LAND RESOURCE INVENTORY AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS OF FARM HOUSEHOLDS FOR WATERSHED PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT KAVALUR EAST-6 (4D4A2P2f) MICRO WATERSHED Alavandi Hobli, Koppal Taluk and District, Karnataka

Abstract

The land resource inventory of Kavalur East-6 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 441 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 98 per cent is covered by soils and 2 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 19 soil phases (management units) and 4Land 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 28 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 28 per cent of the soils are very shallow to shallow (<25- 50 cm), 15 per cent of the soils are moderately shallow (50-75 cm) and 44 per cent soils are moderately deep to very deep (75- >150 cm).  About 97 per cent area has clayey soils at the surface and small area of <1 per cent has loamy soils.  About 62 per cent area has non-gravelly (<15% gravel) soils and 36 per cent has gravelly to very gravelly (15-60%) soils.  About 54 per cent area is very low to low (<50-100 mm/m), medium (101-150 mm/m) in 32 per cent area and 12 per cent area is very high (>200 mm/m) in available water capacity.  An area of about 94 per cent has very gently sloping (1-3%) lands and 4 per cent area has nearly level (0-1%) lands.  About 19 per cent area is slightly eroded (e1) and about 79 per cent area is moderately eroded (e2) lands.  Entire area is moderately alkaline (pH 7.8-8.4) to very strongly alkaline (pH >9.0) in soil reaction.  The Electrical Conductivity (EC) of the soils are dominantly <2 dsm-1 indicating that the soils are non-saline.  Organic carbon is low (<0.5%) in about 69 per cent area, 26 per cent of the soils are medium (0.5-0.75%) and high (>0.75%) in 3 per cent area.  An area of about 96 per cent is low (<23 kg/ha) and 2 per cent is medium (23-57 kg/ha) in available phosphorus.  An area of 22 per cent is medium (145-337 kg/ha) and about 76 per cent is high (>337 kg/ha) in available potassium.  Available sulphur is low (<10 ppm) in 12 per cent area, medium (10-20 ppm) in about 70 per cent area and high (>20 ppm) in 16 per cent area.  Available boron is low (<0.5 ppm) in about 35 per cent area, medium (0.5-1.0 ppm) in 59 per cent area and high (>1.0 ppm) in 3 per cent area.  Available iron is deficient (<4.5 ppm) in entire area.  Available zinc is deficient (<0.6 ppm) in 74 per cent area and sufficient (>0.6 ppm) in 24 per cent area.  Available copper and manganese is sufficient in all the soils.  The land suitability for 28 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 59 (13) 203 (46) Pomegranate 194 (44) Maize - - Guava - - Bajra - - Jackfruit - - Groundnut - - Jamun - 54 (12) Sunflower 23 (5) 170 (39) Musambi 23 (5) 170 (39) Cotton 59 (13) 203 (46) Lime 23 (5) 170 (39) Red gram - 91 (20) Cashew - - Bengalgram 59 (13) 203 (46) Custard apple 59 (13) 203 (46) Chilli - - Amla - 263 (59) Tomato - - Tamarind - 54 (12) Drumstick - 194 (44) Marigold - 263 (59) Mulberry 164 (37) Chrysanthemum - 263 (59) Mango - - Jasmine 68 (15) Sapota - - Crossandra - 127 (29) Apart from the individual crop suitability, a proposed crop plan has been prepared for the 4 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 inturn 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 176 (52.78%) men and 68 (47.22%) women among the sampled households.  The average family size of landless farmers’ was 4.33, marginal farmers’ was 3.75, small farmers’ was 4.07 and semi medium farmers’ was 5.  The data indicated that, 25 (17.36%) people were in 0-15 years of age, 67 (46.53%) were in 16-35 years of age, 40 (27.78%) were in 36-60 years of age and 12 (8.33%) were above 61 years of age.  The results indicated that Kavalur East-6 had 22.92 per cent illiterates, 38.89 per cent of them had primary school education, 3.47 per cent of them had middle school education, 20.83 per cent of them had high school education, 7.64 per cent of them had PUC education, 1.39 per cent did ITI, 3.47 per cent of them had degree education and 1.39 per cent did masters.  The results indicate that, 80.56 per cent of household heads were practicing agriculture, 11.11 per cent of household heads were practicing agriculture, 5.56 per cent of household heads were practicing general labour and 2.78 per cent of the household heads were government service.  The results indicate that agriculture was the major occupation for 60.42 per cent of the household members, 10.42 per cent were agricultural laborers, 2.78 per cent were general laborers 2.08 per cent were in government service and private service, 21.53 per cent were students and 0.69 per cent were housewives.  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 2.78 per cent of the households possess thatched house, 88.89 per cent of the households possess katcha house and 8.33 per cent of them possess pucca/RCC house.  The results show that 80.56 per cent of the households possess TV, 55.56 per cent of them possess mixer/grinder, 36.11 per cent of the households possess bicycle, 33.33 per cent of the households possess motor cycle and 88.89 per cent of the households possess mobile phones.  The results show that the average value of television was Rs. 9,034, mixer grinder was Rs. 1,865, bicycle was Rs.1769, motor cycle was Rs. 29,333 and mobile phone was Rs. 1,425.  About, 2.78 per cent possess tractor and 97.22 per cent of them possess weeder.  The results show that the average value of tractor was Rs. 300,000 and the average value of weeder was Rs.46.  The results indicate that, 2.78 per cent of the households possess bullocks, local cow and sheep and 5.56 per cent of the households possess sheep. 2  The results indicate that, average own labour men available in the micro watershed was 1.70, average own labour (women) available was 1.20, average hired labour (men) available was 12.27 and average hired labour (women) available was 10.23.  The results indicate that, 83.33 per cent of the households opined that the hired labour was adequate.  The results indicate that, households of the Kavalur East-6 micro-watershed possess 34.62 ha (100%) of dry land. Marginal farmers possess 13.01 ha (100%) of dry land. Small farmers possess 19.59 ha (100%) of dry land. Semi medium farmers possess 2.02 ha (100%) of dry land.  The results indicate that, the average value of dry land was Rs. 256,960.84. In case of marginal famers, the average land value was Rs. 330,460.48 for dry land. In case of small famers, the average land value was Rs. 219,396.82 for dry land. In case of semi medium famers, the average land value was Rs. 148,200.00 for dry land.  The results indicate that, farmers have grown bajra (7.3 ha), Bengal gram (4.67 ha), green gram (0.93 ha), groundnut (4.19 ha), maize (3.24 ha), red gram (0.81 ha), sesamum (0.40 ha), sorghum (9.18 ha) and sunflower (3.79 ha). Marginal farmers have grown Bengal gram, green gram, groundnut, maize, red gram, sesamum, sorghum and sunflower. While small farmers have grown bajra, bengal gram, groundnut, maize, sorghum and sunflower. Semi medium farmers have grown sorghum. T  The results indicate that, the cropping intensity in Kavalur East-6 microwatershed was found to be 95.18 per cent.  The results indicate that, the total cost of cultivation for bajra was Rs. 28992.94. The gross income realized by the farmers was Rs. 34995.53. The net income from bajra cultivation was Rs. 6002.58. Thus the benefit cost ratio was found to be 1:1.21.  The total cost of cultivation for bajra was Rs. 34877.34. The gross income realized by the farmers was Rs. 44337.49. The net income from Bengal gram cultivation was Rs. 9460.14. Thus the benefit cost ratio was found to be 1:1.27.  The total cost of cultivation for groundnut was Rs. 43383.96. The gross income realized by the farmers was Rs. 40726.29. The net income from groundnut cultivation was Rs. -2657.67. Thus the benefit cost ratio was found to be 1:0.94.  The total cost of cultivation for maize was Rs 21032.13. The gross income realized by the farmers was Rs. 29369.84. The net income from maize cultivation was Rs. 8337.71. Thus the benefit cost ratio was found to be 1:1.4.  The total cost of cultivation for sesamum was Rs. 22791.12. The gross income realized by the farmers was Rs. 4940.00. The net income from sesamum cultivation was Rs. -17851.12. Thus the benefit cost ratio was found to be 1:0.22. 3  The total cost of cultivation for sorghum was Rs. 20253.85. The gross income realized by the farmers was Rs. 25009.37. The net income from sorghum cultivation was Rs. 4755.52. Thus the benefit cost ratio was found to be 1:1.23.  The total cost of cultivation for sunflower was Rs. 26256.96. The gross income realized by the farmers was Rs. 34281.62. The net income from sunflower cultivation was Rs. 8024.66. Thus the benefit cost ratio was found to be 1:1.31.  The results indicate that, 8.33 per cent of the households opined that dry fodder and green fodder was adequate.  The results indicate that the annual gross income was Rs. 84,000 for landless farmers, for marginal farmers it was Rs. 53,328.13, for small farmers it was Rs. 110,565.38 and for semi medium farmers it was Rs. 106,000.  The results indicate that the average annual expenditure is Rs. 9,690.31. For landless households it was Rs. 10,638.89, for marginal farmers it was Rs. 2,164.58, for small farmers it was Rs. 15,414.20 and for semi medium farmers it was Rs. 50,000.  The results indicate that, sampled households have grown 4 coconut trees in their field and 1 coconut tree in their backyard.  The results indicate that, households have planted 1 teak, 15 neem and 2 banyan trees in their field and 1 teak and 1 neem in their backyard.  The results indicated that, bajra, Bengal gram, groundnut, maize, red gram sorghum and sunflower was sold to the extent of 100 per cent and sesamum was sold to the extent of 50 per cent.  The results indicated that, about 86.11 per cent of the farmers sold their produce to local/village. The results indicated that, 86.11 per cent of the households used tractor.  The results indicated that, 19.44 per cent of the households have experienced soil and water erosion problems in the farm.  The results indicated that, 83.33 per cent have shown interest in soil test.  The results indicated that, 63.89 per cent of the households used firewood and 36.11 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 100 per cent of the households.  Electricity was the major source of light for 100 per cent of the households in micro watershed.  The results indicated that, 25 per cent of the households possess sanitary toilet facility.  The results indicated that, 94.44 per cent of the sampled households possessed BPL card and 5.56 per cent of the households did not possess PDS card.  The results indicated that, 25 per cent of the households participated in NREGA programme. 4  The results indicated that, cereals and pulses were adequate for 97.22 per cent of the households, vegetables were adequate for 8.33 per cent, fruits were adequate for 11.11 per cent, milk, egg and meat was adequate for 100 per cent.  The results indicated that, cereals and pulses were inadequate for 2.78 per cent of the households, oilseeds were inadequate for 100 per cent, vegetables were inadequate for 91.67 per cent and fruits were inadequate for 88.89 per cent of the households.  The results indicated that, lower fertility status of the soil, frequent incidence of pest and diseases, inadequacy of irrigation water, high cost of fertilizers and plant protection chemicals and high rate of interest on credit was the constraint experienced by 83.33 per cent of the households, wild animal menace on farm field and low price for the agricultural commodities (80.56%), lack of marketing facilities in the area (55.56%), inadequate extension services (8.33%) and lack of transport for safe transport of the agricultural produce to the market (8.56%).