KHUJAND, July 24, 2009, Asia-Plus  -- Farmers in Sughd province have repaid 70 percent of loans taken from Agroinvestbonk last year for cotton growing and harvesting campaign, Asia-Plus has learned from Ahrorkhon Ahrorov, the head of Agroinvestbonk’s branch in Khujand.

According to him, the bank last year provided 26 million somoni, including 14.2 million somoni of state funds, in loans to 395 local farming units.

“To this date, only the Jabborrasulov district has paid off loans to Agroinvestbonk,” said Ahrorov, “In 2008, the bank provided more than 1.5 million somoni in loans to 33 cotton-growing farms in the Jabborrasulov district.”

He added that the low rate of loan repayments in Bobojonghafruov, Mastchoh and Asht districts evoked concern.