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January 7, 2013
Small-scale farmers need new development interventions
According to a report by London based IIED (International Institute for Environment and Development), based on the livelihood improvement strategies for the small scale farmers of Africa, Asia, and Latin America, new strategies must be thought of and new business interventions be made. Read more here.
January 7, 2013
The ‘bitter’ lives of Indian cotton farmers
This post talks about the plight of Indian cotton farmers who have allegedly been made slaves to buy Genetically Modified cotton seeds from ‘condescending’ Monsanto employees in India. Traditional cotton farmers relied the previous year’s seeds for the year’s crop. However, GM crops are designed for a single year’s use, […]
December 29, 2012
Driven by competition, Panasonic is the latest to join the BOP bandwagon with solar lanterns
The corporate world’s shift in focus to emerging markets is by now, an oft repeated story. Of greater interest however, is the shift within this shift – that of increasing testing of BOP (base of the pyramid) waters by the private sector, particularly large conglomerates. Almost everyone by now realises […]
December 29, 2012
Zimbabwe: Government bemoans high interest rates for microfinance loans in the country
According to the Acting Secretary for Small and Medium Enterprises and Co-operative Development, at a time when the pressures of inflation have been brought back under control, it is unreasonable for microfinance institutions to charge high interest rates from borrowers. Read more here.
December 29, 2012
Pakistan to develop its microinsurance sector
SEPC, or the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan recently announced the constitution of a working group which will actively place recommendations for the regulatory framework for microinsurance in the country, which is benefitting many of the poor in Pakistan. Read more here.
December 29, 2012
Spain’s bank helps 1200 Puerto Rican projects
The Spanish banking giant BBVA’s Microfinance Foundation has recently completed the contribution of as much as US$4.7 million over a period of two years towards about 1200 small Puerto Rican small businesses and microenterprises. Read more here.
December 29, 2012
India: SKS microfinance completes US$10 million securitization
The only listed microfinance institution in the country, SKS Microfinance has reportedly completed a securitization deal worth US$ 10 million, or INR 544 million. The average loan amount given out by the company is INR 11,500 or US$211. Read more here.
December 29, 2012
Innovations in Islamic microfinance for small farmers in Sudan
This post by representative of Bank of Khartoum talks about how being able to cater to the finance needs of farmers, especially smallholder farmers requires a thorough understanding of their unique needs. The post talks about the role of microfinance, microinsurance and other agents in helping smallholder farmers access adequate […]
December 29, 2012
International funding for microfinance reached US$25 billion in 2011
According to CGAP’s cross border funder survey, mentioned in one of our previous updates, international funding for microfinance has continued to grow even amidst global financial crunches, and had reached US$25 billion in 2011. Read more here.
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Eight Lessons Learned: Inputs for policy considerations in developing resilience against climate risks for small scale farmers in semi-arid regions, full report
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GST 2.0 and Tax Cuts: Can They Make Growth Fairer and Greener?
India's latest GST reform, being termed as GST 2.0, is more than just slashing rates. By simplifying the tax structure, cutting levies on essentials, and supporting renewable infrastructure, it's open..
Reimagining Sports in CSR: From Tokenism to a Vehicle for Multiplying Impact
In 2023–24, Indian companies spent about ₹1,396 crore of their CSR budgets on sports — just 4% of the total ₹34,909 crore Indian corporates spent on CSR that year. Most of the rest went to edu..
Interactive SHG Map of India: 7.5 million Women Self Help Groups are spread across 27 States and 6 UTs in India
Under the National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM), India has 7.5 million Women Self Help Groups (SHGs) spread across 27 states and 6 Union Territories. Each of these small, self-governed, and peer-co..