Agricultural Lending Research Articles

Державне регулювання аграрного кредитування в Наддніпрянській Україні в ХІХ – на початку ХХ ст.: сучасний науковий дискурс

The purpose of the article is to consider the modern scientific discourse on agricultural lending in Naddnieper Ukraine in the second half of the 19th and early 20th centuries and to identify promising areas for further research on this issue. The authors used empirical and theoretical methods of scientific research in particular methods of analysis and synthesis, the method of scientific abstraction, and others characteristic methods of research on economic history to achieve this goal and implement the corresponding research tasks. In recent years, a body of diverse scientific research of historians, economists and lawyers has appeared in Ukraine in which these problems are considered. These works differ both in the depth of study of the problem of agricultural lending and in the range of studied issues. The entire body of works of modern Ukrainian scientists, which forms the modern scientific discourse on the history of agricultural lending in Naddnieper Ukraine in the second half of the 19th - early 20th century, consists of three groups including in particular : 1) research, which are devoted to outstanding economists and theorists of lending of the 19th - early 20th century; 2) works on the history of the Peasant and Noble banks, branches and offices of which operated on the territory of the Ukrainian governorates; 3) research of cooperative crediting. We are obliged to note that despite a significant amount of scientific research on the history of lending (including agricultural lending) in Naddnieper Ukraine in the second half of the 19th and beginning of the 20th century, today prevail works devoted only to certain aspects of this complex and important scientific problem, without proper cooperation between representatives of various branches of knowledge. In the authors' view, synectics that is scientific cooperation of representatives of various specialties: economists, historians and lawyers, should become promising in studying the history of agricultural lending in Naddnieper Ukraine in the second half of the 19th and early 20th centuries. It allows to solve such a complex scientific problem comprehensively and considering the economic component (determination of the most optimal scientifically grounded lending methods) and the historical as well as anthropological approach and the study of the legal regulation of credit relations. In our opinion, it is exactly the kind of approach, that allows not only to study the problem of the history of agricultural lending in Naddnieper Ukraine in the second half of the 19th and early 20th century comprehensively, but also to offer modern lenders a mechanism for developing balanced and affordable credit products that will stimulate the development of the agricultural sector and the economy of Ukraine as a whole.

Perceived Competition in Agricultural Lending: Stylized Facts and an Agenda for Future Research

Perceived Competition in Agricultural Lending: Stylized Facts and an Agenda for Future Research

СУЧАСНЕ КРЕДИТУВАННЯ СІЛЬСЬКОГО ГОСПОДАРСТВА

The purpose of the article is to study the main problems of lending to agro-industrial enterprises with state support in market relations and propose measures to implement a new mechanism of subsidized and compensatory budget support for agriculture, aimed at its effective functioning. Historically, Ukraine is an agro-industrial country with rich natural resources and opportunities. However, to make a decent profit, the agro-industrial complex needs regular cash infusions and complete modernization. Given these factors, farmers in Ukraine are increasingly resorting to such an ancillary method as a loan for agricultural development. The long history of the Ukrainian economy, multiplied by current trends in crop production and animal husbandry, forces banks to consider lending to agriculture as a promising profitable business, which can and should be lent. The urgency of the study is due to the growing need to address one of the priority sectors of the economy-agriculture, by increasing the role and availability of credit for farmers, improving lending conditions, improving the efficiency of monetary institutions lending to agricultural enterprises, as well as development forms of their support. Problems of improving the lending system, investment activity of enterprises, lending mechanism and state regulation in the field of agriculture were covered in the works of a number of scientists and practitioners: G. Bezorna, H. Borkhunov, I. Buzdalov, A. Gataulin, A. Golovanov, A. Gordeeva, L. Kolichev, K. Koroleva, A. Kupavykh, D. Murzin, E. Mezentsev, A. Ponomareva, E. Sagaidak, A. Sidoruk, Y. Trushin, D. Epstein and some others. In the foreign economic literature, the main attention is paid to the forms of state support for agricultural producers, assessment of the impact of subsidies in terms of efficient use of public funds and the functioning of agricultural banks, but at the level of microfinance. These problems are reflected in the works of foreign authors: N. Gow, K. Hoff, M. Zeller, A. Sarris, J. Swinnen, J. Stiglitz, J. Yaron, M. Schreiner, Le Min Tu, and others. The changing conditions of the market environment pose new challenges to the subjects of credit relations, and then there are problems of agricultural lending in the changing conditions of the country’s economy, which need to be addressed. Formulation of the goals of the article (task statement). The purpose of the article is to generalize the theory and practice of agricultural lending when there are new economic relations, financial and credit opportunities of the Ukrainian economy.

Розвиток альтернативних форм і видів агрокредитування в Україні

This article deals with the problem of insufficient provision of credit resources to agricultural enterprises in Ukraine, which hinders the further development of production in the industry and increases its share in the country's GDP. Bank lending of agricultural production remains limited due to the fact that banks still consider agricultural enterprises to be objects of high risk and low creditworthiness, and in the segment of agricultural lending, they prefer large enterprises that audit their financial statements and insure crops. A noticeable demand for loans from farmers is constrained by high interest rates, the prevailing short-term nature of loan agreements, the requirements for high advance payments, floating charge or guarantees. The point of the article is to show the possibilities of expanding lending of agricultural enterprises both through bank lending and alternative forms and types of agricultural lending, such as leasing, promissory note lending or a combination of various forms and instruments. These forms are more "tolerant" to farmers than bank lending. Comparative calculations made on the materials of a number of Ukrainian banks confirmed that lease payments are lower than on the loan, and on the avalized bill of exchange are lower than on leasing. In addition, these forms allow you to avoid high advance payments, strict requirements for property collateral, for a positive credit history, and guarantees, which are the main barrier to obtaining loans by farmers. The use of these forms and types of lending will expand the ability of farmers to obtain credit resources of their need and optimize the price of credit resources and business taxation.

EIB Working Papers 2019/01 - Blockchain, FinTechs and their relevance for international financial institutions (Volume 2019/1)

The purpose of this working paper is to provide a primer on financial technology and on Blockchain, while shading light on the impact they may have on the financial industry. FinTechs, the financial technology and innovation that competes with traditional financial methods in the delivery of financial services, has the potential to improve the reach of financial services to the broader public and facilitate the creation of a credit record, especially in the developing world. Some Blockchain applications like cryptocurrencies, could be problematic as cryptocurrencies cannot substitute traditional money due to the high risk of debasement, luck of trust and high inefficiencies relating to the high cost in electricity and human effort required to clear cryptocurrency transactions. Cryptocurrencies' high volatility renders it a poor means of payment and store of value, while resembling a fraudulent investment operation. Yet, other Blockchain applications, like Blockchain securities, could facilitate the functioning of an International Financial Institutions (IFI) due to the volume of securities they issue as Blockchain securities enable an almost instantaneous trade confirmation, affirmation, allocation and settlement and reconciliations are superfluous releasing collateral to be used for other purposes in the market. IFIs could promote awareness and understanding about Blockchain technology among different IFI services and launch Blockchain labs in order to pilot projects that can improve governance and social outcomes in the developing world. Financial inclusion, at the core of IFI's mandate, could be enhanced by investing into FinTechs who facilitate access to payment systems. IFIs could also ponder the development of Blockchain software aimed at improving transparency and efficiency in public resources that finance development projects. IFIs could promote Blockchain applications in several sectors like agricultural lending where Blockchain technology is used in the supply chain in order to improve transparency and efficiency in agricultural and commodity production. Other sectors include transport and logistics and even energy distribution. IFIs could benefit by utilizing FinTechs' knowhow in the analysis of big data in order to understand better the investment gaps and the financing needs of prospective clients. Finally, FinTechs' knowhow could be used by IFIs in order to streamline their internal processes concerning credit underwriting and risk management.

Agriculture Loans in Cooperative Banks of the Podlaskie Voivodeship

SummarySubject and purpose of work:Running an agricultural activity requires acquiring funds necessary for its functioning and proper development. The most classic examples of financing agricultural activity include all kinds of bank loans used by farmers for the purchase of agricultural land, construction and modernization of buildings, the purchase of machinery and equipment, as well as the establishment of perennial plantations or the purchase of a herd. The aim of the study is to present the possibilities of financing agricultural activity by cooperative banks in the Podlaskie Voivodeship.Materials and methods:The study used the method of observation and analysis of banking materials. The source of information was the data of cooperative banks, the Agency for Restructuring and Modernization of Agriculture and the Central Statistical Office.Results:Over the centuries, cooperative banks have developed techniques, methods and practices in the field of agricultural lending. They have somehow specialized in this area and offer farmers a full range of commercial loans. They have also actively participated in the redistribution of funds under the implementation of the EU Common Agricultural Policy. for many years. Currently operating farms have access to many forms of financing (the most developed and available in banks, however, are loans) depending on their financial needs or planned investments.Conclusions:Among many forms of foreign capital in agriculture, it is preferential loans that play a significant role as a stimulus to improve farm activities. Granting loans by cooperative banks is one of the basic tasks in their operations. Bank loans play an important role in changes taking place in agriculture. They generally do not violate the principles of market economy and financing rules, provided that the financial and credit policy takes into account the needs and limitations resulting from the current and forecast economic situation of farms.

Big Banks versus Agricultural Banks: Has Too‐Big‐To‐Fail Regulation Affected Efficiency and Scale Economies Measures?

The Dodd‐Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 aimed to improve the financial stability of the banking industry. This reform was intended to reduce the too‐big‐to‐fail practices for very large banks. However, it might also affect the performance of relatively small asset size banks with different lending portfolios. Using the Call Report data from 2006 to 2016, evidence suggests that the Dodd‐Frank Act has affected the estimates of cost efficiency and returns to scale measures of both big banks and small agricultural banks. Results indicate that Dodd‐Frank Act has increased cost efficiency, discouraged mergers, and encouraged product specialization for banks above the $50 billion asset size. However, none of these results hold for the banks just above the $10 billion asset size. This appears to suggest that Dodd‐Frank Act has mainly affected the economic measures of those very big banks that are subject to the more stringent regulations. Nevertheless, Dodd‐Frank has reduced agricultural banks' cost efficiency and increased incentives for mergers. In addition, the Dodd‐Frank Act has dampened the incentives for product diversification in agricultural banking. Likewise, evidence exists that this act has slowed productivity growth, efficiency, and technological change in agricultural banks. Taken together, Dodd‐Frank reduced consolidations in very big banks that are subject to greater oversight but adversely affected U.S. agricultural lending.

ГОСУДАРСТВЕННОЕ РЕГУЛИРОВАНИЕ АГРАРНОГО СЕКТОРА КАЗАХСТАНА

The main purpose of the work is to justify the need for public regulation of agricultural sector of the Republic of Kazakhstan, without which it is impossible to solve the tasks assigned to it aimed to ensure food security, supply raw materials to processing industries, and protect the domestic market from imports. The article notes that developed countries also support the agricultural industry, which is influenced by natural and climatic factors, dependent on the problems of green environment, the mandatory use of innovative technologies in practice. At the same time, the authors believe that it is necessary to limit direct government intervention in the economy. It should be focused on improving economic instruments: taxes, tariffs, monetary mechanism. The article provides data on the funds allocated from the republican budget for financing and effective functioning of agricultural enterprises for a number of years. It is determined that the development of agro-industrial complex is interconnected with the activities of development institutions. The problems that have arisen in the practice of their functioning are identified, in particular, this concerns financial resources, issues of granting loans to agricultural economies, monitoring the progress of projects that received loans. The difficulties that arose led to understanding of the need to reorganize this structure. As a result, three financial institutions remained: "Agricultural Lending Corporation" JSC, "KazAgroFinance" JSC and "Agricultural Financial Support Fund" JSC. These changes will contribute to improving the management mechanism of the AIC.

ECONOMIC EVALUATION OF SOME AGRICULTURAL INITIATIVE PROJECTS IN IRAQ

This research aims to identify the economic and national feasibility of some agricultural activities benefiting from the agricultural initiative's lending funds, as well as to show the impact of the agricultural initiative on these projects in terms of raising social profitability, in the light of the results of the national evaluation criteria addressed in the research. All the studied projects have achieved a net added value at the level of the national economy. The dairy cattle breeding project recorded the lowest net added value of about 914 million dinars (about 745 thousand dollars), and poultry projects achieved the highest added value of about 5 billion ID for the projects of table eggs production 4.9 billion ID for broiler projects, while the relative change in the standard showed that and the broiler production project is one of the most benefited from loan subsidies as the rate of change reached about 25%, while the project of broiler production and poultry hatchery and the project of raising milk cow have negative social return .The initiative's subsidies have increased the social rate of return for these projects to around 24%, 20.5%, and 20%. Agricultural loans from the agricultural initiative raise the national profitability of agricultural projects, which would contribute to the process of agricultural development in Iraq.

A multi-dimensional adoption approach for improved sorghum varieties in eastern Kenya: a climate change adaptation perspective

ABSTRACT In this era of changing climatic conditions, agricultural technology developers continue to promote suitable innovations to cushion and improve resilience of smallholder farmers against adverse effects and shocks. These improved varieties contribute towards attainment of household and national food security. This paper aims to understand what influences households’ decision to adopt, speed of uptake and extent of use of improved sorghum varieties (ISVs). Data from 452 households were analysed using Double Hurdle and Duration models. Study revealed that consumption expenditure levels, income and tropical livestock unit are important determinants of three household’s adoption decisions. Access to agricultural credit, distance to administration centres and adoption intensity depicts unexpected a priori. The findings also show that households are credit constrained and use own or neighbour’s home saved seeds to expand the use of ISVs. Study concludes that the three facets of ISVs' adoption are influenced by different combination of determinants. Due to the vastness and rough terrain in Tharaka Nithi County, agricultural credit lenders should come up with effective low cost, sustainable and scalable outreach strategies. Policies targeting to derisk sorghum value chain with an aim of incentivizing financial institutions increase their lending appetite to cash-constrained smallholder farmers and agro-dealers should be implemented.

Examining the Relationships between Land Values and Credit Availability

Given the changes made to the agricultural lending system since the 1980s farm crisis, we investigate the current effects of credit availability on land values. Using data from Federal Reserve Agricultural Credit Surveys, we measure credit availability and perform county-level panel fixed effects estimations controlling for land value determinants, credit availability factors, and county and macroeconomic factors. We build an indicator of increased credit availability and find that estimating farmland values with different factors of credit availability separately could mask combined effects. When conditions for credit availability increase or remain unchanged from the previous year, land values may increase by up to 25%. While higher credit availability may facilitate land acquisition, it can also put upward pressure on land values.

Examining the Relationships between Land Values and Credit Availability

Given the changes made to the agricultural lending system since the 1980s farm crisis, we investigate the current effects of credit availability on land values. Using data from Federal Reserve Agricultural Credit Surveys, we measure credit availability and perform county-level panel fixed effects estimations controlling for land value determinants, credit availability factors, and county and macroeconomic factors. We build an indicator of increased credit availability and find that estimating farmland values with different factors of credit availability separately could mask combined effects. When conditions for credit availability increase or remain unchanged from the previous year, land values may increase by up to 25 percent. While higher credit availability may facilitate land acquisition, it can also put upward pressure on land values.

Industry expectations for beginning agricultural lenders

PurposeThis paper aims to describe the nature of an agricultural lending position and reports an industry perspective of skills required for a new graduate entering the profession.Design/methodology/approachLoan officers and those directly supervising loan officers were surveyed regarding job characteristics and perceptions of the skills needed for career success.FindingsLenders perceive on-the-job training to be slightly more valuable than post-secondary training for preparing students for a career in agricultural lending. Financial skills were rated to be roughly as important as non-financial skills for early career success. Financial topics identified as important include financial statements, breakeven analysis and accrual-basis earnings. Communication and risk analysis were rated as the most important non-financial topics needed for early career success. Regarding their jobs, lenders indicated that they devote much of their time to managing loans and developing or maintaining relationships with customers. Benefits were identified as the most important feature for job satisfaction, particularly among agricultural lenders, that also work essentially full time on a farm or ranch. Work environment, work flexibility, location and salary were also considered to be important job characteristics.Originality/valueThis paper updates the literature regarding industry's preferred skills and refines the surveyed audience to only those currently performing or directly supervising agricultural lending. It adds a unique perspective on the work time allocated to various agricultural lending activities and lenders' valuation of job characteristics. These insights may guide curricular and course design, career planning and employee recruitment and marketing efforts.

Determinants of credit constraints and its impact on the adoption of climate change adaptation strategies among rice farmers in South-West Nigeria

Interventions on climate change adaptation strategies, involve capital outlays, mostly constrained in supply in developing nations. This study analysed the impact of credit constraints on climate change adaptation strategies among smallholder rice farmers in South-West Nigeria. The nexus between systems of credit constraints and choice of climate change adaptation strategies was estimated using Generalized Method of Moments with Instrumental Variable (IV-GMM) and the seemingly unrelated regression (SUR) model. A principal component analysis (PCA) was used to reduce the multidimensionality of the adaptation strategies and the loading with the highest eigenvalue was chosen and renamed as an improved technology. The results of the study show that risk credit-constrained smallholder rice farmers are less likely to adopt climate change adaptation strategies. The quantitative analysis from this study also points to the fact that age of the household, source of credit, and distance to the source of credit, interest rate, access to extension and climate information were the determinants of credit constraint amongst the smallholder rice farmers in South-West Nigeria. Considering the nexus between climatic factors and credit constraints as noted in this study, increasing awareness about how the credit market works and information on the provision of climate change can help farmers to better adapt to climate change. Therefore, it is recommended that the government frame an agriculture credit policy addressing the issues of smallholder farmers, particularly in areas that are vulnerable to climate change. The income from non-farm activities can be reinvested into farm operations to improve farmers’ adaptive capacity and subsequently increase productivity. It could also be recommended that policies enhancing and strengthening institutional support may also be valuable in augmenting the adaptation strategies of smallholder farmers. A necessary addition should be developed to the assistance already being provided under Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL) in the form of loan guarantees and other risk-sharing incentives, such as a regulatory environment that supports the modern contractual obligations that are characteristic of well-functioning agricultural financing.

Impact of the Basel III bank regulation on US agricultural lending

PurposeFollowing the recent global financial crisis, US regulatory agencies issued laws to implement the Basel III accords to ensure the resiliency of the US banking sector. Theories predict that enhanced regulations may alter credit issuance of the regulated banks due to increased capital requirements, but the direction of changes might not be straightforward especially with respect to the agricultural loans. A decrease in credit availability from banks might pose a serious problem for farmers who rely on bank credit especially during economic recessions. The paper aims to discuss these issues.Design/methodology/approachIn this study, the impact of Basel III regulatory framework implementation on agricultural lending in the USA is examined. Using panel data of FDIC-insured banks from 2008 to 2017, the agricultural loan volume and growth rates are examined for agricultural banks and all US banks.FindingsThe results show that agricultural loan growth rates have slowed down, but the amount of agricultural loan volume issuance still remained positive. More detailed examination finds that regulated agricultural banks have decreased both the agricultural loan volume and their loan exposure to the agricultural sector, showing a possible sign of credit crunch.Originality/valueThis study examines whether the implementation of the Basel III regulation has resulted in changes in agricultural loan issuance by US banks as predicted by the lending channel theory.

The US federal crop insurance program: a case study in rent seeking

PurposeRent seeking is endemic to the process through which any policy or regulatory initiative is developed in the USA. The purpose of this paper is to show how farm and other interest groups have formed coalitions to benefit themselves at the expense of the federal government by examining the legislative history of the federal crop insurance program.Design/methodology/approachThe federal crop insurance legislation and the way in which the USDA Risk Management Agency manages federal crop insurance program are replete with complex and subtle policy initiatives. Using a new theoretical framework, the study examines how, since 1980, three major legislative initiatives – the 1980 Federal Crop Insurance Act, the 1994 Crop Insurance Reform Act and the 2000 Agricultural Risk Protection Act – were designed to jointly benefit farm interest groups and the agricultural insurance industry, largely through increases in government subsidies.FindingsEach of the three legislative initiatives examined here included provisions that, when considered individually, benefitted farmers and adversely affected the insurance industry, and vice versa. However, the joint effects of the multiple adjustments included in each of those legislative initiatives generated net benefits for both sets of interest groups. The evidence, therefore, indicates that coalitions formed between the farm and insurance lobbies to obtain policy changes that, when aggregated, benefited both groups, as well as banks with agricultural lending portfolios. However, those benefits came at an increasingly substantial cost to taxpayers through federal government subsidies.Originality/valueThis is the first analysis of the US federal crop insurance program to examine the issue of coalition formation.

Effect of Selected Factors on Non-performing Agricultural Loans in Commercial Banks in Kenya

Commercial banks plays a crucial role in the Agricultural sector in advancing farmers affordable credit to improve their productivity, enhancing their food security, and expanding their income. Financing of the sector however continues to get the lowest levels of credit in Kenya compared to other sectors due to poor loan repayment. This study aimed to establish the effect of macro-economic factors of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), Real Effective Exchange Rate, and the Lending rate on Agricultural Non-performing Loans (NPL) and to assess the effect of Growth in Loan Portfolio on Agricultural NPL. Secondary data relating to Commercial Banks lending to the agricultural sector for a period of 7 years from 2011 to 2017 was collected from forty-two Commercial Banks in Kenya. Results showed that agricultural NPL had a strong positive correlation with real GDP (0.836, p<0.001), the Real Effective Exchange rate (0.865, p<0.001), and a weak inverse correlation with the average Bank Lending rate (-0.48, p<0.01). The study concluded that commercial banks should pay close attention to the two factors (Gross Domestic Product and Real Effective Exchange rate) when providing loans to the agricultural sector to reduce the level of impaired loans. The banks active in agricultural lending should, therefore, take the performance of the real economy into account when extending loans given the reality that loan delinquencies are likely to be higher during periods of economic boom as suggested by the study results. Equally Commercial banks should trade with high prudence to curb a possible impairment due to reckless lending and over-estimation of the borrower’s ability to pay back. They should constantly review the complexity and diversity of the new loans to the agricultural sector periodically like quarterly, and do aging analysis to ensure that the growth in agricultural loans do not serve to window dress the portfolio at risk percentage while the actual amounts in default are increasing.

Sustainable banking and possibilities of its application in case of agricultural credit support: world experience and prospects for the Russian Federation

The article describes the features of bank lending to agriculture, taking into account the focus on achieving sustainable development goals, based on world experience synthesis in the application of sustainable banking, including agricultural lending, recommendations were developed aimed at developing bank lending to agriculture in the Russian Federation based on the ideas of sustainable banking.

Socio-economic aspects of bank lending to agriculture

The article is devoted to the socio-economic aspects of banks ' activities in relation to agricultural lending. The contextual background of the study is the social significance of agriculture for the country in terms of food security and the formation of a stable standard of living of the population. The purpose of the study was to reach the essential understanding of the social aspects of the Bank's activities by considering the social functions of the Bank in the lending process. The article considers the composition of credit subjects and gives a brief description of them. The activity of the State as a regulator of credit relations and a full participant in lending is emphasized. The essential understanding of the bank 's social functions in the context of solving the state 's social task of financing agriculture through the mechanism of concessional lending has been expanded. Conclusions are made about the leading role of the state in the formation of the mechanism of interaction between the Bank and the borrower with the strengthening of social functions of the Bank.

Do remotely-sensed vegetation health indices explain credit risk in agricultural microfinance?

• Agricultural lenders face the risk of delayed installment payments, especially in years with severe weather conditions. • Remotely-sensed vegetation health indices are negatively correlated with credit risk. • Credit risk is explained, to a large extent, by these vegetation health indices. • The explanatory power of the vegetation health indices increases in the upper quantiles of the distribution of credit risk. • Index insurance based on vegetation health indices is likely to be helpful for lenders, and in turn, to improve farmers’ access to credit. Farmers’ vulnerability to adverse weather events, which are likely to increase in frequency and magnitude due to climate change, is a major impediment to a sufficient credit supply. Smallholder farmers’ access to credit is, among other factors, crucial for productivity and output growth. Index insurance could help lenders to compensate for lacking installment payments in years with severe weather conditions and, thus, is considered to accelerate agricultural lending. Using a unique borrower dataset provided by a Microfinance Institution (MFI) in Madagascar, we analyze whether remotely-sensed vegetation health indices can explain the credit risk of the MFI’s agricultural loan portfolio. Therefore, we utilize sequential logit models and quantile regressions. More specifically, we consider the remotely-sensed Vegetation Condition Index, Temperature Condition Index and the Vegetation Health Index as independent variables at the individual branch and the aggregated bank level. These indices are available globally and can potentially enhance the effectiveness of index insurance by reducing basis risk (imperfect correlation between the index and the underlying exposure), a major drawback of index insurance. Moreover, we consider loan- and socio-demographic variables of the borrowers as additional independent variables. Our results show that the credit risk of the MFI is explained, to a large extent, by the vegetation health indices. Moreover, the results from quantile regressions show that the explanatory power of the vegetation health indices increases with increasing credit risk. Thus, utilizing remotely-sensed vegetation health indices for index insurance designs might be particularly valuable for MFIs to hedge the credit risk of their agricultural loan portfolio. Facing lower default rates, MFIs could reduce interest rates. Remotely-sensed index insurance could therefore enhance access to credit, contributing to sustainable development in the study region.