LAND RESOURCE INVENTORY AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS OF FARM HOUSEHOLDS FOR WATERSHED PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT HATTI-3 (4D4A1S2b) MICROWATERSHED Koppal Taluk and District, Karnataka ; Not Available

Abstract

Not Available ; The land resource inventory of Hatti-3 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 461 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 of about 95 per cent is covered by soils and four per cent by rock out crops and 150 cm).  About 25 per cent of the area is sandy at the surface, 53 per cent loamy and 17 per cent area in the microwatershed has clayey soils at the surface.  About 37 per cent of the area has non-gravelly (200mm/m) in available water capacity.  An area of about 1 per cent nearly level (0-1%), 84 per cent very gently sloping (1-3%) and 10 per cent has gently sloping (3-5%) lands.  An area of about 24 per cent is slightly eroded (e1), 69 per cent is moderately eroded (e2) lands and 2 per cent is severely (e3) eroded.  An area of about 52 per cent is slightly acid (pH 6.0-6.5), 43 per cent neutral (pH 6.5- 7.3) and 0.75%) in 16 per cent of the soils.  Available phosphorus is medium (23-57 kg/ha) in 88 per cent and high (>57 kg/ha) in 7 per cent area of the soils.  Entire area in the microwatershed is medium (145-337 kg/ha) in available potassium.  Available sulphur is low (4.5 ppm) in available iron.  Entire area in the microwatershed is deficient (<0.6 ppm) in available zinc.  Available manganese and copper are sufficient in the entire area.  The land suitability for 28 major agricultural and horticultural crops grown in the microwatershed was assessed and the areas that are highly suitable (class S1) and moderately suitable (class 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 - 55(12) Pomegranate 6(1) 158(34) Maize - 55(12) Guava - 153(33) Bajra 6(1) 163(35) Jackfruit 6(1) 147(32) Redgram - 50(11) Jamun - 164(36) Bengal gram - 55(12) Musambi 6(1) 158(34) Groundnut - 318(69) Lime 6(1) 158(34) Sunflower - 50(11) Cashew - 191(41) Cotton - 55(12) Custard apple 6(1) 394(85) Chilli - 44(10) Amla 6(1) 394(85) Tomato - 44(10) Tamarind - 50(11) Drumstick 6(1) 237(51) Marigold - 55(12) Mulberry 6(1) 389(84) Chrysanthemum - 55(12) Mango - 50(11) Jasmine - 44(10) Sapota 6(1) 147(32) Crossandra - 44(10) Apart from the individual crop suitability, a proposed crop plan has been prepared for the 6 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 conserves 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 and drainage line treatment plans have 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 supplementing the farm income, provide fodder and fuel, and generate lot of biomass which in turn would help in maintaining the ecological balance and contribute to mitigating the climate change. FINDINGS OF THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC SURVEY  The survey was conducted in Hatti-3 is located at North latitude 160 27' 0.462" and 150 26' 9.452" and East longitude 760 12' 57.153" and 760 10' 46.635" covering an area of about 461.26 ha coming under Hatti, Talakanapura, Kalakeri and Gudashettynala villages of Koppal taluk.  Socio-economic analysis of Hatti-3 micro watersheds of Kalakeri sub-watershed, Koppal taluk & District indicated that, out of the total sample of 35 total respondents, 9 (25.71 %) were marginal, 8 (22.86%)were small, 7 (20.00 %) were Semi medium and 5 (14.29 %) were medium farmers.  The population characteristics of households indicated that, there were 101 (58.72%) men and 71 (41.28 %) were women.  Majority of the respondents (48.26%) were in the age group of 16-35 years.  Education level of the sample households indicated that, there were 43.60 per cent illiterates, 0.58 percent were functional literates, 50.59 per cent pre university education and 4.65 per cent attained graduation.  About, 91.43 per cent of household heads practicing agriculture and 5.71 per cent of the household heads were engaged as agricultural labourers.  Agriculture was the major occupation for 40.12 per cent of the household members.  In the study area, 51.43 per cent of the households possess katcha house and 11.43 per cent possess pucca house.  The durable assets owned by the households showed that, 88.57 per cent possess TV, 51.43 per cent possess mixer grinder, 80.00 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, 5.71 per cent possess tractor, 14.29 per cent possess bullock cart and 28.57 per cent possess sprayer.  Regarding livestock possession by the households, 11.43 per cent possess local cow and 2.86 per cent possess buffalo.  The average labour availability in the study area showed that, own men and women labour availability in the micro watershed was 10.94 each, while the hired labour (men) availability was 1.83.  Further, 45.71 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 48.89 per cent (41.57 ha) of the area is under dry condition and the remaining 51.11 per cent area is irrigated land.  There were 13.00 live bore wells and 2.00 dry bore wells among the sampled households. 2  Bore/open well was the major source of irrigation for 37.14 per cent of the households.  The major crops grown by sample farmers are Maize, Groundnut, Bajra, Sunflower and Navane and cropping intensity was recorded as 89.78 per cent.  Out of the sample households 57.14 percent possessed bank account and 31.43 per cent of them have savings in the account.  About 57.14 per cent of the respondents borrowed credit from various sources.  Among the credit borrowed by households, 30.00 per cent have borrowed loan from commercial banks and 55.00 per cent from co-operative/Grameena bank.  Majority of the respondents (100.00%) have borrowed loan for agriculture purpose.  Regarding the opinion on institutional sources of credit, 41.18 per cent of the households opined that credit helped to perform timely agricultural operations.  The per hectare cost of cultivation for Maize, Groundnut, Bajra, Sunflower and Navane was Rs.37090.01, 42821.44, 26730.46, 17849.18 and 28152.30 with benefit cost ratio of 1:0.90, 1: 1.70, 1: 1.20, 1: 2.50 and 1:1.00 respectively.  Further, 45.71 per cent of the households opined that dry fodder was adequate and 25.71 per cent of the households have opined that the green fodder was adequate.  The average annual gross income of the farmers was Rs. 82985.71 in microwatershed, of which Rs. 54911.43 comes from agriculture.  Sampled households have grown 302 horticulture trees and 135 forestry trees together in the fields and back yards.  Households have an average investment capacity of Rs. 1714.29 for land development and Rs. 800.00 for irrigation facility.  Source of funds for additional investment is concerned, 20.00 per cent depends on own funds.  Regarding marketing channels, 57.14 per cent of the households have sold agricultural produce to the local/village merchants, while, 25.71 per cent have sold in regulated markets.  Further, 80.00 per cent of the households have used tractor for the transport of agriculture commodity.  Majority of the farmers (65.71%) have experienced soil and water erosion problems in the watershed and 62.86 per cent of the households were interested towards soil testing.  Fire was the major source of fuel for domestic use for 91.43 per cent of the households and 11.43 per cent households has LPG connection.  Piped supply was the major source for drinking water for 85.71 per cent of the households.  Electricity was the major source of light for 100.00 per cent of the households.  In the study area, 54.29 per cent of the households possess toilet facility. 3  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 (91.43%) and oilseeds (17.14%) are adequate for consumption.  Farming constraints experienced by households in the micro watersheds were lower fertility status of the soil (65.71%) wild animal menace on farm field (68.57%), frequent incidence of pest and diseases (37.14%), inadequacy of irrigation water (14.29%), high cost of fertilizers and plant protection chemicals (31.43%), high rate of interest on credit (22.86%), low price for the agricultural commodities (20.00%), lack of marketing facilities in the area (37.14%), inadequate extension services (17.14%), lack of transport for safe transport of the agricultural produce to the market (45.71%), Less rainfall (34.29%) and Source of Agri-technology information (Newspaper/ TV/Mobile) (31.43%). ; Watershed Development Department, Government of Karnataka (World Bank Funded) Sujala –III Project