Sharmistha Deb

Marginal farmers in rural West Bengal, as seen from a field survey carried out in the Hooghly district, are increasingly relying on the trader class as a major source of credit for working capital, as opposed to traditional moneylenders or the formal sector. The repayment rates by these farmers are also better than that of the comparatively better off farmers.

Read more about Banking on 'Baniyas' for Credit

Institutional and Non-Institutional Credit in Agriculture-Case Study of Hugli District of West Bengal

Vol. 33, Issue No. 47-48, 21 Nov, 1998

Meenakshi Rajeev, Sharmistha Deb

in Agriculture Case Study of Hugli District of West Bengal Meenakshi Rajeev Sharmistha Deb West Bengal has been experiencing high growth of agricultural productivity since late 1970s. This period has also witnessed a growth of an informal credit market with a new lending class comprising traders (of HYV. fertilisers and pesticides), catering to the working capital needs of the farmers, A survey of Hugli district of West Bengal shows a high dependence of the small and marginal farmers on this market. Deprived of the relatively cheaper credit from the formal institutions these farmers are compelled to depend on high interest hearing loans for productive purposes and thereby face the risk of falling into a vicious cycle of perenniaI indebtedness.