DUSHANBE, July23, 2010, Asia-Plus  -- Of 130 million somoni provided for this year for development of the agrarian sector, only 20 percent, or 25.6 million somoni, has been allocated this year so far, according to the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA).

“While, during sowing season at least 50 percent of these funds must be available to farmers,” the source at a MoA said, noting that the funds have been allocated to provide farmers with loans at 10 percent annual interest.

He added that damage caused to the agrarian sector by this year’s disasters has been estimated at 43.1 million somoni (equivalent to more than 9.7 million U.S. dollars).  In Sughd province, damage caused by natural disasters has been estimated at 21 million somoni, Khatlon province – 8.8 million somoni, and districts subordinate to the center – 13.3 million somoni.  Floods and mudslides have destroyed more than 7,000 hectares of cotton fields in the country, the source said.