The key findings of the report, obtained by The Indian Express, authored by the task force headed by Indira Gandhi Institute of Development Research director R Radhakrishna:

• No coordination between different agencies implementing the schemes: Credit component being managed by Finance, watershed and rainwater initiatives by NABARD, irrigation by Water Resources Ministry, extension services, seeds by Department of Agriculture, livestock by Departments of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries. Each ministry’s working in isolation.

• No information available on impact of the scheme on people. Need to fix physical targets and introduce monitoring and mid-term evaluation.

• The package (to be implemented until 2008-09) is “universal” in nature not taking into account the fact that causes of distress differ across districts. For instance, in some it’s crop failure; in others, it’s price collapse.

• On extension services, Karnataka’s performance poor. Extension services have a pivotal role in distress but are not the priority when it comes to budgeting.

• On financial targets, most states fall far short. On waiver of interest, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Maharashtra exceeded targets but Kerala achieved only 54% of the target. On loan rescheduling, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Maharashtra exceeded targets but Kerala achieved only 43%. Again, on fresh loan disbursements, Kerala and Maharashtra exceeded targets but the other two states could only meet two-thirds of their targets.

• Gap in off-take of fresh credit indicates credit needs of farmers not assessed accurately. Credit flow targets do not appear to have been based on a proper assessment of the credit absorption capacity at the farm/household level. Disbursements should have been made only after proper project appraisal.

• Progress on watershed development extremely poor in all the states. Even Maharashtra, which had in place a shelf of sanctioned projects, could utilise only 12% of its financial allocation of Rs 54 crore in the year. Kerala falls under high rainfall area and no watershed projects are being implemented.

• Rainwater harvesting, construction of check dams non-starters in most districts. NABARD yet to receive proposals from any of the states for check dams.

• Major irrigation schemes delayed because of red tape and slew of sanctions.