CRI听力：Beijing News: Agriculture Coupons to Boost Rural Economy

An article published by the Beijing News hails the suggestion as a great idea that could solve a key problem for rural financial institutions.(www.hxen.net)

The writer notes that financial institutions have to spend huge amounts just evaluating applicants' creditworthiness if they issue micro-loans to individual households instead of enterprises.

The cost would be so high as to offset much of the profit. This is why rural financial institutions have been reluctant to give small loans to farmers.

Now, the paper says, a third party - agricultural enterprises or rural organizations for economic cooperation - has been introduced into the mechanism to provide a practical solution.

The writer says the proposal would eventually benefit all three stakeholders: farmers would get the loans they need, financial institutions would save costs, and enterprises would win potential customers.

But the writer also points out that some practical issues need to be solved before such a proposal could be adopted.

There is a dearth of economic cooperation organizations in the countryside. For in the past three decades, farmers have been encouraged to work on their own. Some agricultural enterprises also have their own problems to weather.