Highlights of the Project's Objectives- Study by IIM Lucknow
(a) Highlights of the Project's Benefit
   24 percent of sample farmers (748 farmers) have diversified their 3.4 percent area (290 Ha.) from food grains to vegetables and other cash crops.
  Cropping intensity has increased from 169 to 203 (20 percent).
Area under non-food grains has increased by 21 percent.
  Area under cereals has declined by 18 percent.
  Area under horticulture has increased by 18 percent.
  Area under use of organic manure has increased from 6% of GCA to 30% of GCA.
  Productivity of wheat, paddy and potato increased by 10 percent, 27 percent and 59 percent, respectively.
  Productivity of most of the vegetables crops has increased by 15 to 50 percent.
  Animal per household has increased from 1.7 to 3.0.
  Proportions of Crossbred animals have increased from 17 to 30 percent.
  Milk productivity has increased by 37 percent in crossbred cows, 21 percent in local cows and 41 percent in buffalo.
By creating Para-workers and Paravet services in rural areas, employment opportunity has improved. It has two-way benefits (a) Farmers' household are getting most of the services at doorsteps, and other side (b) Paravet are earning on an average of Rs. 2900/- per month.
Conception of animals through A.I. has increased from 15 percent to 35 percent of animals.
The success rate for A.I. was found to 40 percent by Paravet, where about 44 percent of households have preferred to paravet's services for A.I.
Overall literacy rate has increased by 22 percent. Literacy rate in males has increased by 20 percent whereas it is 27 percent in case of female.
House accommodation and basic amenities in rural areas reflect that quality of life of farmers has improved.
Average no. of workers per household have increased from 2.2 to 2.5 and dependency ratio has declined by 11 percent.
Workers involved in farming activities have increased from 41 to 66 percent.
The possibilities of secondary occupation have increased from 7 to 14 percent.
Credit accessibility has increased by 96 percent.
48 percent of farmers have discharged their debt after introducing the group inter-loaning.
Similarly, 38 percent declined in formal sources due to emergence of group facilities where as 50 percent declined was observed in informal sources.
Based on sample of 86 rural roads (448 kms) constructed, it was found that: (a) it connects 7-8 villages per road, (b) 19000 population have been benefited per road, and (c) traffic has increased by 14 percent (d) Value of land increased by 25 percent (e) Maintenance cost of vehicles has declined by 27 to 46 percent (f) Increase in area under vegetables to both side of road was 40 percent.
Based on sample of 24 rural markets, it was found that: (a) Value of transaction has increased by 39 percent (b) Annual contract of market is increased by 34 percent (c) number of women seller increased by 18 percent (d) Number of villages benefited with market is increased by 30 percent.
86 percent of group members have been benefited with training programmes on several aspects of agricultural development, where as 59 percent of group members have benefited with exposure visit.
Average annual household income has increased from Rs. 26613/- to Rs. 44256/- (deflated) comparing base period.
The poverty has declined by 32 percent on head count basis.
   
(b) Project area over Non-project area (Impact-II)
Cropping intensity in project area was observed 203 percent as compare to 196 percent in non-project area.
Area under vegetable crops has improved by 13 percent in project area against 8 percent in non-project area.
Similarly, a total area under horticulture has improved by 16 percent in project area as compare to 11 percent in non-project area.
24 percent farmers have shifted their area in horticulture as compare to 5 percent in non-project area.
The adoption of soil testing practice was found by 51 percent of farmers as against 5 percent in non-project area.
The adoption of bio-fertilizer was found by 27 percent of farmers as compare to only 2 percent in non-project area.
The adoption of organic manure was found by 44 percent of farmers as compare to only 5 percent in non-project area.
The adoption of bio-control was found by 35 percent of farmers as compare to only 3 percent in non-project area.
Productivity of paddy and wheat were 8 and 10 percent higher than the non-project area.
Productivity of most of horticultural crops was 10 to 20 percent higher than the non-project area.
Crossbred animals were possessed by 25 percent of farmers in project area against 20 percent in non-project area.
Productivity of milk in project area was found higher by 3 percent in local cow, 4 percent in cross bred cow, 6 percent in local buffalo and 9 percent in improved buffalo than non-project area.
The preference of artificial insemination for their animals has improved in project area i.e. 36 percent of household preferred for 35 percent of animals.
The credit accessibility has improved in project area i.e. 41 percent as compare to 25 percent in non-project area.
The source of credit has shifted from formal/informal to group facility, where group loaning has benefited to 48 percent of sample farmers.