LAND RESOURCE INVENTORY AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS OF FARM HOUSEHOLDS FOR WATERSHED PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT BACHANAHALLI-2 (4B3E2E1b) MICROWATERSHED Gundlupet Taluk, Chamarajanagara District, Karnataka ; Not Available

Abstract

Not Available ; The land resource inventory of Bachanahalli-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 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 39 ha out of total area of 639 ha in Gundlupet Taluk, Chamarajanagar District Karnataka. The remaining area of about 600 ha is under Berambadi State Forest. The climate is semiarid and categorized as drought - prone with an average annual rainfall of 734 mm, of which about 254 mm is received during the south –west monsoon, 26 8mm during north-east and the remaining 212 mm during the rest of the year. An area of about 6 per cent is covered by soils, 94 per cent by forests and 150 cm) soils.  About 4 per cent area has loamy soils and 2 per cent area has clayey soils at the surface.  About 5 per cent of the area has non-gravelly soils and 1 per cent gravelly soils (15- 35 % gravel) soils.  About 4 per cent area has low (51-100 mm/m) and 2 per cent very high (>200 mm/m) in available water capacity.  Entire area of about 6 per cent has very gently sloping (1-3%) lands.  About 6 per cent area is moderately eroded (e2) lands.  About 1 per cent area is slightly acidic (pH 6.0-6.5), about 5 per cent neutral (pH 6.5- 7.3) in soil reaction.  The Electrical Conductivity (EC) of the soils are dominantly 0.75%).  About 6 per cent area is medium (23-57 kg/ha) in available phosphorus.  Major area of about 5 per cent is high (>337 kg/ha) in available potassium and a small area of about 1 per cent has medium (145-337 kg/ha)  Available sulphur is low (4.5 ppm) in about 6 per cent area.  Available zinc is deficient (<0.6 ppm) in an area of about 1 per cent and sufficient in 5 per cent area.  Available manganese and copper are sufficient in all the soils.  The land suitability for 27 major 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 26 (4) 11 (2) Guava 12(2) 5(1) Maize 12 (2) 11 (2) Banana - 32(5) Red gram 12(2) 19(3) Jackfruit - 17(3) Horsegram 12(2) 25 (4) Jamun 14(2) 17(3) Fieldbean - 38(6) Musambi 14(2) 17(3) Groundnut - 23(4) Lime 14(2) 17(3) Sunflower - 26(4) Cashew - 17(3) Cotton 14(2) 23(4) Custard apple 32(5) 6(1) Onion - 38(6) Amla 32(5) 6(1) Potato - 24(4) Tamarind 14(2) 17(3) Beans - 38(6) Marigold 12(2) 25(4) Beetroot - 24(4) Chrysanthemum - 38(6) Mango - 17(3) Turmeric - 24(4) Sapota 12(2) 5(1) Apart from the individual crop suitability, a proposed crop plan has been prepared for the 3 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 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, and generate lot of biomass which in turn would help in maintaining the ecological balance and contribute to mitigating the climate change E SUMMARY 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: Bachanahalli-2 Microwatershed (Gopalapur sub-watershed, Gundlupet taluk and Chamarajanagar district) is located in between 11044' – 11046' North latitudes and 76031' – 76034' East longitudes, covering an area of about 639 ha, bounded by Maddur, Berambadi villages and Berambadi State Forest with a length of 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 Bachanahalli-2 Microwatershed (Gopalapur sub-watershed, Gundlupet taluk and Chamarajanagar district) are presented here. Social Indicators;  Male and female ratio is 56.4 to 43.5 per cent to the total sample population.  Younger age 18 to 50 years group of population is around 56.4 per cent to the total population.  Literacy population is around 71.8 per cent.  Social groups belong to scheduled caste (SC) and scheduled tribe (ST) were around 22.2 per cent.  Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) is the source of energy for a cooking among 88.9 per cent.  About 88.9 per cent of households have a yashaswini health card.  Dependence on ration cards for food grains through public distribution system is around 44.5 per cent.  Swach bharath program providing closed toilet facilities around 66.7 per cent.  Institutional participation is only 20.5 per cent.  Women participation in decisions making are around 22.2 per cent of sample households. Economic Indicators;  The average land holding is 1.9 ha indicates that majority of farm households are belong to small and medium farmers. The dry land account for 32.9 % and irrigated land is 67.1% of total cultivated land of the sample farmers. 2  Agriculture is the main occupation among 20.6 per cent and agriculture is the main and non agriculture labour is subsidiary occupation for 53.8 per cent of sample households.  The average value of domestic assets is around Rs. 12095 per household. Mobile and television are popular media mass communication.  The average value of farm assets is around Rs. 35270 per household, about 88.9 per cent of sample farmers are owing drip/sprinkler.  The average value of livestock is around Rs. 22050 per household; about 61.1 per cent of household are having livestock.  The average per capita food consumption is around 736.4 grams (1778.5 kilo calories) against national institute of nutrition (NIN) recommendation at 827 gram. Around 66.7 per cent of sample households are consuming less than the NIN recommendation.  The annual average income is around Rs 77492 per household. About 66.7 per cent of farm households are above poverty line.  The per capita average monthly expenditure is around Rs 1184. 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 1856 per ha/year. The total cost of annual soil nutrients is around Rs 68674 per year for the total area of 638.8 ha.  The average value of ecosystem service for food grain production is around Rs. 26259/ ha/year. Per hectare food grain production services is maximum in garlic (Rs. 101369) followed by sugarcane (Rs. 61120), banana (Rs. 44520), onion (Rs. 42386), beans (Rs. 25263), turmeric (Rs. 18906), beetroot (Rs. 1405), groundnut, ragi and maize are negative returns.  The average value of ecosystem service for fodder production is around Rs. 7464/ ha/year. Per hectare fodder production services is maximum in maize (Rs. 98198) followed by groundnut (Rs. 7348) and ragi (Rs. 4018).  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 beans (Rs. 300723) followed by sugarcane (Rs. 129675), banana (Rs. 115311), turmeric (Rs. 63438), maize (Rs. 62834), groundnut, (Rs 41229), garlic (Rs 29097), ragi (Rs. 18915) and onion (Rs. 14509). 3 Economic Land Evaluation;  The major cropping pattern is banana (21.3 %) followed by maize (16.0 %), turmeric (14.0 %), ragi (13.4 %), groundnut (10.7 %), sorghum, sugarcane and beetroot of 5.7 per cent to each and beans is 2.6 per cent.  In Bachanahalli-2 micro watershed, major soils are Hullipura (HPR) soil series are having moderately shallow soil depth cover around 0.9 % of area, the crops are banana (52.3 %), sugarcane and turmeric was 23.9 % each. Kallipura (KLP) soil series having deep soil depth cover around 1.9 % of areas, crops are banana (18.7 %) garlic (5.2 %), groundnut (7.8 %), maize (27.7 %), onion (11.1 %), ragi (26.8 %) and turmeric (2.6 %). Maddinahundi (MDH) soil series are having deep soil depth cover around 0.8 per cent of area. The major crops grown are beans (16.7 %), cotton (37.5 %), beetroot (33.3 %), ragi (16.7%) and turmeric (33.3%).  The total cost of cultivation and benefit cost ratio (BCR) in study area for banana ranges between Rs. 94462/ha in KLP soil (with BCR of 1.28) and Rs. 79233/ha in HPR soil (with BCR of 1.78).  In ragi the cost of cultivation range between Rs. 36905/ha in KLP soil (with of 1.19) and Rs. 34622/ha in MDH soil (with BCR of 1.11).  In turmeric the cost of cultivation range between Rs. 599885/ha in KLP soil (with BCR of 1.07) and Rs. 84176/ha in MDH soil (with BCR of 1.58).  In sugarcane the cost of cultivation in HPR soil is Rs.93255/ha (with BCR of 1.66).  In beans the cost of cultivation in MDH soil is Rs 98237/ha (with BCR of 1.26).  In groundnut the cost of cultivation in KLP soil is Rs.60015/ha (with BCR of 1.06).  In onion the cost of cultivation in KLP soil is Rs 69634/ha (with BCR of 1.61).  In garlic the cost of cultivation in KLP soil is Rs.219731/ha (with BCR of 1.46).  In maize the cost of cultivation in KLP soil is Rs 71926/ha (with BCR of 1.6) and beetroot the cost cultivation in MDH soil is Rs.41388/ha (with BCR of 1.03).  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 on deeper soils 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 banana (63.9 to 78.1 %), ragi (59.5 to 61.0 %), turmeric (8.9 to 38.8%), garlic (59.2%), onion (93.0 %), beans (61.3 %), sugarcane (54%) and beetroot (36.7 %). ; Watershed Development Department, Government of Karnataka (World Bank Funded) Sujala –III Project