LAND RESOURCE INVENTORY SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS OF FARM HOUSEHOLDS FOR WATERSHED PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT NILOGAL (4D4A3G2d) MICRO WATERSHED Shirahatti Taluk, Gadag District, Karnataka ; Not Available

Abstract

Not Available ; The land resource inventory of Nilogal 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 boundries. The soil map shows the geographic distribution and extent, characterstics, classification and use potentials of the soils in the microwartershed. The present study covers an area of 453 ha in Nilogal microwatershed in Shirahatti taluk of Gadag district, Karnataka. The climate is semiarid and categorized as drought prone with an average annual rainfall of 633 mm. Of which 363 mm precipitation takes place during south–west monsoon period, the north-east monsoon contributes about 165 mm and the remaining 105 mm takes place during the rest of the year. An area of about 95 per cent is covered by soils, five per cent by waterbodies, settlements and others. The salient findings from the land resource inventory are summarized briefly below.  The soils belong to 14 soil series and 24 soil phases (management units) and 4 land management units.  The length of crop growing period is about 150 days starting from the 3rd week of June to 3rd 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 250 m grid interval.  Land suitability for growing major agricultural and horticultural crops were assessed and maps showing the degree of suitability along with constraints were generated.  About 95 per cent area is suitable for agriculture and 150 cm) to deep (100-150 cm), 10 per cent moderately deep (75 - 100 cm), 57 per cent are moderately shallow to shallow (25-75 cm).  About 82 per cent of the area has clayey soils and 13 per cent loamy soils at the surface.  About 21 per cent of the area has non-gravelly (200 mm/m) in available water capacity, 15 per cent medium (101-150 mm/m) and about 50 per cent low (51-100 mm/m) and very low (9.0).  The Electrical Conductivity (EC) of the soils are dominantly 4.5 ppm).  Available manganese and copper are sufficient in all the soils.  Available zinc content is deficient (<0.6 ppm) in the entire microwatershed area  The land suitability for 21 major crops (agricultural and horticultural) 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, 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 78 (17) 184 (40) Jackfruit 12 (3) 76 (17) Maize 12 (3) 90 (20) Jamun 12 (3) 102 (22) Bengal gram 78(17) 315 (70) Musambi 33(7) 134(29) Groundnut - 63(14) Lime 33 (7) 134 (29) Sunflower 78 (17) 258 (57) Cashew 12 (3) 89 (20) Cotton 33 (7) 269 (59) Custard apple 78 (17) 199 (44) Banana 12 (3) 160 (35) Amla 78 (17) 258(57) Pomegranate 12 (3) 160 (35) Tamarind - 122(27) Mango - 12 (3) Marigold 12 (3) 358 (79) Guava 12 (3) 197 (21) Chrysanthamum 12 (3) 358 (79) Sapota 12 (3) - 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, fibre and horticulture crops that helps in maintaining the ecological balance in the microwatershed.   Maintaining soil-health is vital to 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 submarginal lands and also in the hillocks, mounds and ridges. SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS OF FARM HOUSEHOLDS Baseline socioeconomic characterisation is prerequisite to prepare action plan for program implementation and to assess the project performance before making any changes in the watershed development program. The baseline provides appropriate policy direction for enhancing productivity and sustainability in agriculture. Methodology: Nilogal micro-watershed (Nilogal sub-watershed, Shirahatti taluk, Gadag district) is located in between 1503' – 1504' North latitudes and 75035' – 75037' East longitudes, covering an area of about 453 ha, bounded by Belhatti, Bikonahatti, Bodihal and Jirmahadapura villages with length of growing period (LGP) 150-180 days. We used soil resource map as basis for sampling farm households to test the hypothesis that soil quality influence crop selection, and conservation investment of farm households. The level of technology adoption and productivity gaps and livelihood patterns were analyses. The cost of soil degradation and ecosystem services were quantified. Results: The socio-economic outputs for the Nilogal micro-watershed (Nilogal subwatershed, Shirahatti taluk, Gadag district) are presented here. Social Indicators;  Male and female ratio is 58 to 42 per cent to the total sample population.  Younger age 18 to 50 years group of population is around 52 per cent to the total population.  Literacy population is around 70 per cent.  Social groups belong to scheduled caste (SC) is around 40 per cent.  Fire wood is the source of energy for a cooking among 80 per cent.  About 20 per cent of households have a yashaswini health card.  Majority of farm households (50 %) are having MGNREGA card for rural employment.  Dependence on ration cards for food grains through public distribution system among all the sample households.  Swach bharath program providing closed toilet facilities around 40 per cent of sample households.  Institutional participation is only 8.0 per cent of sample households.  Rural migration to unban centre for employment is prevalent among 10 per cent of farm households.  Women participation in decisions making is among all the households were found. 2 Economic Indicators;  The average land holding is 1.33 ha indicates that majority of farm households are belong to small and medium farmers. The dry land of 84.1 % and irrigated land 15.9 % of total cultivated land area among the sample farmers.  Agriculture is the main occupation among 2.9 per cent and agriculture is the main and agriculture labour is subsidiary occupation for 70.59 per cent of sample households.  The average value of domestic assets is around Rs. 131131 per household. Mobile and television are popular media mass communication.  The average farm assets value is around Rs. 138917 per household, about 30 per cent of sample farmers having plough and sprayer.  The average livestock value is around Rs. 22097 per household; about 73 per cent of household are having livestock.  The average per capita food consumption is around 843.2 grams (1757.06 kilo calories) against national institute of nutrition (NIN) recommendation at 827 gram. Around 90 per cent of sample households are consuming less than the NIN recommendation.  The annual average income is around Rs.2672.6 per household. About 80 per cent of farm households are below poverty line.  The per capita monthly average expenditure is around Rs.1266. Environmental Indicators-Ecosystem Services;  The value of ecosystem service helps to support investment to decision on soil and water conservation and in promoting sustainable land use.  The onsite cost of different soil nutrients lost due to soil erosion is around Rs. 580 per ha/year. The total cost of annual soil nutrients is around Rs. 249237 per year for the total area of 453.21 ha.  The average value of ecosystem service for food grain production is around Rs. 3535/ha/year. Per hectare food grain production services is maximum in cotton (Rs. 6559) followed by onion (Rs. 5013), maize (Rs. 1716) and groundnut (Rs. 852).  The average value of ecosystem service for fodder production is around Rs. 2088/ ha/year. Per hectare fodder production services is maximum in maize (Rs. 3562) and groundnut (Rs. 614).  The data on water requirement for producing one quintal of grain is considered for estimating the total value of water required for crop production. The per hectare value of water used and value of water was maximum in cotton (Rs. 47548) followed by maize (Rs. 31572), ground nut (Rs. 23931) and onion (Rs. 16796). 3 Economic Land Evaluation;  The major cropping pattern is maize (52.1 %) followed by cotton (29.6 %), groundnut (14.6 %) and onion (3.6 %).  In Nilogal micro-watershed, major soil is Revanki (RNK) series is having moderately shallow soil depth cover around 7.7 % of area. On this soil farmers are presently growing maize (68.9 %) and cotton (31.1 %), Kethanpura (KTP) series is having moderately shallow soil depth cover around 7.89 % of area; crops growing are maize (21.2 %) and groundnut (78.8 %), Tammadahalli (TDH) series having moderately shallow soil depth cover around 14.89 % of area; growing crops are maize (52.3%) and cotton (47.7 %). Kanchikere (KKR) series having moderately deep soil depth cover around 5.30 % of area; growing maize. Kalasapur (KPR) series having deep soil depth cover around 4.55 % area crop is cotton. Nagavi Tanda (NGT) series having very deep soil depth cover around 19.53 % area growing crops is maize. Soils of Schist landscape of Venkatapur (VKP) series having moderately shallow soil depth cover around 7.42 % of area growing maize. Varavi (VRV) series having moderately deep soil depth cover around 4.59 % of area; crops growing maize (66.7 %) and onion (33.33 %).  The total cost of cultivation and benefit cost ratio (BCR) in study area for cotton ranges between Rs. 57880/ha in RNK soil (with BCR of 1.08) and Rs. 35059/ha in KPR soil (with BCR of 1.19).  In maize the cost of cultivation range between Rs. 47593/ha in VKP soil (with BCR of 1.08) and Rs.31995/ha in RNK soil (with BCR of 1.37).  In sunflower the cost of cultivation ranges between Rs.39247/ha in DRL soil (with BCR of 1.1) and Rs. 17619/ha in NSP soil (with BCR of 2.36).  In onion the cost of cultivation in VRV soil is Rs.87612/ha (with BCR of 1.06) and groundnut the cost of cultivation is Rs 28395/ha in KTP soil (with BCR of 1.05).  The land management practices reported by the farmers are crop rotation, tillage practices, fertilizer application and use of farm yard manure (FYM). Due to higher wages farmer are following labour saving strategies is not prating soil and water conservation measures. Less ownership of livestock limiting application of FYM.  It was observed soil quality influences on the type and intensity of land use. More fertilizer applications in deeper soil to maximize returns. Suggestions;  Involving farmers is watershed planning helps in strengthing institutional participation. 4  The per capita food consumption and monthly income is very low. Diversifying income generation activities from crop and livestock production in order to reduce risk related to drought and market prices.  Majority of farmers reported that they are not getting timely support/extension services from the concerned development departments.  By strengthing agricultural extension for providing timely advice improved technology there is scope to increase in net income of farm households.  By adopting recommended package of practices by following the soil test fertiliser recommendation, there is scope to increase yield in cotton (44.6 to 13.2 %), onion (74.7 %), maize (64.3 to 75.2 %) and ground nut (49.6 %). ; Watershed Development Department, Government of Karnataka (World Bank Funded) Sujala –III Project