The growing demand for irrigation water in the face of increasingly limited supply of water in the past decades highlights the importance of management input in the use of irrigation water. Learning such development, Andalas University has since 1982 been involved in various efforts trying to improve the performance of irrigation systems in, particularly, West Sumatra province.

At the beginning, such researchers were executed by a group of teaching staff of Andalas University loosely organized in what was known as "Kelompok Kerja Irigasi Universitas Andalas (Irrigation Working Group of Andalas University) or in Indonesian abbreviation, KKI-Unand. KKI-Unand became Pusat Studi Irigasi-Universitas Andalas or PSI-Unand on July 4, 1989 through the issuance of the decision of the Rector of Andalas University No.562/XIV/A/Unand/1989. Furthermore, Since the issues of irrigation water has grown widely and related with other resources, in 1998, the name of center is changed became The Center for Irrigation, Land and Water Resources and Development or in Indonesia abbreviation called PSI-SDALP UNAND.

The Center is an autonomous and self-supporting institution within the bailiwick of Andalas University. The core personnel of PSI consist of teaching staff of the Andalas University. Some free lance researchers, depending on the needs, may work with the Center on a contractual basis.