The institutional credit has always been perceived as a critical factor for agricultural development in India through complementing working capital, easing liquidity and investment constraints. The present study has examined the trends and regional variations in institutional credit flow to agriculture in India for the period 1991–92 to 2016–17 using compound annual growth rate. Further, impact of institutional credit on agricultural productivity was also assessed using panel data regression. The study is based on the secondary data collected from various published sources. Results indicated that institutional credit to agriculture in real terms has registered a significant positive growth during the past four decades and the highest annual growth was observed during 2001–02 to 2010–11. Scheduled commercial banks have emerged as the dominant source of agricultural credit. However, cooperative banks are still the major sources of production credit. Regional analysis showed that southern states had access to highest production and investment credit per hectare, while eastern and northeastern states had the least credit outreach per hectare. Panel data regression model testified that institutional credit has a significant and positive impact on agricultural productivity. Therefore, the study has suggested for better access to credit of smallholders especially in eastern, western and north eastern states through simplification of procedures.

Background: India carries the greatest burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) amongst nations. It is estimated that by the year 2030 there will be 101 million diabetics, 218 million hypertensives in India. NCDs would account for 53% of deaths in India by the year 2020 of which CVD would be the cause in 43%. Kerala is the diabetic and cardiovascular disease capital of India, with rates of prevalence as high as twice the national average. The age-adjusted CAD mortality rates per 100,000 is 382 for men and 128 for women in Kerala.Methods: The study was carried out in 5 contiguous panchayats of Ernakulam district, Kerala state. The study was carried out in 2 Phases. In the first phase individuals self-reported non communicable diseases and risk factors through the medium of an ASHA administered Questionnaire. In the second phase blood tests were done in individuals from the study population in those above the age of 30 years.Results: Of the 114,064 surveyed 63,051 individuals were above 30 years of age with a prevalence of diabetes at 11.1%, hypertension 15.6% and dyslipidemia 6.9% when self-reported. In the Phase 2 of the study blood sugar, total cholesterol and blood pressure was measured in close to 8000 individuals in whom 48% of individuals with high sugars, 37% with high blood pressure and 85% with high cholesterol values were unaware of their disease status. More females were unaware of their diabetic and lipid status and males of their hypertensive status. About 25% of diabetics, 40% of hypertensives and 6% of dyslipidemics had normal values. This study provided prevalence of NCDs on a large enough scale to help in policy planning if not for the country at least for the state of Kerala.Conclusions: The study results suggested low awareness and poor control of NCDs in the study population.

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