LAND RESOURCE INVENTORY AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS OF FARM HOUSEHOLDS FOR WATERSHED PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT MOKADAMPUR-1 (4D5B6A1f) MICROWATERSHED Gurumitkal Hobli, Yadgir Taluk and District, Karnataka

Abstract

The land resource inventory of Mokadampur-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 729 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 591 ha in the microwatershed is covered by soils, 79 ha by forest, 15 ha by rock outcrops and about 43 ha by others (habitation and water bodies). The salient findings from the land resource inventory are summarized briefly below.  The soils belong to 15 soil series and 16 soil phases (management units) and 7 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 69 per cent area of the microwatershed has soils that are moderately deep to very deep (75 - >150 cm) and 12 per cent soils are very shallow to moderately shallow (<25-75 cm).  About 11 per cent area in the microwatershed has sandy soils, 12 per cent has loamy soils and 58 per cent clayey soils.  About of 65 per cent area of the microwatershed has non gravelly (<15%) soils and 16 per cent has gravelly (15-35%) soils.  About 49 per cent area of the microwatershed is very high (>200 mm/m) in available water capacity, 13 per cent medium (101-150 mm/m), 10 per cent area low (51-100 mm/m) and 8 per cent area very low (<50 mm/m) in available water capacity.  An area of 2 per cent has nearly level (0-1% slope) lands and 79 per cent has very gently sloping (1-3% slope) lands in the microwatershed.  An area of about 3 per cent is severely (e3) eroded, 76 per cent area is moderately (e2) eroded and 2 per cent area is slightly (e1) eroded.  An area of about 7 per cent soils are neutral (pH 6.5-7.3), 12 per cent are slightly alkaline (pH 7.3-7.8) and 62 per cent are moderately alkaline (pH 7.8-8.4) in soil reaction.  The Electrical Conductivity (EC) of the soils in the entire cultivated area of the microwatershed is dominantly <2 dsm-1indicating that the soils are non-saline.  An area of about 1 per cent of the microwatershed is high (>0.75%) and 80 per cent is medium (0.50-0.75%) in organic carbon content.  About 16 per cent area is low (<23kg/ha) and 65 per area is medium (23-57 kg/ha) in available phosphorus.  Entire cultivated area of the microwatershed is medium (145-337 kg/ha) (>337 kg/ha) in available potassium.  Available sulphur is low (<10 ppm) in the entire cultivated area of the microwatershed.  Available boron is low (<0.5 ppm) in 41 per cent and medium (0.5-1.0 ppm) in 40 per cent area of the microwatershed.  Available iron is sufficient (>4.5 ppm) in an area of 38 per cent and deficient (>4.5 ppm) in 43 per cent area of the microwatershed.  Available manganese and copper are sufficient in the entire cultivated area of the microwatershed.  Available zinc is deficient (<0.6 ppm) in the entire cultivated 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 62(9) 347(47) Guava - 21(3) Maize 21(3) 449(62) Sapota - 21(3) Bajra 21(3) 388(53) Pomegranate - 212(29) Groundnut 12(2) 37(5) Musambi 53(7) 159(22) Sunflower 53(7) 159(22) Lime 53(7) 159(22) Redgram - 381(52) Amla 21(3) 81(11) Bengal gram 53(7) 138(19) Cashew - 12(2) Cotton 53(7) 156(21) Jackfruit - 21(3) Chilli 21(3) 219(30) Jamun - 53(7) Tomato 21(3) 28(4) Custard apple 65(9) 175(24) Brinjal 21(3) 28(4) Tamarind - 53(7) Onion 21(3) 28(4) Mulberry - 21(3) Bhendi 21(3) 219(30) Marigold 21(3) 219(30) Drumstick - 74(10) Chrysanthemum 21(3) 219(30) Mango - -  Apart from the individual crop suitability, a proposed crop plan has been prepared for the identified LUCs by considering only the highly and moderately suitable lands for different crops and cropping systems with food, fodder, fibre and 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 to 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 sub marginal 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. FINDINGS OF THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC SURVEY  The survey was conducted in Mokadampur-1 is located at North latitude 160 49’ 1.466” and 160 46’ 28.457” and East longitude 770 18’ 34.68” and 770 16’ 16.844” covering an area of about 728.28 ha coming under Pasapoola, Mugadhamapoora and Arakera.K villages of Yadagiri taluk.  Socio-economic analysis of Mokadampur-1 micro watersheds of Mokadampur subwatershed, Yadagiri taluk, Yadagiri District indicated that, out of the total sample of 35 total respondents, 19 (54.29 %) were marginal, 11 (31.43%) were small, 2 (5.71 %) were Semi medium farmers .  The population characteristics of households indicated that, there were 99 (59.64%) men and 64 (38.55 %) were women.  Majority of the respondents 80 (48.19%) were in the age group of 16-35 years.  Education level of the sample households indicated that, there were 54.22 per cent illiterates, 43.38 percent pre university education and 5.42 per cent attained graduation.  About, 88.57 per cent of the household heads were engaged as agricultural labourers.  In the study area, 60.00 per cent of the households possess katcha house and 31.43 per cent possess pucca house.  The durable assets owned by the households showed that, 91.43 per cent possess TV, 20.00 per cent possess mixer grinder, 100.00 per cent possess mobile phones and 28.57 per cent possess motor cycles.  Farm implements owned by the households indicated that, 11.43 per cent of the households possess plough, 11.43 per cent possess bullock cart and 8.57 per cent possess sprayer.  Regarding livestock possession by the households, 5.71 per cent possess local cow and 5.71 per cent possess buffalo.  The average labour availability in the study area showed that, own men labour availability in the micro watershed was 1.87 and own women labour availability in the micro watershed was 1.29, while the hired labour (men) availability was 8.87.  Further, 5.71 per cent of the households opined that hired labour was inadequate during the agricultural season.  Out of the total land holding of the sample respondents 100.00 per cent (32.50 ha) of the area is under dry condition.  There were 1.00 live bore wells and 1.00 dry bore wells among the sampled households.  Bore/open well was the major source of irrigation for 2.86 per cent of the households.  The major crops grown by sample farmers are Cotton, Groundnt, Green gram, Jowar and Ridge gourd and cropping intensity was recorded as 101.23 per cent.  Out of the sample households 82.86 percent possessed bank account and 77.14 per cent of them have savings in the account. 2  About 60.00 per cent of the respondents borrowed credit from various sources.  Among the credit borrowed by households, 4.76 per cent have borrowed loan from commercial and co-operative banks and 33.33 per cent from Grameena Bank bank.  Majority of the respondents (100.00%) have borrowed loan for agriculture purpose.  Regarding the opinion on institutional sources of credit, 88.89 per cent of the households opined that credit helped to perform timely agricultural operations  The per hectare cost of cultivation for Cotton, Groundnt, Green gram, Jowar and Ridge gourd was Rs.50084.32 , 46337.94, 39244.54, 73380.16 and 46501.51 with benefit cost ratio of 1: 1.8, 1:1.3, 1:1.9 , 1:1.6 and 1:1.2 respectively.  Further, 34.29 per cent of the households opined that dry fodder was adequate.  The average annual gross income of the farmers was Rs. 112200.00 in microwatershed, of which Rs. 80257.14 comes from agriculture.  Sampled households have grown 5 horticulture trees and 43 forestry trees together in the fields and back yards.  Households have an average investment capacity of Rs. 7085.71 for land development.  Regarding marketing channels, 48.57 per cent of the households have sold agricultural produce to the local/village merchants, while, 17.14 per cent have sold in regulated markets.  Majority of the farmers (48.57 %) have experienced soil and water erosion problems in the watershed and 82.86 per cent of the households were interested towards soil testing.  Fire was the major source of fuel for domestic use for 97.14 per cent of the households.  Piped supply was the major source for drinking water for 97.14 per cent of the households.  Electricity was the major source of light for 100.00 per cent of the households.  In the study area, 100.00 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 (97.14%), pulses (94.29%) and oilseeds (54.29%) are adequate for consumption.  Farming constraints experienced by households in the micro watersheds were lower fertility status of the soil (100 %) wild animal menace on farm field (100.00%), frequent incidence of pest and diseases (100.00%), inadequacy of irrigation water (94.29%), high cost of fertilizers and plant protection chemicals (100.00%), high rate of interest on credit (97.14%), low price for the agricultural commodities (100.00%), lack of marketing facilities in the area (2.86%), inadequate extension services (2.86%), lack of transport for safe transport of the agricultural produce to the market (74.29%).