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Water is a vital and critical input for overall social development as well as agricultural development of the state. Spatial and temporal mal-adjustments between source/supply and utility of water as a resource led to its scarcity in the place and time it is most needed. In recent years, its scarcity has not only jeopardized the agricultural production but also upset rural, urban and industrial development. Managing the water resources through scientific basis and organizing its developmental programmes including recycling and reuse has been a prioritized agenda at this juncture.

A long term planning of water resource management for soil-water-crop in relation with weather modeling in Karnataka is absolutely essential to achieve higher production without hampering the soil fertility and productivity. Hence high water use efficient cropping systems, through crop diversification and integrated farming systems, location specific crops and cropping system models for higher production through farmer’s participatory approach is the need of an hour.

In our country, 85 per cent of water resources are used for irrigation to contribute to more than 60 per cent of agriculture output from 39 per cent of cultivated land. Thereby, it is crucial to achieve food security of the country. But, demographic pressures with dwindling per capita holding size and unsustained and un-scientific use of water have deepened the scarcity scenario to pose more formidable challenges in water management. Successive Governments have spent thousands of crores of rupees in creating surface irrigation facilities to achieve quick progress through irrigated agriculture. The over exploitation of underground water resources is a challenge of greater magnitude, although government is spending on ground water use is minimal, both surface and ground water resource management pose diverse and complicated challenges such as

In general, the overexploitation of under ground resources, wastage of surface water, poor knowledge of water resource management; lack of policy initiatives and lack of participatory approach indicate an obscure and insecure future, if proper strategies are not adopted to address this issues in holistic approach.

In the recent years, increased evaporation as a result of overall rise in temperature, shift in surface pattern have added new dimensions to already complicated water management field- besides reducing trend of per capita availability due to demographic pressures. Increasing population densities in urban center have posed another dimension of water management in the sense of overexploitation and imperative reuse of urban water resources.

In above-mentioned scenario of multidimensional problem of waterfront, the challenges ahead are indeed much complex as by 2025 water needs of all the sectors of society would go up substantially.

Karnataka is unique in respect of its water resources than rest of country in many respects. Rainfall varies from 500 mm to 5000 mm. Major river basins like Krishna and Cauvery are shared with other co-basin States. Further, the distance between western ghat and west coast being less, most of the rain received' at the west of western ghat flows to Arabian sea without much use. The rainfall is, by and large, bimodal with very feeble north-east monsoons. Most of rain is received through South-West monsoon. Making use of high rainfall in western part of state for the benefit of low rainfall areas in eastern part is a broad strategy of the state for many decades

Karnataka receives a total of 2026 million ha. cm. of water annually through rainfall and its distribution in different agro-ecological zones.

Agro Climatic Zones of Karanataka

Out of these, hilly and coastal zones contribute 27.6 and 18.8 per cent of total water resources although they occupy 12 and 5 percent of geographical area respectively. Water resources per square km is highly uneven over these zones. While hilly and coastal zones have 244 ha.cm and 387 ha.cm per square km, all other zones have water resource restricted to 57-88 ha.cm per square km. Northern Dry Zone has least water resource of 57 ha.cm per square km (Table-1).

Out of total water resources of Karnataka, annually 380 million ha. Cm is evaporated, 546 million ha. Cm flows as river and streams while 1100 million ha. Cm enters the soil. Out of 546 million ha. Cm water flown, 53.7% is utilizable.

It is estimated that water needs for industrial domestic and power generation would go up due to demographic and industrial growth. Obviously, this need has to be satisfied at the cost of needs for irrigation.

In Karnataka, 3.0 million ha is ready for irrigation by surface-water sources and 1.00 million hectares is presently being irrigated by groundwater (Table-3).

The availability of ground water for irrigation or drinking purpose is intricately connected to recharge of underground aquifers. The natural recharge of water is often badly affected by either deficit rainfall or by poor management of rainwater. Open wells are invariably recharged by shallow strata of soil and are more prone to fluctuations of rainfall. But, bore wells are supplied by deeper strata of soil and therefore depend upon water that flows into deeper layers from other upper regions.

Bore wells cannot be a permanent source of water - as the supply of water even in deeper layers of earth is limited. The natural limits that exist in location of bore wells (distance between bore wells), the depth from which water could be economically lifted and the, levels of sustainable supply of water from bore wells have not received due consideration in the past. Indiscriminate digging of bore wells has affected the water availability in open wells too.

Recharging of groundwater has not been attempted on large scale in the State. Lifting of ground water without proper recharge facility can be disastrous, Proper recharging of groundwater aquifers can only ensure sustainable ground water supply. As the State has to depend heavily on groundwater resources in the times to come, a systematic and scientific recharging of underground water seems to be inevitable.

Management of water resources includes the practices and strategies to be adopted to save the water and increase the output per unit of water used, as water saved is water earned. Any form of wastage in irrigation and domestic use automatically leads to inefficient and wasteful management of a costly resource like water. It should be the endeavour of researcher, policy makers, administrators as well as users to make productive use of every drop of water.

Exploitation of both under ground and surface water resources pose challenges of diverse magnitudes.

Considering the seriousness of present and future issues connected to water resources management in Karnataka and as decided in the “Karnataka Resolution” during the joint review meeting of the Agriculture sector of Karnataka on 3^rd August, 2007 by the Hon’ble Prime Minister, Hon’ble Agriculture Minister, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Karnataka, Hon’ble Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka, Deputy Chairman and Member, Planning Commission, it is proposed to strengthen the research center on Water Resource Management for equitable distribution and better availability of the water resource to scalingup the water productivity.

The following are the justification for strengthening Advanced Center on Water Resource Management

Ψ Lack of exclusive centre to deal with research, development, training and extension in water resources management, including water policy related issues

Ψ Lack of integration between state irrigation polices and agricultural polices, as irrigation related decisions are predominantly made by irrigation engineers an integrated research approach involving both agricultural and engineering issues will be helpful.

Ψ Exclusive facilities to address the problems of surface and ground water resources separately in a well conceived technical programme are needed at state level

Ψ Comprehensive, continuing state wide training facilities are needed to improve the scientific awareness about water use among stake holders like farmers, extension workers, administrators, policy makers and other ground level workers.

Ψ State of the art research facilities for research on micro-irrigation methods are needed to bring out new technologies regarding their effectiveness and fertigation as well as to popularize them by training and large scale demonstrations.

Ψ Research and development efforts on community based approaches for diverse fields of water management like groundwater recharge, tank irrigation management, catchment management will strengthen the ongoing programmes of water management.

Ψ An exclusive state level research organisation is needed for resource planning, water related information network to formulate policies for futuristic development activities in the state, by using satellite technology.

Ψ Adaptive research strengthened by basic research is needed to manage and ameliorate acidic, saline, sodic and alkali soils in the state, which are largely created by over use of irrigation water or wrongful cropping practices in command areas of the state.

The proposed main center is located about 11 kms away from South-West of Mandya towards Melukote side, in Mandya-Melukote road (100 kms away from Bangalore). Geographically, located between 12^o45’ to 13^o57’ North latitude and 76^o45’ to 78^o24’. East longitude and at an altitude of 695 m above MSL.

This ZARS is the main Agricultural Research Station of agroclimatically classified Southern Dry zone, covering 18 taluks of Mandya (7), Mysore and Chamarajnagar (8 taluks), Tumkur ( 2 taluks) and one taluk of Hassan Districts with Agricultural Research Station, Naganahally and Agricultural Research Station, Madenur under its control.

Background

This Research Station was established during 1931. Initially as a water management and Sugarcane Research Station by the then Maharaja of Mysore. The station receives irrigation water from Cauvery river through channel. Earlier, this channel was named as Irwin Channel, later during 1945, it was named as Visweshwaraiah Channel, from this, the farm got the name as ‘VC FARM’.

During 1965, it was handed over to University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore, by the then Government of Mysore and it was renamed as Regional Research Station. The ICAR, New Delhi, recognized this station as a AICRP Centre for Research on Sugarcane (1971), Rice (1969), Ragi (1930), Maize (1980) and Forage Crops (2004). With the implementation of National Agricultural Research Project in 1981 and 1989 (I & II Phase), it was further strengthen with staff and other infrastructures with a emphasis on soil and water management, inland fisheries and jaggery research and subsequently re named as Zonal Agricultural Research Station (ZARS).

Weather and Climatic Condition

The station receives an average rainfall of 717 mm per annum, out of which 60 per cent of total is from Southwest monsoon in 100-105 rainy days between June to October. The mean maximum temp of 33^oC and the mean minimum temp of 12^o C prevails during the month of April-May and Nov-Dec respectively. April and May months are hottest and the winter season prevails during the month of Oct. to Dec.

Soils

The soils of the Station are red sandy loam (Alfisols) with a depth of 15-20 cms. Generally acidic to neutral in reaction and moderate in N,P,K and micro-nutrients. The soils have high infiltration and low water holding capacity.

Irrigation facilities

The station gets irrigation facility from Cauvery Command Area through V.C. Channel, in addition, it has ponds, borewells and open wells for irrigation purpose.

Infrastructure

This station has well trained and qualified scientists to carry out research work. It is equipped with all infrastructures required for high standard research work. It has 176 ha. of cultivable irrigated land with latest machines and power drawn equipments and implements. It has its own seed processing unit for processing the nucleus, breeder and truthful seeds produced at this station for distribution to farmers.

The station has a Diary unit, which provides by-products for preparation of compost, vermi compost for organic farming besides production of milk to sustain farm production and improve internal receipt of the farm.

The station has Vermi-compost unit, which provides vermin-compost for organic farming and organic based research work.

Main Functions

This station has all the “TREE” components of the University, viz. Teaching (College of Agriculture), Research and Extension Education as its main functions.

Mandate of the Station

The ZARS, has been carrying out need based, location specific research on the following crops based on the above mandates.

ragi breeding work. This station has released 32 varieties, improved and high yielding varieties of ragi along with package of practices for higher production. To name a few important varieties of Ragi – Cauvery, Annaporna, Shakti, Indaf series, in addition to, L-5 and MR-6, have been released for this station.

It is one of the leading Rice Research Station of International reputation as rice crop is concerned. It has the credit of developing the first rice Hybrid in the country viz., the most popular K.R.H-2. So far from this station 35 rice varieties for different agro ecological situation and agro-climatic conditions of the state have been released. The station also developed the technologies for soil, crop management and plant protection practices for higher rice production in addition to water saving techniques. Currently emphasis is given on ‘SRI’ and Aerobic rice cultivation.

And development of ‘Wooly Aphids’ resistant variety and bio-control measures.

The irrigation water management studies were initiated during early sixtees and continued subsequently with the assistance of CADA, Cauvery Command Area, Mysore. Further research on irrigation water management was strengthened by providing man power and other infrastructue facilities under NARP.

During which the station has developed many technologies. The water requirement of different crops were worked out based on soil moisture depletion and IW: CPE ratio. For minimizing conveyance losses sand: cement lining 6:1 and 3:1 are recommended for field ditches.

In water logged and swampy area shallow well can be dug out for harvesting surface drainage water as well as ground water for supplemental irrigation during water scarcity period and to explore the possibility for fish rearing for realizing higher income per unit of land. Under low-land farming situation where water table fluctuation from near surface to 15 cms depth

black gram, etc are recommended for higher returns and saving of water. Irrigating paddy 4-5 depth once in three or five days or depletion of impounded water found suitable and economical. Field channels for providing irrigation to paddy field found economical as compared to field to field irrigation method. Boulder or tile drainage found suitable and economical in saline alkali soil. Application of press mud (6t/acre) as soil amendment, zinc sulphate (16kg/acre) or 1 per cent zinc enriched compost found economical in saline - alkali soil. Application of 50% recommended nutrients through inorganic + 25% through green manure + 25% through farm yard manure found suitable for sustaining rice yield. Use of phosphate solubilising Bacteria in paddy for higher yield.

v Irrigation water management techniques for rice based and sugar cane based cropping system and crop diversification

v Cropping system for mid-late (July –August) and late (August – September) water availability

v Possibility of taking early catch crops for increasing the cropping intensity besides total production

v Irrigation water requirement study and crop water management techniques for multi-storied and plantation cropping system

v Studies on contribution of ground water table to evapotranspiration (IWR) and crop growth

v Effects of water management techniques on soil fertility and physical properties of soil

v Mixed forming with reference to fish rearing/fish cum poultry/fish cum duck farming

Recently Research work on forage crops has been takenup, more than 100 species are being evaluated for their yield potentiality and quality.

Inland Fisheries

Location specific need based research work pertaining to fisheries is being carried out at this station. Digging of farm ponds in individual field/construction of water bodies in low laying areas to improve the drainage and production of fish / duck / poultry is recommended.

Krishi Vigyan Kendra

The ZARS., has a Krishi Vigyan Kendra, established during the year 2000, with the mandate of carryingout FLD on pre-released technologies and new technologies, released varieties by organizing and conducting on-campus and off-campus training programmes for farm women and men on skill/method demonstrations, value added demonstration, pertaining to Home Science, etc. The K.V.K has well equipped Hostel for trainees and skilled personnel for organizing and conducting on-campus and off-campus training programme, field trials and demonstrations.

Extension Education Unit

The ZARS., has Extension Education Unit for dissemination of research findings and latest technologies for higher agricultural production. It has good linkage with the development departments of the state Government for passing the technologies and also to get feedback on field problems.

The Campus has a well established college of Agriculture with degree programmes leading to B.Sc. (Ag.). The college has distinction of high standard in the fields of sports, culture and education. The students of this college have highest JRFs and have also occupied important positions at National and International levels.

Vishweswaraiah Canal Farm is located in the heart of Cauvery belt, being fully irrigated by K.R.Sagar dam. Its entire area of 242 ha is irrigated by canals and accessible to most irrigated farmers and field workers due to its good connectivity besides intensive research and technology developed on irrigated agriculture.

The V.C. Farm was established during 1931 and is an internationally reputed center for its ongoing research on ragi, sugarcane and paddy since many decades. The campus has a comprehensive Zonal Agricultural Research Station, Krishi Vignana Kendra (KVK) an extension wing of UAS (B), an Agricultural College besides state level Farmer’s training Unit run by KSDA. It also has some limited facilities for carrying out irrigation related research activities.

- Land and buildings (to house administrative building, laboratories, training classes, accommodation for trainees)

- Field facilities (irrigation structures, storage structures, measuring devices, equipments, pipelines etc.)

The proposed advanced center for water resource management at V.C.Farm, Mandya will coordinate with other sub-centers and pilot projects coming under UAS, B and UAS,D.

Ψ Studies on efficient water management and utilization through soil - crop – water – weather relationship for higher productivity to increase intensity and diversification of crops.

Ψ Studies on Micro-irrigation system under different water availability, multiple use of water, soil health and amelioration

Ψ Studies on policy issues, economic impact, inter institutional linkages, technology delivery system and capacity building.

Ψ Pilot project studies on piped water supply, aerobic rice cultivation transfer of improved water management technologies and human resource development through large-scale demonstration and intensive training programmes.

The following technical programmes are implemented on project mode under different command areas.

Ψ Improved crop yields by 20-25 % and increase agricultural growth rate by 4-5 per cent

Ψ Improved awareness of farming community regarding scientific water management their by scallingup water productivity

Ψ Participatory irrigation management through water users association their by improving the system efficiency

· Soil health is protected reducing the soil degradation by judicious use of water

· Create job opportunity, strengthen agro-based industries and support local markets.

· By increasing cropping intensity and diversification generates rural employment and avoids urbanization.

· Increases crop production and productivity ultimately helps to improve socio-economic status of farming community.

· Developing water source, helps in planning for better utilization and management of water for higher productivity.

The strengthening of water resource management in Karnataka helps in improving the irrigation efficiency by implementing improved irrigation scheduling practices and techniques through action oriented on station and on farm research and developmental activities. Further, it helps in equitable distribution of canal water, tank irrigation water and well irrigation. Thereby, helps in sustained water supply and expansion of irrigated area by 30-40 per cent and not only enhance the crop and cropping system productivity by 20-25 per cent but, also helps in improving the soil health.

Further, the participatory mode of research and developmental activities and capacity building of different stakeholders helps in creating awareness among the water users to use the available water more efficiently and improve the system efficiency. In addition, it also creates more job opportunity, strengthen of agro-based industries and supports local market. Thereby, the agricultural growth rate can be expected to another 4-5 per cent.

Appendix-1 : Irrigation Improvement Analysis Package I: Improvement in flood

Crop	Current water use (M³/ac)	Recommended water use (M³/ac)	Water saving		Area under the crop (Ac)	Total water saving (M³)	Total energy saved KWh
Crop	Current water use (M³/ac)	Recommended water use (M³/ac)	M³/ac	%	Area under the crop (Ac)	Total water saving (M³)	Total energy saved KWh
Banana	10531.05	6800	3731.05	35.43	3.00	11193	9950.58
Grapes	7441.94	4800	2641.94	35.50	128.00	338168	300631.35
Vegetables
Beans	1412.74	1200	212.74	15.06	39.32	8365	7436.49
Beetroot	2079.10	1600	479.10	23.04	6.44	3085	2742.57
Bottle gourd	1485.15	800	685.15	46.13	16.18	11086	9855.45
Brinjal	2916.21	1800	1116.21	38.28	7.55	8427	7491.60
Cabbage	1539.91	1800	-260.09	-16.89	11.87	-3087	-2744.34
Carrot	2079.21	1600	479.21	23.05	10.79	5171	4597.02
Cauliflower	1578.90	1800	-221.10	-14.00	16.18	-3577	-3179.95
Chilli	4359.00	2600	1759.00	40.35	3.24	5699	5066.41
Coriander	1000.00	800	200.00	20.00	8.63	1726	1534.41
Cucumber	1175.12	1600	-424.88	-36.16	24.81	-10541	-9370.95
Knol-khol	2079.21	1600	479.21	23.05	8.63	4136	3676.90
Ladies finger	2413.37	1800	613.37	25.42	5.43	3331	2961.26
Onion	2399.61	2000	399.61	16.65	4.32	1726	1534.41
Potato	2673.29	2400	273.29	10.22	73.92	20202	17959.58
Pumpkin	1158.17	1600	-441.83	-38.15	2.16	-954	-848.10
Ridge gourd	1485.15	800	685.15	46.13	39.39	26988	23992.33
Tomato	3240.32	2800	440.32	13.59	69.04	30400	27025.60
Jasmine & other flowers	3240.22	2700	540.22	16.67	67.35	36384	32345.38
Ragi	778.77	2000	-1221.23	-156.82	331.00	-404227	-359357.80
Maize	1640.41	2600	-959.59	-58.50	52.00	-49899	-44360.21
Fodder Jowar	1701.00	1680	21.00	1.23	78.00	1638	1456.18
Fodder	3402.00	8000	-4598.00	-135.16	25.00	-114950	-102190.55
Mulberry	7608.00	5920	1688.00	22.19	184.00	310592	276116.29
Arecanut	3010.80	2509	501.80	16.67	22.00	11040	9814.56
TOTAL	74429	65609	8820	11.85	1238	252120	22413.47

Name of proposed centre	:	Advanced Centre for Water Resource Management
Centers	:	Main Centre: Zonal Agricultural Research Station, V.C.Farm, Mandya
Centers	:	Sub Centers: 1. ZARS, V.C.Farm, Mandya – Kabini, Hemavathi and Cauvery Command areas 2. ZARS, Brahmavar – Coastal and Hilly Zones 3. ARS, Kathalagere - Bhadra Command Area 4. ARS, Bheemarayanagudi – Krishna Command Area 5. ARS, Belavatagi - Malaprabha Command area 6. ARS, Arabhavi - Ghataprabha Command Area 7. ARS, Siruguppa – Tungabhadra Command Area 8. ZARS, Dharwad- Bore well and tank fed irrigation 9. ZARS, GKVK, Bangalore- Bore well and tank fed irrigation
Jurisdiction	:	Karnataka State
Institutes involved	:	1. University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore 2. University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad
Collaborative Institutes	:	1. Water and Land Management Institute, Dharwad 2. Water Resource Dept., Bangalore 3. State Ground Water Board, Bangalore 4. CADA for Cauvery, Bhadra, Tungabhadra, Malaprabha & Ghataprabha, Krishna command area 5. KSDA, KSHD, KWDP, KSSD, Govt. of Karnataka, Bangalore
Duration	:	The main center and sub-centers function initially on pilot project mode for five years and subsequently on permanent basis by creating corpus fund / with continuing grants for demand driven research
Budget	:	50 Crores

Zone	Geographical Area (sq. km.)	Mean Rainfall (cm)	Total Water Resources (m. ha. cm)	Water resources per sq. km. (ha. cm).
Zone-1 North Eastern Transition	8.74	88	76.91	88.0
Zone-2 North Eastern Dry	17.59	69	121.37	68.9
Zone-3 Northern Dry	50.77	57	289.40	57.0
Zone-4 Central Dry	19.99	61	121.94	60.9
Zone-5 Eastern Dry	17.97	73	131.19	72.9
Zone-6 Southern Dry	15.56	75	116.70	75.0
Zone-7 Southern Transition	16.60	87	144.42	87.0
Zone-8 Northern Transition	11.30	75	84.75	74.9
Zone-9 Hilly Dry	22.89	244	558.52	244.0
Zone-10 Coastal Dry	9.84	387	380.81	387.0
TOTAL	191.25		2025.90 m.ha.cm

SI.	Water use	Requirement
No.	Water use	2010	2025
1.	Irrigation	78	72
2.	Domestic	6	7
3.	Industrial	5	8
4.	Power generation	3	4
5.	Evaporation	6	6
6.	Others	2	2
	Total	100	100

Source	Ultimate irrigation	Potential
	potential	created
	(Iakh ha.)	(Iakh ha.)
Surface flows:
Major and Medium	35.00	20.38
irrigation projects
Minor irrigation	10.00	9.63
Groundwater:
Wells/Bore wells	16.00	10.00
TOTAL:	61.00	40.01

Research Personnel’s:
Project Co-ordinator -	:	1 No.
Principal Investigators	:	10 Nos
Scientists and Research Associates	:	50 Nos.
Field Staff and Service Personnel's
Field / Laboratory Assistant	:	22 Nos.
Office-cum- Accounts Assistants	:	10 Nos.
Computer Assistants	:	10 Nos.
Drivers	:	10 Nos.
Office Helper	:	10 Nos.

Name of proposed centre