CENTRE FOR WATER AND LAND RESOURCES (CWLR)
1. THE GENESIS
The importance of effective management of natural resources like Land, Water, Vegetation and Livestock for Sustainable Crop Production and Livelihoods of the rural people needs no emphasis. Keeping this overall perspective in view, the Centre for Water and Land Management was created at NIRD in March 2005. The Centre is mandated to serve as a nodal agency to undertake field based research and training programmes for optimum utilization of natural resources for sustainable development of rural areas in general and the village community in particular. The Centre also participates in Action Research projects in the drought prone regions in the country.
2. OBJECTIVES
To undertake research studies regarding utilization of natural resources in general and address problem areas in the management of water and land resources in particular relating to specified agro climatic zones across the country.
To enhance capacity building of officials, non-officials, rural organizations engaged in development of natural resources through a broad spectrum of training programmes/Workshops/Seminars to reach out to different clienteles.
To establish linkage with various stakeholders engaged in promotion of watershed projects and land care programmes in the overall strategy towards poverty reduction, employment generation and income addition for sustainable livelihood opportunities for the poor.
3. CORE ACTIVITIES
The Centre looks at development of natural resources like water and land from multi-sectoral perspective especially from the view point of the ultimate stakeholders. These are achieved through field based diagnostic and applied research and better sensitization of development functionaries through training. The Centre is the nodal agency to coordinate the activities of the National Committee on Watershed Training (NCWT) on behalf of the Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India. Some of the core areas of research and training of the Centre include:
a) Training Programmes

*International programme on Management of Natural Resources for Sustainable Rural Livelihoods
* Planning and Implementation of Watershed Projects
* Institutional Building for NRM
* Community based NRM for Poverty Alleviation
* Joint Forest Management
* Management of Natural Resources for Rural Livelihoods
* Integrated Farming System
* Livestock Based Livelihoods
* Sustainable Agriculture
b) Research
To provide policy directives with greater insights into the problems of different approaches of linking livelihood with conservation, the Centre has undertaken several studies covering various management dimensions. The results of such research besides providing input to the training programmes help in problem solving by the respective organizations. Following are few important research studies of the Centre:
· Development of Training Manual on Participatory Forestry Extension for MP Forestry Officers
· Development of Training Package on Extension and Communication for BAIF Executives
· Livestock as a component of Rural Development
· Improving Managerial Efficiency of Sericultural Extension Personnel
· Development of Action Plan for Sustainable Watershed Development
· Development of Watershed Guidelines
· Gender Sensitization of Agriculture Policy Makers
c) Action Research
Action Research has been one of the very important components of the activities of the Centre to understand field level implications of the recommendations emerging out of the research activities. A number of guidelines have been evolved in such process. A few noteworthy among them are stated below:
1. Guidelines for Sustainable Watershed Development Programmes.

2. Guidelines for Effective Management of Dry land Technologies.

3. Livestock as a component of Rural Development – A CIRDAP Action Study.

4. Guidelines for Planning and Implementation of Sericulture Projects.

5. Action Plan for Training in Watershed Management (GoI).
d)  Consultancy
The Centre serves a vast segment of clientele on a wide spectrum of related themes which impinges on conservation and development of natural resources like soil, water, vegetation, forest and livestock.

The canvas includes agronomy practices, environmental economics, resource conservation strategies and livelihood opportunity for the poor as well as the marginalized sections of rural community. From these perspectives, the Centre extends consultancy services in the form of specific training and research programmes on demand from national and international organizations in the field of agriculture and rural development. Some of our important clienteles include UNIFEM, UNDP, DFID, CIRDAP, Indo-Swiss Project of AP., Bharatiya Agro Industries Foundation (BAIF), Ministry of Environment and Forests, Ministry of Rural Development, GOI, besides various state government departments.
e) Publication
The research results of the Centre are published in the form of books and papers in national and international journals. A few notable publications brought out by the Centre are:
· Field Manual on Planning and Management of Watershed Development

· Drought Prone Area Programme

· Development of Training Manual on Participatory Forestry programmes

· Management of Transfer of Farm Technology

· Developmental Communication: Process and Impact

· Management of T&V System of Extension

· Analysis of Various Models of Social Forestry in India

· Milch Cattle scheme under IRDP

· Impact of Watershed
4. ACTION PLAN
Erstwhile Centre on Natural Resource Management (CNRM) has been pursuing the activities of the National Committee on Watershed Training (NCWT), constituted by the Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India. In this Committee, the Director General, NIRD acts as the Chairman and Professor & Head (CWLM) serves as the Member-Secretary. NIRD has been nominated as National Training Organisation to provide support to NCWT. The mission of NCWT is two-fold.
· Constitution of State Committee on Watershed Training (SCWT) and nomination of State Training Support Organization (STSO) and Training and Support Organization (TSOS).

· Formulation of National Action Plan for Training in Watershed Management