IRMA Water Center

Water scarcity and inefficient water management are the two burning issues facing the planet
today. In India, the ramifications are more serious as more than 50% of the agricultural area is
still dependent on monsoons with scanty/erratic rainfall, while around 70% of the Indian
population lives in rural areas with livelihoods mainly dependent on agriculture consuming
approximately 75% of water resources. Conserving water has become a pivotal point to
benefit the 1593 blocks of 255 ‘water-stressed districts’ recently identified by the Ministry
of Jal Shakti. In view of these realities, the Government of India has taken many initiatives over
the years in collaboration with apex-level institutions like NABARD and other organizations
focusing on the construction of irrigation facilities, development programmes for dryland areas
with water conservation/water harvesting, crop production techniques, and watershed
development programmes among others.

Given the enormity of the problem, such initiatives need to proliferate and expand to have the
necessary national and international impact. As a conscious and responsible rural management
institution, IRMA has decided to establish a ‘Water Centre’ for addressing various issues related
to water prioritizing sustainable water use for agriculture and rural livelihood to help India
become a more efficient water secured country.

The Vision

The Vision of the ‘Water Centre’ is to work for effective water management approaches, developing
capacity for different stakeholders, undertaking action-oriented research, influencing policy towards right
direction. The individual goals of the center as foreseen at this point of time are -

Goals:

 Work for improved water conservation and sustainable watershed management system for
productivity improvement of rainfed agriculture on sustainable basis.
 Develop water professional and experts among the youths, officials and practitioners for
sustainable productivity improvement.
 Evolving Policy towards solving water issues in irrigated agriculture and drinking water sector.
 Work for effective governance and management of grassroot level water institutions and
strengthening further for making a sustainable structure.

The broad objectives of the Water Centre are as follows:

i. Making IRMA a place for research, study & repository on water development practices
for evolving policies for water & energy efficient management practices and advocacy.

ii. Research/experience-based Model development for Sustainable Watershed Management

 iii. Developing Models on water accessibility and affordability for improving Rural
livelihood

iv. Designing effective participatory irrigated and drinking water management system for
sustainability

v. Building & Promotion of Social entrepreneurships and Water Start-ups

vi. Management Development for building of Water Professionals/Agri-entrepreneurs.

vii. Introduction of Water education programmes/courses for attracting young minds,

professionals, Govt. officials involved in policy and practitioners

viii. Work for strategic Policies and system for water, fertilizer & energy efficient agriculture
practices etc. for the benefit of farmers, rural people and the country towards water
positive nation.

The approach of the Centre is to work in collaboration and coordination with various
development and supporting organizations, research /management institutions and practitioners
for an efficient water and energy production system, both nationally and internationally. To this
end, IRMA has recently become a member of the Australia India Water Centre (AIWC)
inaugurated on November 6, 2020.

Focused Areas of the Centre:

1: Water for Agriculture

 Designing model for Sustainable Participatory Watershed Management approach

 Appropriate Water & Technology use for Productivity enhancement in Rainfed Agriculture

 Water Conservation & Harvesting for ground water recharging

 Participatory Irrigation Management with Water User Associations & FPOs/ Micro-villagers
Water group/ Water Volunteers/Water Cooperatives.

2: Water for Quality of life and Livelihood Improvement

 Availability of Water for use for

 Clean & Safe Drinking water,

  Effective Sanitation System

 Water & Sewerage System for betterment of livelihood

 Water for other livelihood requirements

3: Bio-industrial and Participatory management approach in Agriculture

 Energy Efficient water management for Rainfed Agriculture.

 Energy & Fertilizer Smart Efficient Agriculture for sustainable productivity

 Impact Assessment of Various Programmes

4: Education & Professional Development

 Introduction of Water Certificate and Diploma Course for youths

 Introduction of Course on water management for PGDRM students
 Development of Social Entrepreneurs and Water-startups
 Programme for agripreneurship and water professional development

5: Repository Building and sharing for research & learning

 Building holistic repository of data from various sources

 Create repository of field level experiences
 Repository of Indigenous technology for effective water conservation/ harvesting.
 Use modern and information technology for building and sharing
 Develop forecasting system and user tools for advance information signals

Priority Areas

The Centre would work on priority basis in the areas of watershed and Rainfed agriculture, Education and
professional development and start building the Repository Centre for conduct of research and studies and
documentation.

Deliverables of Water Centre

 Sustainable Watershed Management Models
 Policy Briefs on Water usage by different sectors
 Education & professional courses
 Effective Water Institution building/ strengthening
 Knowledge sharing
 Making a difference in rural livelihood and quality of life