ABSTRACT

The lack of guarantees when applying for a loan, the little information on where to file for one and the different forms of exclusion from financial services leaves people who belong to the rural sector as some of the most vulnerable in terms of access to these services. At an international scale, several models have been developed that help people in this sector gain more access to funding. This aim of this investigation was to understand which the main problems are that farmers face when applying for a loan, to find out if they see the loan as a source of funding and to make recommendations to help improve this situation. The municipal area of Salinas, San Luis Potosí, Mexico, is an area with characteristics that can facilitate the creation of farming projects, if there was a funding scheme. In 2008, 186 surveys were conducted and national statistics were analyzed. Results showed that there is no financial culture, farmers lack crucial information on who offers credits or where to invest; commercial banking corporations are unconcerned about the development impact their credits may have; working capital loans are the most commonly applied for. Conclusions indicate that the current situation in the municipal area regarding loans is the same as in any level, and it is therefore necessary to articulate funding models that consider credits as an engine for development, thus allowing the creation of job opportunities and selfemployment

Keywords: Credit, marginalization, rural development.