LAND RESOURCE INVENTORY AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS OF FARM HOUSEHOLDS FOR WATERSHED PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT MUDDABALLI (4D4A1Y1f) MICROWATERSHED Koppal Taluk and District, Karnataka ; Not Available
Not Available ; The land resource inventory of Muddaballi 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 478 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 95 per cent is covered by soils and 5 per cent is by habitation and settlements. The salient findings from the land resource inventory are summarized briefly below. The soils belong to 12 soil series and 27 soil phases (management units) and 7 Land Management Units. The length of crop growing period is 150 cm). About 200 mm/m) in available water capacity. About 17 per cent area of the microwatershed has nearly level (0-1% slope) lands and 78 per cent area of the microwatershed has very gently sloping (1-3% slope) lands. An area of about 51 per cent area is moderately (e2) eroded and an area of about 44 per cent area is slightly (e1) eroded. An area of about 4 per cent soils are neutral (pH 6.5-7.3), 45 per cent soils are slightly alkaline to strongly alkaline (pH 7.3-9.0) and 47 per cent soils are very strongly alkaline (pH >9.0) in soil reaction. The Electrical Conductivity (EC) of the soils in the entire cultivated area of the microwatershed is dominantly 0.75%) in 35 per cent area. An area of about 38 per cent is low (57 kg/ha) in available phosphorus. An area of about 2 per cent is low (337 kg/ha) in available potassium. Available sulphur is low (4.5 ppm) and 89 per cent is deficient (1.0 ppm) in available manganese content. Entire cultivated area of the microwatershed is sufficient (>0.2 ppm) in available copper content. An area of about 89 per cent is deficient (0.6 ppm) in available zinc content. The land suitability for 31 major crops grown in the microwatershed was 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 39(8) 297(62) Sapota 39(8) 40(9) Maize - 336(70) Pomegranate 39(8) 198(42) Bajra 39(8) 306(64) Guava 39(8) 10(2) Groundnut 39(8) 46(10) Jackfruit 39(8) 9(2) Sunflower 39(8) 191(40) Jamun 39(8) 124(26) Cotton 39(8) 296(62) Musambi 39(8) 199(42) Red gram 39(8) 153(32) Lime 39(8) 199(42) Bengalgram - 336(70) Cashew 39(8) 10(2) Chilli 39(8) 32(7) Custard apple 39(8) 312(65) Tomato 39(8) 63(13) Amla 39(8) 312(65) Brinjal <1(<1) 310(65) Tamarind 39(8) 115(24) Onion <1(<1) 45(9) Marigold 39(8) 297(62) Bhendi <1(<1) 310(65) Chrysanthemum 39(8) 297(62) Drumstick 39(8) 197(41) Jasmine 39(8) 108(23) Mulberry 39(8) 174(36) Crossandra 39(8) 67(14) Mango 39(8) 115(24) Apart from the individual crop suitability, a proposed crop plan has been prepared for the 7 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 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 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. FINDINGS OF THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC SURVEY The survey was conducted in Muddaballi is located at 15018'14.734'' to 150 16'27.864'' North and East longitude 760 9'36.537'' to 7607'32.496'' covering an area of about 478.12 ha coming under Koppal, Muddhaballi and Chukanakal villages of Koppal taluk. Socio-economic analysis indicated that, out of the total sample of 35 respondents, 5 (14.29%) were landless, 9 (25.71%) were marginal, small farmers and semi medium farmers and 3 (8.57%) were medium farmers. The population characteristics of households indicated that, there were 106 (55.79%) men and 84 (44.21%) women among the sampled households. The average family size of landless farmers' was 4.2, marginal farmers' was 5.5, small farmers' was 5.8, semi medium farmers' was 6.1 and medium farmers' was 3.6. Majority of the respondents 42 (22.11%) people were in 0-15 years of age, 87 (45.79%) were in 16-35 years of age, 46 (24.21%) were in 36-60 years of age and 15 (7.89%) were above 61 years of age. Education level of the sample households indicated that, majority there were 37.89 per cent illiterates, 1.05 per cent of them had functional literate, 13.16 per cent of them had primary school, 8.95 per cent of them had Middle school education, 18.42 per cent of them had high school, 7.89 per cent of them had PUC, 1.05 per cent of them had ITI, 5.26 per cent of them had degree and 0.53 per cent of them had masters education. About, 65.71 per cent of household heads were practicing agriculture and 31.43 per cent of the household heads were agricultural laborers. Agriculture was the major occupation for 32.63 per cent of the household members, 29.47 per cent were agricultural labourers, 0.53 per cent were general labour, 1.05 per cent were government service and private service, 17.89 per cent were student, 3.16 per cent were housewives and 3.68 per cent were children. The households possess, 0.53 per cent of the population in the micro watershed has participated in user group and cooperative bank and 98.95 per cent of the population in the micro watershed has not participated in any local institutions. In the study area, 82.86 per cent of the households possess katcha, 5.71 per cent of the households possess pucca/RCC house and 2.86 per cent of the households possess semi pacca. The durable assets owned by the households showed that, 82.86 per cent of the households possess TV, 57.14 per cent of the households possess mixer/grinder, 5.71 per cent of the households possess bicycle and computer laptop, 37.14 per cent of the household's possess motor cycle and 71.43 per cent of the households possess mobile phones. 2 Farm implements owned by the households indicated that, 20 per cent each of the households possess bullock cart, 37.14 per cent each of the households possess plough, 2.86 per cent of the households possess seed/fertilizer drill, irrigation pump and power tiller, 11.43 per cent of the households possess tractor, 25.71 per cent of the households possess sprayer, 68.57 per cent of the households possess weeder and 17.14 per cent of the households possess sprayer. Regarding livestock possession by the households, 22.86 per cent of the households possess bullocks and local cow, 20 per cent of the households possess crossbreed cow, 5.71 per cent of the households possess buffalo and sheep, 2.86 per cent of the households possess goat. The average own labour men available in the micro watershed was 1.5, average own labour (women) available was 1.2, average hired labour (men) available was 18.93 and average hired labour (women) available was 17.10. Out of the total land holding of the sample respondents 30.20 ha (67.09%) of dry land, 13.02 ha (28.91%) of irrigated land and 1.80 ha (4%) of permanent fallow land. Marginal farmers possess 6.66 ha (100%) of dry land. Small farmers possess 7.85 ha (76.68%) of dry land and 2.39 ha (23.32%) of irrigated land. Semi medium farmers possess 13.87 ha (72.21%) of dry land and 5.34 ha (27.79 %) of irrigated land. Medium farmers possess 1.83 ha (20.47%) of dry land, 5.29 ha (59.33%) of irrigated land and 1.80 ha (20.20 %) of permanent fallow land. There were 11 functioning and 8 de-functioning bore wells in the micro watershed. Bore well was the major irrigation source in the micro water shed for 31.43 per cent of the farmers. The major crops have grown maize (20.33 ha), maize (8.99 ha), bajra (5.8 ha), navane and sunflower (2.43 ha), bajra (0.94 ha), tomato (0.77 ha), Bengal gram (0.56 ha) and red gram (0.48 ha). The cropping intensity in micro watershed was found to be 98.91 per cent. The sample households possessed 62.86 per cent of the households have bank account and 48.57 per cent have savings. About 20 per cent of the households have availed credit from different sources. The sample households have borrowed 57.14 per cent from commercial, 28.57 per cent of the households have borrowed from cooperative bank, 14.29 per cent of the households have borrowed from friends/relatives and 85.71 per cent of the households have borrowed from Grameena bank. The average credit amount borrowed by households in micro-watershed was Rs. 174,285.71. 3 The households possessed, 100 per cent of the households borrowed from institutional sources for the purpose of agricultural production. The households possessed, 100 per cent of the households do not repay their loan from institutional sources. The households possessed, 100 per cent of the households do not repay their loan from private sources. The households possessed, 100 per cent opined that the loan amount borrowed from helped to perform timely agricultural operations. The households possessed, 100 per cent opined that the loan amount borrowed from easy accessibility of credit. The per hectare cost of cultivation for Maize, Bengal gram, Red gram, Bajra, Navane, Tomato and Sunflower was Rs. 30012.34, 28110.16, 63190.47, 48677.29, 35045.11, 26986.12 and 23780.77 with benefit cost ratio of 1:1.6, 1:1.58, 1:1.99, 1:0.54, 1:0.42, 1:4.6 and 1:1.38, respectively. Further, 40 per cent of the households opined that dry fodder was adequate, 8.57 per cent of the households opined that dry fodder was inadequate and 25.71 per cent of the households opined that green fodder was adequate. The average annual gross income was Rs. 45,022.22 for marginal farmers, for small farmers it was Rs. 80,611.11, semi medium farmers it was Rs. 132,333.33 and medium farmers it was Rs. 66,666.67. The average annual expenditure is Rs. 6,095.87. For marginal farmers it was Rs. 2,479.01, for small farmers it was Rs. 9,612.35, for semi medium farmers it was Rs. 8,837.04 and medium farmers it was Rs. 8,333.33. Sampled households have planted 14 coconut trees in their field to cultivate horticultural crops. Households have planted 39 neem, 15 tamarind, 3 acacia and 1 banyan trees in their field and also 2 neem trees in their backyard to cultivate forest species. Households have an average investment capacity of Rs. 5,600 for land development and Rs. 2,342.86 for improved crop production. Source of funds for additional investment is concerned; government subsidy was the source of additional investment for 11.43 per cent for improved crop. Loan from bank was the source of additional investment for 57.14 per cent for land development and 37.14 per cent for improved crop production. Regarding marketing channels, 11.43 per cent of the farmers sold their produce to agent/traders, 77.14 per cent of the farmers sold their produce to local/village merchant and 8.57 per cent of the farmers sold their produce to regulated market. Further, 2.86 per cent of the households have used cart and truck and 91.43 per cent of the households used tractor as a mode of transportation. Majority of the households 45.71 per cent have shown incidence of soil and water erosion problems. 4 The household possess, (65.71%) were interested towards soil testing. The households possess, 28.57 per cent have adopted field bunding. The status of soil and water conservation structure of field bunding was 10 per cent good and severly damaged and remaining 80 per cent of the condition is slightly damaged. The households have involved, 8.57 per cent of the own and govt agencies are involved in soil conservation structures and 11.43 per cent of farmer organization. The households posssess, 91.43 per cent of the households used fire wood, 2.86 per cent of the households used kerosene, biogas and LPG as a source of fuel. Piped supply was the major source of drinking water for 80 per cent and 20 per cent of the households used bore well in the micro watershed. Electricity was the major source of light for 100 per cent of the households. In the study area, 31.43 per cent of the households possess sanitary toilet facility. Regarding possession of PDS card, 100 per cent of the households possessed BPL card. Cereals were adequate for 80 per cent of the households, pulses were adequate for 68.57 per cent, oilseeds were adequate for 34.29 per cent, vegetables were adequate for 57.14 per cent, fruits were adequate for 2.86 per cent, milk were adequate for 85.71 per cent, egg were adequate for 20 per cent and meat were adequate for 22.86 per cent of the households. Cereals were inadequate for 17.14 per cent of the households, pulses were inadequate for 22.86 per cent, oilseed were inadequate for 42.86 per cent, vegetables were inadequate for 20 per cent, fruits were inadequate for 62.86 per cent, milk were inadequate for 5.71 per cent, egg were inadequate for 45.71 per cent and meat were inadequate for 28.57 per cent of the households. Farming constraints experienced by households in the micro watersheds were lower fertility status of the soil, wild animal menace on farm field, Low price for the agricultural commodities and lack of marketing facilities in the area was the constraint experienced by 71.43 per cent of the households, frequent incidence of pest and diseases (77.14%), Inadequacy of irrigation water and inadequate extension service (48.57 %), high cost of fertilizer and plant protection chemicals and high rate of interest on credit (62.86%), Lack of transport for safe transport of the Agril produce to the market (54.29%), less rainfall (20%) and Source of Agritechnology information (17.14%). ; Watershed Development Department, Government of Karnataka (World Bank Funded) Sujala –III Project