IFAD12 Impact Assessment Report (2022–2024): Internal Evaluation Office Highlights Flaws in $6.8 Billion Impact Measurement
SDG 1: No Poverty | SDG 2: Zero Hunger
Institutions: Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare | Ministry of Rural Development
The IFAD12 (International Fund for Agricultural Development) Impact Assessment Report (2022–2024) reviews investments totaling US$6.8 billion across 16 projects and 34 value chain assessments (2016–2024). It claims that IFAD achieved “transformational impacts” (income gains above 50 %) in 7 of 16 projects, with income increases of at least 10 % for around 49 million participants.
The report stresses that bundled approaches - combining liquidity, information, and market connectivity - drive deeper rural transformation. Midstream value-chain investments, long-term project horizons, multisectoral nutrition interventions, and inclusive empowerment models for women and youth emerged as critical success factors.
However, the Independent Office of Evaluation (IOE) issued a critical commentary, noting methodological flaws: overgeneralizing agricultural income as total income, projecting overall impacts from limited samples, and possibly overstating corporate-level results. While IOE praised stratified random sampling, it cautioned against drawing sweeping claims from narrow datasets.
For India, IFAD’s findings reinforce the importance of bundled interventions in rural development (credit, markets, training, infrastructure). The IOE critique underlines the need for rigorous monitoring and evaluation in schemes like PM-FME, RKVY, and Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture, ensuring claims of impact are backed by robust data.
What is IFAD? → The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) is a UN agency that finances rural development projects to reduce poverty and food insecurity. It matters because its financing and evaluation frameworks shape global rural development policy.
What is PM-FME? → The Pradhan Mantri Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises Scheme (2020) supports micro food processors with credit-linked subsidies, training, and cluster-based branding. It matters because it strengthens India’s food processing value chains, making small enterprises more competitive and resilient.
What is RKVY? → The Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (2007) is a flexible, state-driven scheme to boost agriculture and allied sectors through productivity enhancement, innovation, and market linkages. It matters because it enables states to design tailored interventions that align with local agri needs.
What is MIDH? → The Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (2014) promotes holistic growth of fruits, vegetables, spices, flowers, and plantation crops, with support for nurseries, post-harvest infrastructure, and markets. It matters because it diversifies rural incomes and strengthens nutrition security.
Follow the full report here: IFAD12 Impact Assessment Report (PDF)