Agricultural Credit Programs and Production Efficiency: An Analysis of Traditional Farming in Southeastern Minas Gerais, Brazil

Over the past two decades the effectiveness of subsidized credit programs in improving the productivity of traditional farmers in developing countries has been extensively debated. This study analyzes the effects of one such program—PRODEMATA—on the technical and allocative efficiency of traditional farmers in Minas Gerais, Brazil. The empirical results suggest that PRODEMATA has had no effect on technical efficiency and a slightly negative effect on allocative efficiency.