Trends and composition of institutional credit to the agriculture sector during the post-reform period

This paper attempts to analyse the changes in trends and composition of multi-agency network (Co-operatives, SCBs, and RRBs) in issuance of credit to agriculture sector during the post-reform period by using time series data from 1975 to 2005. The analysis reveals that the trends of direct (short and long-term) and indirect institutional credit to agriculture sector has increased significantly during the post-reform period. As far as the composition is concerned, the share of SCBs as percentage of total direct institutional credit has increased significantly whereas the co-operatives share has decreased. The regional rural banks contribution has been almost constant. We have also tried to find out the distribution of indirect finance through Scheduled Commercial Banks.