KHUJAND, July 23, 2010, Asia-Plus  -- Cotton producing farms in Sughd district do not have enough money for land treatment, according to the Sughd agriculture directorate.

“As of July 16, local cotton farmers received only 15.086 million somoni from commercial banks, which is only a half of the last year’s level,” said the source, “Moreover, these loans were given at 26 percent annual interest.  Of this amount, 4 million somoni are a preferential credit given by the government.”

In 2009, Sughd cotton farmers received 30 million somoni and in 2008, they received 52 million somoni, he added.