LAND RESOURCE INVENTORY AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS OF FARM HOUSEHOLDS FOR WATERSHED PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT HARVE-1 (4B3E1G2d) MICROWATERSHED Chamarajanagara Taluk and District, Karnataka ; Not Available
Not Available ; The land resource inventory of Harve-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 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, behaviour and use potentials of the soils in the microwatershed. The present study covers an area of 514 ha in Harve-1 microwatershed in Chamarajnagar taluk and district, Karnataka. The climate is semiarid and categorized as drought- prone with an average annual rainfall of 769 mm, of which about 316 mm is received during south –west monsoon, 252 mm during north-east and the remaining 201 mm during the rest of the year. An area of about 89 per cent area is covered by soils, 1 per cent is covered by rock-out crops, 150 cm) soils, an area of 20 per cent has moderately deep to deep (75-150 cm) soils. An area of about 32 per cent is under moderately shallow (50-75 cm) soils and shallow (25-50 cm) soils occupy 22 per cent area in the microwatershed. An area of about 14 per cent has clayey soils at the surface, 39 per cent has loamy soils at the surface and an area of about 37 per cent has sandy at the surface. An area of about 10 per cent has non-gravelly (0.75 ppm) in organic carbon. An area of about 6 per cent is low (57 kg/ha) in 43 per cent area in available phosphorus. An area of about 35 per cent has soils that are medium (145-337 kg/ha) and 54 per cent area has high (>337 kg/ha) in available potassium. Available sulphur is low (20 ppm) in 26 per cent area of the microwatershed. Available boron is low (1.0 ppm) in 1 per cent area of the microwatershed. About 75 per cent area has soils that are deficient (4.5ppm) in the available iron. Available manganese and copper are sufficient in the entire cultivated area of the microwatershed. An area of about 76 per cent has soils that are deficient (<0.6 ppm) and 14 per cent has soils are sufficient in available zinc. The land suitability for 9 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, market price, and finally the demand and supply position. Land suitability for various crops in the microwatershed Crops Suitability area in ha (%) Highly Suitable (S1) Moderately Suitable (S2) Sorghum 39(8) 255(50) Maize 39(8) 255(50) Finger millet 39(8) 255(50) Red gram - 131(26) Groundnut 69(14) 224(44) Cotton - 275(54) Chilli 39(8) 255(50) Mango - 28(6) Sapota - 99(19) Apart from the individual crop suitability, a proposed crop plan has been prepared for the 9 identified LMUs by considering only the highly and moderately suitable lands for different crops and cropping systems with food, fodder, 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, field bunds and also in the hillocks, mounds and ridges. That would help in supplementing the farm income, provide fodder and fuel, generate lot of biomass, which in turn would help in maintaining the ecological balance and contribute to mitigating the climate change. 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: Harve 1 micro-watershed (Chamarajanagar taluk and district) is located in between 15018' – 15020' North latitudes and 7603' – 7605' East longitudes, covering an area of about 513.47 ha, bounded by Harve, Mundakudu, Kethanapura and Maliyur villages with length growing period (LGP) 120-150 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 Harve 1 micro-watershed in Chamarajanagar taluk and district are presented here. Social Indicators; Male and female ratio is 53.8 to 46.2 per cent to the total sample population. Younger age 18 to 50 years group of population is around 61.4 per cent to the total population. Literacy population is around 74.7 per cent. Social groups belong to other backward caste is around 57 per cent. Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) is the source of energy for a cooking among all households. About 36 per cent of households have a Bhima and Yashaswini health card. About 18 per cent of farm households are having MGNREGA card for rural employment. Dependence on ration cards for food grains through public distribution system is around 64.0 per cent Swach bharath program providing closed toilet facilities around 91.0 per cent of sample households. Institutional participation is only 10.0 per cent of sample households. Women participation in decisions making are around 55 per cent of households were found. 2 Economic Indicators; The average land holding is 0.81 ha indicates that majority of farm households are belong to small and medium farmers. The dry land of 41 % and irrigated land 59 % of total cultivated land area among the sample farmers. Agriculture is the main occupation among 75.7 per cent and agriculture is the main and agriculture labour is subsidiary occupation for 24.3 per cent of sample households. The average value of domestic assets is around Rs. 15472 per household. Mobile and television are popular media mass communication. The average value of farm assets is around Rs. 79781per household, about 54.5 per cent of sample farmers having plough and sprayer (18.2%). The average value of livestock is around Rs. 17962 per household; about 90 per cent of household are having livestock. The average per capita food consumption is around 721 grams (1515 kilo calories) against national institute of nutrition (NIN) recommendation at 827 gram. Around 91 per cent of sample households are consuming less than the NIN recommendation. The annual average income is around Rs. 57041 per cent of sample household. About 45.4 per cent of farm households are below poverty line. The per capita monthly average expenditure is around Rs.1102. 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. 452 per ha/year. The total cost of annual soil nutrients is around Rs. 207248 per year for the total area of 513.51 ha. The average value of ecosystem service for food grain production is around Rs. 20608/ ha/year. Per hectare food grain production services is maximum in coconut (Rs. 68775) followed by maize (Rs. 22547), sunflower (Rs. 9460), horse gram (Rs. 1348) and sorghum (Rs. 908). The average value of ecosystem service for fodder production is around Rs. 5938/ ha/year. Per hectare fodder production services is maximum in sorghum (Rs.19425) followed by horse gram (Rs.15695) and maize (Rs.1200). 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 coconut (Rs. 269700) followed by maize (Rs. 52820), sorghum (Rs. 32100), horse gram (Rs. 22355) and sunflower (Rs. 26604). 3 Economic Land Evaluation; The major cropping pattern is coconut (28.4%) followed by sunflower (26.7 %), maize (26.2%), horse gram (11.3%) and sorghum (7.2 %). In Harve 1 micro-watershed, major soil Kutegoudanahundi (KGH) soil series having moderately shallow soil depth cover around 9.49 % of area, crops are sorghum. Gollarahatti (GHT) soil series are having moderately deep soil depth covers around 7.62 % of area, the major crop grown is sorghum. Honnenahalli (HNH) soil series having moderately shallow soil depth cover 3.48 % of areas; crops are coconut. Kengaki (KGK) soil series having very deep soil depth cover 9.99 % of areas respectively; crops are coconut (24.3 %), sunflower (54.1 %) and maize (21.6 %), Kethanapura (KTP) soil series having moderately shallow soil depth cover 3.65 % of areas; crops are coconut (47.8 %), horse gram (4.2%) and sorghum (48.0 %). Lakkur (LKR) soil series having moderately shallow soil depth cover around 13.19 % of area the major crop coconut (47.8 %), horse gram (4.2 %) and sorghum (48 %). The total cost of cultivation and benefit cost ratio (BCR) in study area for horse gram ranges between Rs. 43872/ha in HDH soil (with BCR of 3.96) and Rs.11259/ha in KGH soil (with BCR of 1.93). In sorghum the cost of cultivation range between Rs. 118931/ha in KGH soil (with of 1.06) and Rs. 23522/ha in HDH soil (with BCR of 1.35). In sunflower the cost of cultivation range between Rs. 26605/ha in KGH soil (with BCR of 1.41) and Rs. 16307/ha in KTP soil (with BCR of 2.99). In coconut the cost of cultivation range between is Rs.51014/ha in HNH soil (with BCR of 2.48) and Rs 34147 in LKR soil (with BCR of 2.82). In maize the cost of cultivation in KTP soil is Rs.27473/ha (with BCR of 2.27). 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 soils to maximize returns. Suggestions; Involving farmers is watershed planning helps in strengthing institutional participation. 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. 4 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 horsegram (13.2 to 52.0%), sorghum (15.7 to 73.6%), sunflower (39.3 to 47.9%), coconut (63.6 to 69.0 %) and maize (45.8 %). ; Watershed Development Department, Government of Karnataka (World Bank Funded) Sujala –III Project