Finance policy reforms introduced in the country in 1996 were expected to increase access to formal credit of small farmers and fisherfolk. After over a decade, however, the evidence has ironically shown a consistently declining trend in agriculture and fisheries lending by banks. This unexpected development prompted the ACPC to organize a symposium that will bring together several experts in the field of rural finance from the government and private sector, and gather their assessments and recommendations on this matter. This publication is a compilation of the papers presented by the participants during the symposium.
