rs. 2,000, motor cycle was Rs. 55,500 and mobile phone was Rs. 2,630.  About 14.29 per cent of the households possess bullock cart, 40 per cent of them possess plough, 22.86 per cent of them possess seed/fertilizer drill, 2.86 per cent of 2 them possess Harvester, 17.14 per cent of them possess Sprayer and 34.29 per cent of them possess Weeder.  The results show that the average value of bullock cart was Rs. 28,000, plough was Rs. 1,500, seed/fertilizer drill was Rs. 1,687, Harvester was Rs. 100, sprayer was Rs. 3,750 and weeder was Rs. 30.  The results indicate that, 42.86 per cent of the households possess bullocks, 20 per cent of the households possess local cow and 5.71 per cent of the households possess Buffalo, Goat and Poultry birds.  The results indicate that, average own labour men available in the micro watershed was 1.62, average own labour (women) available was 1.68, average hired labour (men) available was 11.32 and average hired labour (women) available was 8.09.  The results indicate that, 94.29 per cent of the households opined that the hired labour was adequate.  The results indicate that, households of the Sudapur-2 micro-watershed possess 32.73 ha (82.87 %) of dry land, 5.59 ha (14.16 %) of irrigated land and 1.17 ha (2.97 %) of Permanent Fallow land. Marginal farmers possess 11.80 ha (96.68 %) of dry land and 0.40 ha (3.32 %) of irrigated land. Small farmers possess 9.07 ha (100 %) of dry land. Semi medium farmers possess 8.09 ha (60.94 %) of dry land and 5.19 ha (39.06 %) of irrigated land. Medium farmers possess 3.76 ha (76.23 %) of dry land and1.17 ha (23.77 %) of Permanent Fallow land.  The results indicate that, the average value of dry land was Rs. 540,608.39, the average value of irrigated land was Rs. 714,905.94 and the average value of permanent fallow land was Rs. 1,703,448.22. In case of marginal famers, the average land value was Rs. 948,696.85 for dry land and the average value of irrigated land was Rs. 1,976,000. In case of small famers, the average land value was Rs. 396,787.15 for dry land. In case of semi medium famers, the average land value was Rs. 247,000 for dry land and the average value of irrigated land was Rs. 616,536.66. In case of medium farmers, the average land value was Rs. 239,032.26 for dry land and the average value of permanent fallow land was Rs. 1,703,448.22.  The results indicate that, Bore Well was the major irrigation source in the micro water shed for 14.29 per cent of the farmers.  The results indicate that, marginal and semi medium farmers had an irrigated area of 0.40 ha and 5.19 ha.  The results indicate that, farmers have grown Green gram (2.02 ha), cotton (2.86 ha), paddy (4.30 ha), Red gram (26.56 ha) and Sorghum (1.62 ha). Marginal farmers have grown sorghum, red gram and cotton. Small farmers have grown red gram, cotton and green gram. Semi medium farmers have grown cotton, red gram and paddy. Medium farmers have grown red gram and paddy.  The results indicate that, the cropping intensity in Sudapur-2 micro-watershed was found to be 89.51 per cent.  The results indicate that, the total cost of cultivation for Cotton was Rs. 35806.62. The gross income realized by the farmers was Rs. 38739.82. The net income from 3 Cotton cultivation was Rs. 2933.20. Thus the benefit cost ratio was found to be 1: 1.08.  The results indicate that, the total cost of cultivation for green gram was Rs. 18525.98. The gross income realized by the farmers was Rs. 49400. The net income from green gram cultivation was Rs. 30874.02. Thus the benefit cost ratio was found to be 1: 2.67.  The results indicate that, the total cost of cultivation for Red gram was Rs. 32506.88. The gross income realized by the farmers was Rs. 62432.47. The net income from Red gram cultivation was Rs. 29925.59. Thus the benefit cost ratio was found to be 1: 1.92.  The results indicate that, the total cost of cultivation for Paddy was Rs. 127772.06. The gross income realized by the farmers was Rs. 189158.35. The net income from Paddy cultivation was Rs. 61386.29. Thus the benefit cost ratio was found to be 1: 1.48.  The results indicate that, 57.14 per cent of the households opined that dry fodder was adequate and 54.29 per cent of the households opined that green fodder was adequate.  The results indicate that the annual gross income was Rs. 85,000 for landless farmers, for marginal farmers it was Rs. 121,564.21, for small farmers it was Rs. 126,557.14, semi medium farmers it was Rs. 233,428.57 and medium farmers it was Rs. 80,800.  The results indicate that the average annual expenditure is Rs. 19,493.59. For landless households it was Rs. 55,000, for marginal farmers it was Rs. 9,988.19, for small farmers it was Rs. 23,000, for semi medium farmers it was Rs. 29,500 and medium farmers it was Rs. 70,000.  The results indicate that, sampled households have grown 4 Custard apple trees in their field also 1 Coconut and 13 Custard apple trees in backyard.  The results indicate that, households have planted 4 Teak, 39 neem and 4 tamarind in their field and also 2 Tamarind, 2 acacia trees and 11 neem in backyard.  The results indicated that, households have an average investment capacity of Rs. 3,257.14 for land development Rs. 4,285.71 for Irrigation facility, Rs. 2,600 for improved crop production and Rs. 1,714.29 for improved livestock management.  The results indicated that Government subsidy was the source of additional investment for 5.71 per cent for irrigation facility, Loan from bank was the source of additional investment for 8.57 per cent for land development and 5.71 per cent for improved crop production and improved livestock management, Own funds was the source of additional investment for 5.71 per cent for land development, improved crop production and improved livestock management, soft loan was the source of additional investment for 17.14 per cent for land development, 2.86 per cent for irrigation facility and improved livestock management, 11.43 per cent for improved crop production. 4  The results indicated that, cotton was sold to the extent of 100 per cent, Green gram was sold to the extent of 95.0 per cent, Paddy was sold to the extent of 96.92 per cent, Red gram was sold to the extent of 85.98 per cent and Sorghum to the extent of 88.24 per cent.  The results indicated that, about 100 per cent of the farmers sold their produce to local/village merchants and 5.71 per cent of the farmers sold their produce to Regulated Market.  The results indicated that, 100 per cent of the households have used Tractor as a mode of transportation.  The results indicated that, 34.29 per cent of the households have experienced soil and water erosion problems in the farm.  The results indicated that, 97.14 per cent have shown interest in soil test.  The results indicated that, 85.71 per cent of the households used firewood, 5.71 per cent of the households used Kerosene and 14.29 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 94.29 per cent and 5.71 per cent of the households used bore well in the micro watershed.  The results indicated that, Electricity was the major source of light for 100 per cent of the households in micro watershed.  The results indicated that, 48.57 per cent of the households possess sanitary toilet facility.  The results indicated that, 100 per cent of the sampled households possessed BPL cards.  The results indicated that, 88.57 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 97.14 per cent of the households, Fruits were adequate for 20 per cent, vegetables were adequate for 91.43 per cent, milk, Egg and meat were adequate for 100 per cent.  The results indicated that, pulses were inadequate for 2.86 per cent of the households, oilseeds were inadequate for 100 per cent, vegetables were inadequate for 11.43 per cent and fruits were inadequate for 80 per cent of the households.  The results indicated that, lower fertility status of the soil was the constraint experienced by 100 per cent of the households,, wild animal menace on farm field, Inadequacy of irrigation water, High cost of Fertilizers and plant protection chemicals and Frequent incidence of pest and diseases was the constraint experienced by 97.14 per cent of the households, High rate of interest on credit (94.29 %) and low price for the agricultural commodities (5.71 %).