KULOB, August 27, 2008, Asia-Plus  -- A weighing equipment for eleven cotton-ginning factories in five cotton-growing districts of Khatlon’s Kulob region has got permission from the branch of Tojikstandart (agency for standardization, certification, metrology and trade inspection) in Kulob to accept raw cotton, Asia-Plus has learned from Rustam Nematov, head of Tojistandart’s branch in Kulob.      

The cotton-ginning factory Pakhtai Kulob was the first to accept raw cotton from farming units.  It has accepted some 80 tons of cotton so far.  

In the meantime, according to some participants of an enlarged meeting of administrators of the Khatlon province that was held on August 25, the cotton-ginning factories have been recommended to accept cotton from farming units in cash. 

However, farmers in three cotton-growing districts say that the cotton-ginning factories are in no hurry to implement this recommendation.  They say they have not yet concluded contracts with any of ginneries.   

 Farmers are currently paid at the rate of 30 dirams per one kilogram of cotton and with deduction of all taxes cotton pickers will have not more than 20 dirams per one kilogram of raw cotton.  However, it cannot be ruled out that the rate may be raised to 50 dirams per one kilogram.