Evaluation and Impact Assessment of Technologies and Developmental Activities in Agriculture, Fisheries and Allied Fields

The aim of this book is to fulfill the increasing demand for Impact Evaluation (IE) studies, as the primary objective of Impact Assessment (IA) is to gauge the magnitude and distribution of changes in outcome and impact indicators among the target population and to assess the extent to which these changes can be attributed to the interventions being evaluated. This book, which is probably the first of its kind in the country, consists of twenty chapters, each contributed by subject matter specialists and practitioners working in various fields. The chapters cover both the methodology and analytical issues of IA. The book emphasizes impact assessment methodologies such as PRA techniques, the logical framework approach for project monitoring, evaluation, and impact analysis, using the latest available economic, financial, social, environmental, and MDG indicators. Case studies on technological impacts on agro-ecosystems, pulse production, crop diversification, and the integrated rehabilitation of Tsunami-affected people in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands are also included. Most importantly, the book features case studies on the socio-economic impact of cashew production, shrimp farming, aquaculture production, and the conservation of ecology in the coastal zone, with a focus on Mangroves and water hyacinth. The contributions of renewed experts are significant in this regard. Additionally, the book includes case studies on the assessment of ICT, remote sensing, fluxomics, and agricultural insurance on future crop production in India. The programme evaluation of the Swarnjayanti Gram Swarozgar Yogana (SGSY) is of particular importance for those involved in such projects. The book contains a comprehensive glossary of IA, a list of IA studies conducted in India by the Programme Evaluation Organization of the Planning Commission, and sector-wide priority indicators for agriculture and rural development, serving as ready references.

Ajit Kumar Roy: Ex. Principal Scientist & Head, Social Science Section & Coordinator Bioinformatics Centre: Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture (CIFA-ICAR), Bhubneshwar, Orissa, India