Although Karnataka enjoys a substantial amount of rainfall and has a significant quantity of water resources, it is not enough to meet the ever-increasing water requirement of the state. Karnataka suffers repetitive droughts. In spite of the availability of water from the river systems and tanks, Karnataka faces the serious issue of 67 percent of its land falling under dry tracts. With a rapidly increasing population and improved living standards, the stress on water resources is constantly on the rise. The per capita availability of water resources is reducing day by day. The erratic behaviour of rainfall and Inter-State River Waterdisputesaggravate the problem. The impact of climate change on water resources also cannot be ignored. Ground water is an important source of water and its management is ridden with several problems. Misuse of water resources and poor management of catchment areas add to the stressful water resource situation in the state. The result is the sever scarcity of water resources across many parts of the state.

Same is the case with land resources. Due to reckless exploitation of land resources, the net cultivable land for agriculture is declining day by day. And in terms of quality land resources are getting degraded. There is competition for land and conflicts are arising due to scarcity. In irrigated command areas many challenges are arising for water and land management due to improper management practices.

Establishment
In view of the enhanced importance attached to development, conservation and use of natural resources like water and land, Government of India and Government of Karnataka have established several useful institutions. Around 1980s several states in India started water and land management institutes. Water And Land Management Institute (WALMI Dharwad), Dharwad is one such institution set up in the State. walmidharwad was established by Karnataka Government under World Bank assistance at Bheemarayanagudi on 28.05.1985 to train staff of Irrigation and Agriculture Departments and CADAs. The Institute was registered as Society called ‘WALMI Dharwad Society’ on 16 June, 1986 under the Karnataka Societies Registration Act 1960 [Registration No. 74/86-87]. The institute was shifted from Bheemarayanagudi to Dharwad during April 1986 in view of certain logistic advantages like communication, education and expertise in Dharwad. Presently, the institute is located 14 km away from Dharwad on national highway [NH 4].

Objectives

1. To promote advancement of science and acquisition of scientific knowledge in the field of water and land management
2. To provide training of interdisciplinary nature to farmers, staff engaged in irrigation water management and land development in Irrigation and Agriculture Departments
3. To take up Action and Adaptive Research pertaining to water and land management
4. To provide consultancy services to the Government and other Organizations
5. To establish collaboration with related Universities and research stations
6. To conduct seminars/ workshops and symposia and related events
7. To bring out publications like reports, books, booklets, scientific and popular articles, brochures, pamphlets.etc

Organization
WALMI Dharwad is governed by the Governing Council (GC) presided over by the Principal Secretary, Water Resources Department, Government of Karnataka. Governing Council includes 15 members representing different Departments and Organizations of State and Central Government. Director of WALMI Dharwad is the Member Secretary of the Governing Council. While the Governing Council is responsible for policy decision, the Director assisted by the staff, looks after administrative matters pertaining to training, research and administration.

Activities
WALMI Dharwad carries out the following activities regularly. A comprehensive action plan is prepared in these areas and implemented round the year.

Training
The Institute imparts training in Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM), Participatory Irrigation Management (PIM), preparation and development of land for irrigation, amelioration of saline and water logged soils etc.

Research
The Institute undertakes research relevant to water and land management and policy formulation etc.

Demonstration
With a view to improving the knowledge and practical skills of farmers and irrigation workers, WALMI Dharwad conducts field demonstrations on land, water and crop management.

Consultancy
The Institute provides consultancy services to the Departments of Water Resources, Irrigation Corporations, Command Area Development Authorities (CADAs) and Agriculture Department working in irrigation command areas and local bodies.

Publications
For wide dissemination of knowledge, WALMI Dharwad brings out publications for the benefit of stake holders. These include- training manuals, pamphlets, booklets, books, research papers and popular articles.

Field Visit
“Seeing is Believing” is the core principle of training programme in the Institute for which field exposure trips are being organized periodically.

Collaboration/Coordination
WALMI Dharwad seeks affiliations with intuitions of reputation and coordinates efforts among various agencies involved in land and water management.

Seminars/Symposia/Workshops
For generation and dissemination of knowledge and policy advocacy, WALMI Dharwad organizes these periodic events.

Faculty
WALMI Dharwad being a multi disciplinary institute employs Faculty from multi-disciplinary backgrounds like engineering, agriculture, water management, economics and other social sciences. At present Faculty are deployed from different departments of State Government, Research Institutes and Universities on deputation basis. Scientists, professors and engineers from within the country and state are invited for sharing their knowledge, field experiences.

Infrastructure
WALMI Dharwad has about 137 acres of land in which About 53 acres is under demonstrations and 14 acres is under horticultural plantations About 70 acres of land is occupied by buildings and other structures. There are five bore wells and a tank supplying water for drinking purposes and irrigation. The campus houses an administrative block, academic block, meeting halls, classrooms, laboratories, hostels, residential quarters and guest house. Modern irrigation systems like sprinkler, drip, rain guns, hydraulic laboratory and different irrigation models are available for training and demonstration purpose. Facilities like computers, modern teaching aids like active boards, LCD, digital camera, display boards, internet are available for training purposes. Adequate transport facilities are available for the Institute. Water and electricity supplies are ensured on campus on 24 X 7 basis.

Progress
WALMI Dharwad is actively involved in training, research and policy advisory. Officers and faculty serve on many high level committees of government and provide policy inputs. About 65 thousand participants have been trained in various subjects related to land and water management since inception of the Institute (1986). About 100 different demonstrations have been conducted since 2009-10. Action Research work was taken up to reclaim salt-affected areas under Malaprabha and Ghataprabha Projects. WALMI Dharwad played a crucial role to motivate farmers to take up amelioration work on their own. Demonstration of Sustainable Sugarcane Initiative (SSI) technology was taken up in sugarcane using drip irrigation. Demonstration was organized on Systematic Rice Intensification (SRI) technology in paddy for efficient use of water.