Such indirect financing needs to be extended to more sectors. Many poverty-alleviation programmes, for instance, are best served by NGOs. Allowing these organisations a source of funding could prove to be the least expensive way of disbursing funds for such programmes. Agricultural credit, too, could well be disbursed through village moneylenders, provided, of course, care is taken to prevent usurious rates of interest. Banks are unwieldy vehicles for lending to small businesses and peasants, and their staff have little local knowledge. These defects can be remedied only if the lending organisation is one with its roots in the community which it serves, and which can deliver services at low costs.