Agriculture Rural Banking And Micro Finance In India

The agricultural sector occupies a key position in India's economy. It provides employment to about 65% of the working population of India. Being the backbone of India's economy, agriculture has been treated as a priority sector for the allocation of institutional credit. The low growth rate of agriculture in the past few years has further strengthened the channels of credit flow to this sector. Micro credit has emerged as a visible credit channel to the poor, as their access to conventional credit channels is constrained by the requirement of collateral and high transaction cost. Micro finance is routed through Self-Help Groups (SHGs). Over the years, the SHG-Bank Linkage Program - which includes commercial banks, regional rural banks, and co-operative banks - has emerged as the major micro finance program in the country. This book, authored by experts in the field of agricultural finance, provides an in-depth analysis of the current state of agricultural/rural finance in India, the emergence of micro finance, financial inclusion efforts, and related matters.

Annotation This book examines the current level and pattern of access to finance for India's rural households, evaluates various approaches for delivering financial services, analyzes what lies behind the lack of adequate financial access, and identifies what it would take to improve access to finance.

Microfinance in India provides an informative and holistic status of microfinance in the country and suggests a road map for the future. A valuable source of information for policy makers, Finance and Management students, and professionals alike, it is a collection of essays by experts from diverse backgrounds on topical themes that capture the complexities of the continuously evolving microfinance sector in India. It covers major microfinance delivery models in an unbiased manner through well-researched articles.The book provides an overview on microfinance institutions and measures that help promote the same. Among other things, it reflects upon the challenges faced by the dominant credit delivery model, i.e., SHG-Bank Linkage Programme and issues related to the emerging microfinance institutions (MFIs). It also dwells upon innovations in the microfinance sector and the efforts being made to evolve new models such as SHG Federations.

Looking to examples in Thailand and Bangladesh, this book enumerates the various factors which have been instrumental in weakening the rural credit agencies set up to relieve rural poverty in developing countries.

This book brings together empirical evidences and theoretical perspectives to provide a comprehensive overview of the microfinance sector in India. The essays in the volume: focus on the application of information and communication technology (ICT) solutions in microfinance institutions to strengthen the savings movement and widen credit access to the poor and marginalized sections of society; present case studies on self-help group (SHG) movements, federations and SHG-Bank Linkage programmes; propose measures for strengthening regulatory and governance structures of the microfinance sector; and identify linkages between overall financial inclusion and the contribution of microfinance institutions (MFIs). The volume will be indispensable for scholars and researchers of microeconomics, South Asian economics and development economics as well as professionals and aspirants in the microfinance, rural banking and financial inclusion sectors.

Since independence, the field of rural credit has traversed a long terrain. This book is a good synthesis of the evolution and development of the domain from a theoretical as well as practical perspective. It is a fundamental literature on rural finance mechanisms as well as financial inclusion initiatives in India. Although the field of rural credit is vast and specialised, the authors have carefully picked up the most important components of this domain, which will be immensely useful to readers to get first-hand knowledge on the subject. While it traces the important institutional mechanisms of rural and agricultural credit in India, it also discusses the emerging paradigms of rural finance and ICT interventions, which can potentially restructure delivery mechanisms to encourage product innovation for serving the financial needs of those at the bottom of the pyramid population. The authors have attempted to cover every important aspect of rural finance by incorporating relevant discussions on institutions, governance, policy framework, schemes, and practices along with issues and concerns in the area of agricultural finance, rural credit and financial inclusion. The text has been woven in a cohesive manner so that the reader can appreciate the historic milestones while comprehending the present situation. Each chapter has been pinned to the larger developmental context to drive home the key issues concerning this field.

The success of microfinance in the last three decades has shown that if given adequate infrastructural and governmental aid, the poor can be bankable. Microfinance and Financial Inclusion in India traces the origin of microfinance in India and examines its growth, delivery and institutional models, and the challenges it faces. It advocates more engagement with the poor clientele through an appropriate product and process mix that could contribute meaningfully to India's economic development. The book also looks into the trailblazing initiatives launched by the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) to promote microfinance and inclusive banking services. It explores self-help groups and joint liability groups that can leverage social capital to support microentrepreneurs and small farmers with adequate and timely institutional credit. This book captures the fascinating journey of Indian microfinance by delving into NABARD's work, the use of technology to transform banking for the poor and the dream of universal financial access.

This book offers an in-depth analysis of borrowing and risk taking behavior of rural people, with the aim of designing effective financial products and service delivery in the rural market. Includes analysis of government schemes to promote rural development.

"This report examines the policy framework, institutional structure, trends and patterns in the flow of financial services, product suitability, and efficacy of financial services both in terms of penetration and customer satisfaction. It has been organized into savings, credit, insurance policy issues, repayment performance, and products. The performances of NABARD, non-farm sector, microfinance, and cooperative banking reform-considering the specific and topical nature of these institutions/segments-are also discussed."