LAND RESOURCE INVENTORY AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS OF FARM HOUSEHOLDS FOR WATERSHED PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT NILAHALLI -2 (4D5B1O2d) MICROWATERSHED Balichakra Hobli, Yadgir Taluk and District, Karnataka ; Not Available

Abstract

Not Available ; The land resource inventory of Nilahalli-2 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 611 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 590 ha (97%) in the microwatershed is covered by soils and about 21 ha by others (habitation and water bodies). The salient findings from the land resource inventory are summarized briefly below.  The soils belong to 12 soil series and 15 soil phases (management units) and 6 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 250 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 51 per cent area of the microwatershed has soils that are moderately deep to very deep (75 - >150 cm) and 45 per cent soils are shallow to moderately shallow (25-75 cm).  About 51 per cent area in the microwatershed has loamy soils, 43 per cent clayey soils and 3 per cent are sandy at the surface.  Entire area of the microwatershed is non gravelly (200 mm/m) in available water capacity.  An area of about 21 per cent are nearly level (0-1 %) and 76 per cent area are very gently sloping (1-3% slope) lands.  An area of about 21 per cent are slightly (e1) eroded, 73 per cent are moderately (e2) eroded and 3 per cent area is severely (e3) eroded.  An area of about 16 per cent soils are neutral (pH 6.5-7.3) in soil reaction, 30 per cent soils are slightly alkaline (pH 7.3-7.8), 31 per cent soils are moderately alkaline (pH 7.8 - 8.4), 13 per cent soils are strongly alkaline (pH 8.4-9.0) and 6 per cent soils are very strongly alkaline.  The Electrical Conductivity (EC) of the soils in the entire area of the microwatershed is dominantly 0.75%) in organic carbon.  About12 per cent area is low (57 kg/ha) in available phosphorus.  About 16 per cent is low (337 kg/ha) in available potassium.  Available sulphur is low (20 ppm) in 7 per cent area of the microwatershed.  Available boron is low (1.0 ppm) in 8 per cent area of the microwatershed.  Available iron is deficient (4.5 ppm) in an area of 83 per cent.  Available manganese and copper are sufficient in all the soils of the microwatershed.  Available zinc is deficient (<0.6 ppm) in the entire area of the microwatershed.  The land suitability for 26 major agricultural and horticultural 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 40(7) 343(57) Sapota - 43(7) Maize 40(7) 69(12) Pomegranate - 313(51) Bajra 40(7) 343(56) Musambi - 313(51) Groundnut - 90(15) Lime - 313(51) Sunflower - 314(51) Amla 40(7) 342(56) Redgram - 314(51) Cashew - - Bengal gram 40 (7) 340(56) Jackfruit - 43(7) Cotton - 381(62) Jamun - 185(30) Chilli - 383(63) Custard apple 40(7) 342(57) Tomato 40(7) 72(12) Tamarind - 185(30) Drumstick - 314(51) Mulberry - 43(7) Mango - - Marigold - 383(63) Guava - 43(7) Chrysanthemum - 383(63)  Apart from the individual crop suitability, a proposed crop plan has been prepared for the 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 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 for these problematic soils like saline/alkali, highly eroded, sandy soils etc.,  Soil and water conservation 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 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. FINDINGS OF THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC SURVEY  The survey was conducted in Nilahalli-2 is located at North latitude 160 38' 8.364" and 160 36' 13.15" and East longitude 770 17' 43.492'' and 770 16' 4.204" covering an area of about 611.58 ha coming under Neelahalli, Kanikal and Killanakera Villages of Yadagiri taluk.  Socio-economic analysis of Nilahalli-2 micro watersheds of Kilankeri subwatershed, Yadgiri taluk & District indicated that, out of the total sample of 32 farmers were sampled in Nilahalli-2 micro-watershed among households surveyed 9 (28.13%) were marginal, 10 (31.25%) were small, 5 (15.63 %) were semi medium, 3 (9.38 %) were medium and 1 (3.13 %) were large farmers. 4 landless farmers were also interviewed for the survey.  The population characteristics of households indicated that, there were 90 (52.02%) men and 83 (47.98 %) were women. The average population of landless was 4, marginal farmers were 5.8, small farmers were 5.5, semi medium farmers were 6, medium farmers were 3.3 and large farmers were 10.  Majority of the respondents (41.04%) were in the age group of 16-35 years.  Education level of the sample households indicated that, there were 43.93 per cent of illiterates, 27.75 per cent of them had primary school education, 1.73 per cent middle school education, and 15.03 per cent high school education, 4.05 per cent of them had PUC education and 6.94 per cent attained graduation.  About, 53.13 per cent of household heads practicing agriculture and 43.75 per cent of the household heads were engaged as agricultural labourers.  Agriculture was the major occupation for 33.53 per cent of the household members.  In the study area, 68.75 per cent of the households possess katcha house and 6.25 per cent possess pucca house.  The durable assets owned by the households showed that, 43.75 per cent possess TV, 100.00 per cent possess mobile phones and 18.75 per cent possess motor cycles.  Farm implements owned by the households indicated that, 50.00 per cent of the households possess plough, 12.50 per cent possess tractor, 25.00 per cent possess bullock cart and 46.88 per cent possess sprayer.  Regarding livestock possession by the households, 15.63 per cent possess local cow and 15.63 per cent possess buffalo.  The average labour availability in the study area showed that, own labour men available in the micro watershed was 1.52, women available in the micro watershed was 1.56, hired labour (men) available was 8.11 and hired labour (women) available was 14.29. 2  In the study area, about 2.31 per cent of the respondents migrated from the micro watershed in search of jobs with an average distance of 175.00 kms for about 12.00 months.  Out of the total land holding of the sample respondents 72.37 per cent (49.50 ha) of the area is under dry condition and the remaining 27.63 per cent area is irrigated land.  There were 7.00 live bore wells and 8.00 dry bore wells among the sampled households.  Bore well was the major source of irrigation for 21.88 per cent of the households.  The major crops grown by sample farmers are Red gram, Cotton, Groundnut, Paddy and Jowar and cropping intensity was recorded as 100.00 per cent.  Out of the sample households 96.88 percent possessed bank account and 43.75 per cent of them have savings in the account.  About 56.25 per cent of the respondents borrowed credit from various sources.  Among the credit borrowed by households, 81.82 per cent have borrowed loan from commercial banks.  Majority of the respondents (100.00%) have borrowed loan for agriculture purpose.  Regarding the opinion on institutional sources of credit, 100.00 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, Paddy and Jowar was Rs.22360.83, 37436.51, 37856.35, 149498.39 and 18450.25 with benefit cost ratio of 1:0.90, 1: 1.40, 1: 1.20, 1: 0.70 and 1:0.90 , respectively.  Further, 43.75 per cent of the households opined that dry fodder was adequate.  The average annual gross income of the farmers was Rs. 124154.38 in microwatershed, of which Rs. 63075.00 comes from agriculture.  Sampled households have grown 2 horticulture trees and 57 forestry trees together in the fields and back yards.  About 6.25 per cent of the households shown interest to cultivate horticultural crops.  Households have an average investment capacity of Rs. 1156.25 for land development and Rs. 12031.25 for irrigation facility.  Source of funds for additional investment is concerned, 18.18 per cent depends on own funds.  Regarding marketing channels, 93.75 per cent have sold in regulated markets.  Further, 87.50 per cent of the households have used tractor for the transport of agriculture commodity.  Majority of the farmers (34.38%) have experienced soil and water erosion problems in the watershed and 78.13 per cent of the households were interested towards soil testing. 3  Fire was the major source of fuel for domestic use for 65.63 per cent of the households and 40.63 per cent households has LPG connection.  Piped supply was the major source for drinking water for 87.50 per cent of the households.  Electricity was the major source of light for 100.00 per cent of the households.  In the study area, 46.88 per cent of the households possess toilet facility.  Regarding possession of PDS card, 100.00 per cent of the households possessed BPL cards.  Households opined that, the requirement of cereals (78.13%), pulses (71.88%) and oilseeds (43.75%) are adequate for consumption.  Farming constraints experienced by households in the micro watersheds were lower fertility status of the soil (87.50%) wild animal menace on farm field (81.25%), frequent incidence of pest and diseases (81.25%), inadequacy of irrigation water (40.63%), high cost of fertilizers and plant protection chemicals (87.50%), high rate of interest on credit (81.25%), low price for the agricultural commodities (84.38%), lack of marketing facilities in the area (84.38%), inadequate extension services (75.00%) and lack of transport for safe transport of the agricultural produce to the market (81.25%) ; Watershed Development Department, Government of Karnataka (World Bank Funded) Sujala –III Project