KULOB, December 1, 2009, Asia-Plus  -- This year, the government has given a 7,362,400 somoni credit to farmers in four cotton-growing districts of Khatlon’s Kulob zone through the branches of Amonatbonk (Tajikistan’s savings bank) and some 30.4 percent (2.4 million somoni) of that has been repaid by this day, Mahmadullo Rahmonov, the head of Amonatbonk’s branch in the city of Kulob, said in an interview with Asia-Plus.

According to him, the credit has been distributed to 188 farming units in the area.  “Farmers in the Farkhor districts have repaid 1.4 million somoni to the bank by this day,” Rahmonov said.

Amonatbonk is the only bank in the region that has managed to pay off the government credit given to cotton farmers in the zone last year, he added.

In 2008, the government gave a credit to farmers in the Kulob zone through six banks.  “8.22 million somoni were given to 226 local cotton producing farms last year through Amonabonk’s branches in the area and though with delays, the farms have paid off their loans,” Rahmonov noted.