Critique of Traditional Agricultural Credit Projects and Policies

摘要

Although over $5 billion has been spent in the past several decades on rural financial market (RFM) projects in developing countries, the emphasis of these projects on loans to stimulate productivity and to help the poor has diverted attention from the basic role which RFM's ought to play in development. This report critiques the results, assumptions, and policies associated with agricultural credit projects in low-income countries; summarizes new perspectives on RFM's; and makes suggestions for improving RFM projects.