Very good questions indeed. To look for the characteristics we have to refer to the regulatoru framework prposed within Basel III regulations. To the same document we should go back to find an answer to the other question. In my view we can’t judge ”apriori” about political and non political regulation because this matter should be seen in the contest of a given Country.

I welcome your initiative and as owner of the Group I am delighted of the idea and I am sure the members will take the chance to promote together the exchange views and experiences in a virtual meeting point with colleagues of the other side of the Atlantic. 
The themes you intend to focus are of upmost importance (see below comments on “One Vision Many Views”) and indeed the need to find out ways and means to inject financial resources in the agricultural sector doesn’t need to be underlined. 

For me, this is passionate issue and I do recall my first field experiences in West Francophone Africa as Agricultural Credit Expert with UN-FAO: some time thirty years ago dealing with credit was too much to say because it was frequent to have in-kind credit and finance seasonal crops. (Je me souviens que nous étions là à réitérer le message qu’il faut rembourser pour avoir un nouveau crédit la saison prochaine; aujourd’hui on parle de plusieurs dettes et donc la nécessitée du crédit bureau). 
How the picture changed in a span of three decades! 

Currently in field it is a question to look into, among others, Agricultural Value Chain Finance (AVCF) strategy, design new credit models for a suitable and appropriate intervention in all steps “after farm gate”. Financing the chain’s actors (farmers, representative associations, small lenders, banks, traders, importers, exporters, financiers, donors, NGO, etc.) of the various circles of the chain is a very challenging task. I will be available to exchange views on the matter borrowing from my field experience and I am confident the members of this Group will take the opportunity. 

The relationships between agricultural growth and microfinance is a field reality and one of the goals – if not the most ambitious – of the Millennium Campaign promoted by UN. 
Keep in touch.
http://www.linkedin.com/groups/MICROFINANCE-GROUP 3804749?gid=3804749&trk=hb_side_g

Ascanio
http://www.cambridgedata.com/GrqziosiAscanio