Small, Short and Unsecured

The study discusses the performance of a number of financial agents in the semi-arid Sangli district of Marharashtra. Since the 1950s, public and private investment in irrigation, sugar factories, and cane cultivation stimulated a sugar boom in Sangli. Similar investments led to a dairy boomin the 1970s. Focusing on informal financial intermediaries such as money lenders, pawn brokers, milk collectors, and several types of self-help saving and credit associations, Bouman argues that informal finance agents are better equipped to deal with the special demands of low income ruralcommunities.