DUSHANBE, October 15, 2008, Asia-Plus  -- Chairman of Amonatbonk (Tajikistan’s savings bank) Mahmadamin Mahmadaminov told a press conference in Dushanbe on October that over the first nine months of this year, Amonatbonk has received loan resources of 40 million somoni from the government to provide loans to 548 cotton-growing farms in Khatlon and Sughd district.  

He added that the bank had also provided 5 million somoni from its own funds in loans to 50 cotton-growing farms.  The Amonatbonk head expressed confidence that farmers would repay loans opportunely.  

“Farmers have repaid 1.3 million somoni to this date; it is not bad result if to take into account that the main season for repayment of loans has not yet started,” said Mahmadaminov, “Farmers are to repay loans from the first tranche before December this year and from the second tranche before April 2009.”

“We are sure that starting from the next year, farming units will go over to the self-financing system because to some data, this year’s cotton harvest is expected to be not bad,” the Amonatbonk head said.