LAND RESOURCE INVENTORY AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS OF FARM HOUSEHOLDS FOR WATERSHED PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT BANDEHALLI-4 (4D2D6O2d) MICROWATERSHED Sydhapur Hobli, Yadgir Taluk and District, Karnataka ; Not Available

Abstract

Not Available ; The land resource inventory of Bandehalli-4 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 463 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 381 ha (82%) in the microwatershed is covered by soils and 82 ha (18%) by others (habitation and water bodies). The salient findings from the land resource inventory are summarized briefly below.  The soils belong to 7 soil series and 11 soil phases (management units) and 5 land use class.  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 26 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 7 per cent area of the microwatershed has soils that are deep (100 to 150 cm), 28 per cent soils are moderately deep (75-100 cm) and 47 per cent soils are shallow to moderately shallow (25-75 cm).  About 8 per cent are sandy soils at the surface, 16 per cent area in the microwatershed has loamy soils and 58 per cent clayey soils at the surface.  About 79 per cent area of the microwatershed has non gravelly (200 mm/m) in available water capacity.  Entire area in the microwatershed has very gently sloping (1-3% slope) lands.  An area of about 3 per cent is slightly eroded (e1) and 79 per cent is moderately (e2) eroded in the microwatershed.  An area of about 17 per cent is neutral (pH 6.5-7.3), 19 per cent is slightly alkaline (pH 7.3-7.8), 12 per cent is moderately alkaline (pH 7.8-8.4) and 34 per cent is strongly alkaline (pH 8.4-9.0) in reaction.  The Electrical Conductivity (EC) of the soils in the entire area of the microwatershed is 0.75%) in organic carbon.  About 35 per cent area is low (57 kg/ha) in available phosphorus.  About 80 per cent is medium (145-337 kg/ha) and 2 per cent is high (>337 kg/ha) in available potassium.  Available sulphur is low (20 ppm) in the microwatershed.  Available boron is low (4.5 ppm) in 71 per cent area of the microwatershed.  Available manganese is sufficient in all the soils of the microwatershed.  Available copper is deficient (0.2 ppm) in 82 per cent area of the microwatershed.  Available zinc is deficient (0.6 ppm) in 6 per cent area of the microwatershed  The land suitability for 26 major agricultural and horticultural 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 34(7) 156(34) Sapota - - Maize - 190(41) Pomegranate - 162(35) Bajra - 190(41) Musambi 3(1) 158(35) Groundnut - 28(6) Lime 3(1) 158(35) Sunflower 16(3) 145(32) Amla - 190(41) Redgram - 162(35) Cashew - - Bengal gram 34(7) 156(34) Jackfruit - - Cotton 34(7) 156(34) Jamun - 34(7) Chilli - 190(41) Custard apple 145(31) 45(10) Tomato - 31(7) Tamarind - 34(7) Drumstick - 162(35) Mulberry - - Mango - - Marigold - 190(41) Guava - - Chrysanthemum - 190(41)  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 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. Chapter 1 FINDINGS OF THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC SURVEY  The survey was conducted in Bandehalli-4 is located at North latitude 160 32' 33.352" and 160 33' 7.175" and East longitude 770 23' 44.758'' and 770 21' 56.32" covering an area of about 462.70 ha coming under Badepalli, Ajalapura and Duppalli villages of Yadagiri taluk.  Socio-economic analysis indicated that, out of the total sample of 35 respondents, 5 (14.29%) were marginal, 15(42.86%) were small and 7 (20%) were semi medium, 4 (11.43%) were medium, 1(2.86%) were large farmers.  The population characteristics of households indicated that, there were 97 (56.40%) men and 74 (43.02%) were women. Majority of the respondents (40.70%) were in the age group of 35-60 years. Education level of the sample households indicated that, majority there were 47.09 per cent illiterates, 0.58 per cent were functional literates and only 2.91 per cent attained graduation.  About, 40 per cent of household heads practicing agriculture and 37.14 per cent of the household heads were engaged as agricultural labourers. Agriculture was the major occupation for 25.58 per cent of the household members.  In the study area, 88.57 per cent of the households possess katcha house and 5.71 per cent possess pucca house.  The durable assets owned by the households showed that, 82.86 per cent possess TV, 60 per cent possess mixer grinder and 97.14 per cent possess mobile phones.  Farm implements owned by the households indicated that, 37.14 per cent of the households possess plough and only 8.57 per cent sprayer.  Regarding livestock possession by the households, 2.86 per cent possess local cow and 5.71 per cent possess buffalo respectively.  The average labour availability in the study area showed that, own labour men available in the micro watershed was 1.43, women available in the micro watershed was 1.83, hired labour (men) available was 15.8 and hired labour (women) available was 13.94.  Further, 8.57 per cent of the households opined that hired labour was inadequate during the agricultural season.  In the study area, about 2.91 per cent of the respondents migrated from the micro watershed in search of jobs with an average distance of 570 kms for about 6 months.  Out of the total land holding of the sample respondents (53.57 ha), 66.47 per cent of the area is under dry condition and the remaining 33.53 per cent area is irrigated land.  There were 5 bore wells among the sampled households.  Bore well was the major source of irrigation for 14.29 per cent of the households. The major crops grown by sample farmers are Red gram, Cotton, Groundnut, Paddy. Cropping intensity was recorded as 100.03 per cent. 2  The sample households possessed 91.43 per cent bank account and 40 per cent of them have savings in the account.  About 40 per cent of the respondents borrowed credit from various sources. Among the credit borrowed by households, 114.29 per cent have borrowed loan from commercial banks and 42.86 per cent from Cooperative bank.  Majority of the respondents (100 %) have borrowed loan for agriculture purpose.  Regarding the opinion on institutional sources of credit, 100 per cent of the households opined that credit helped to perform timely agricultural operations.  The per hectare cost of cultivation for Red gram, Cotton, Groundnut and Paddy was Rs.22021.52, 29835.91, 33094.02 and 466526.88 with benefit cost ratio of 1:1.70, 1: 1.50, 1: 1.10 and 1: 0.60 respectively.  Further, 20 per cent of the households opined that dry fodder was adequate.  The average annual gross income of the farmers was Rs. 87831.43 in microwatershed, of which Rs. 63088.57 comes from agriculture.  Sampled households have grown horticulture crops coconut (6) and Mango (20) trees in the fields and forest species have grown 10 teak, 52 neem, 18 tamarind and 6 acacia trees in their field.  Households have an average investment capacity of Rs. 10571.43 for land development, Rs.3600 for adoption of improved livestock breeds and Rs.114.29 for adoption of improved crop production activities.  Source of finance raised from bank as a loan for land development and improved crop production.  Own funds were the source for land development and improved crop production for 22.86 per cent and improved livestock management for 5.71 per cent.  Regarding marketing channels, 74.29 per cent of the households have sold agricultural produce to the local/village merchants, while, 14.29 per cent have sold by Agents/Traders.  Further, 48.57 per cent of the households have used tractor for the transport of agriculture commodity.  Majority of the farmers (71.43 %) have experienced soil and water erosion problems in the watershed and 91.43 per cent of the households were interested towards soil testing.  Firewood connection was the major source of fuel for domestic use for 88.57 per cent of the households and 11.43 per cent households has LPG.  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 per cent of the households.  In the study area, 40 per cent of the households possess toilet facility.  Regarding possession of PDS card, 100 per cent of the households possessed BPL card. 3  Cereals (97.14 %), pulses (97.14 %), oilseeds (45.71 %) were 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 (94.29%), frequent incidence of pest and diseases (94.29%), inadequacy of irrigation water (60%), high cost of fertilizers and plant protection chemicals (94.29%), high rate of interest on credit (94.29%), low price for the agricultural commodities (94.29%), lack of marketing facilities in the area (91.43%), inadequate extension services (60%) and lack of transport for safe transport of the agricultural produce to the market (94.29%). ; Watershed Development Department, Government of Karnataka (World Bank Funded) Sujala –III Project