Institute for Watershed Development and Management, Kerala (IWDM-K), Chadayamangalam is the State level Training and Extension Centre of the Department of Soil Survey and Soil Conservation is playing a key role in enriching the awareness of conservation of natural resources  to the various functionaries associated with watershed programmes, Eco-restoration and conservation of environment.

  Institute for Watershed Development and Management, Kerala (IWDM-K)

A brief outline of the different activities taken up at IWDM-K

Witihin a short span of four years, the institute could convey messages on different aspects of natural resource management to about 12,000 trainees

I. Campus training programmes

Campus trainings were organised at the Institute of Watershed Development and management- Kerala (IWDM-K, Chadayamangalam) to District Officers/ Assistant Directors, Soil Conservation Officers/ Assistant Engineers, overseers, surveyors, work superintendants and clerical staff of the Department.
  The major areas of deliberation includes,

• Water literacy (Jala saaksharatha)
• Importance of watershed development
• Delhi schedule of rates (DSR)
• GIS and GPS
• KSR and office matters
• Induction training to newly appointed officers and work superintendants
• Personality development etc.

II. Off campus trainings

The institute extend training facilities to the needy even in the remote areas of districts Thrissur, Kasaragod, Kozhikode, Malappuram, Palakkad, Ernakulam etc based on different focal themes such as jala saaksharatha. The target groups were, kudumbasree members, students and peoples representatives.

III. Trainings conducted for external agencies      

Being abona fide training centre in all aspects of watershed management and water literacy, government departments and other organizations such as Integrated Watershed Development Project (IWMP), Western Ghat Development Programme (WGDP), Training for B.Sc (Agri.) students from Kerala Agricultural University involved in natural resource management in the State seek the technical support of this institute and its experienced resource persons in this field.

IV. Trainings conducted by outside agencies at IWDMK

       The nature friendly ambiance and tranquil atmosphere of IWDM-K, Chadayamangalam has made its reputation spread to all nearby places, so that people and organizations prefer this institute for their training purposes. The institute also provides outstanding infrastructure. This also adds to the non- tax revenue collection of the department. Various government departments and other organizations come forward to utilize the facility at the station..

V. Faculty support for external organizations

Within a short span of four years, IWDM-K, Chadayamangalam has won a renowned status as the pioneer training institute in the State dealing with water literacy and natural resource management in watershed concept. This makes the resource persons of the institute inevitable for all training programmes dealing with this subject in the state. In addition to the campus and off campus trainings, our officers has rendered faculty services to various training programmes organised by educational institutions, farmer’s groups and various other organisations all over the state.

VI. Exhibitions

The institute made active participations in several exhibitions, melas and celebrations of important days, by setting up pavilions with exhibits, posters, video shows and watershed models inorder to extend awareness among the masses on the significance of soil and water conservation.

VII. IGNOU Programme Study Centre at  IWDM-K, Chadayanamgalam

The department of Soil Survey and Soil Conservation, Government of Kerala, being a pioneer agency in the field of soil and water conservation and watershed development in the state with its immense experience in the field has been selected as Programme Study Centre to offer courses in the field of watershed management at its training and extension centre at Chadayamangalam. The Centre (40025) functions at the IWDM-K campus offer courses relevant to natural resource management so as to fulfill the objective of developing qualified man power for various watershed programmes implemented all over the country. The IGNOU has started three courses –

• One year Diploma course in Watershed Management (DWM)
• Six months Certificate Course in Water Harvesting & Management (CWHM)
• One year Post Graduate Diploma course in Plantation Management  (PGDPM)

Diploma in Watershed Management (DWM) :        IWDM – K  is proud of being one and only centre in South India among the five centers at the national level offered by IGNOU. Students from all over the State and also from Lakshadeep have been undergoing the course in IWDM-K.

Certificate Course in Water Harvesting & Management (CWHM) : The programme focus on imparting awareness on water resources, water harvesting techniques and enable the learners to act as trainers and organizers for efficient water harvesting.

Post Graduate Diploma Course in Plantation Management (PGDPM) : The objective of the programme is to develop competent professionals in plantation industry and upgrage the technical proficiency of professional working in plantation industry.

For more details please contact the Deputy Director of Soil Conservation, IWDM-K, Chadayamangalam, Kollam. Phone : 0474 2475051, e-mail : iwdmkerala@gmail.com