QURGHON TEPPA, July 27, 2010, Asia-Plus  -- Labor migrants are a critical component in the economy of Tajikistan and labor migrants’ remittances keep many families at home above the poverty line.

Over the first six months of this year, labor migrants have remitted more than 15 million U.S. dollars to their families in Qubodiyon district, Khatlon province, Asia-Plus has learned at the Qubodiyon district administration.

“But if we take into account cars and other equipment  delivered to the district over the report period, one can say that they have remitted more than 20 million U.S. dollars,” the source at the district administration said.  This amount is much higher than the district’s annual budget that stands at little more than 17 million U.S. dollars, he added.

“Activities of many farming units in the district that have refused to take loans from banks and worked on their own have been financed due to these funds,” the source said, noting that that experience has yielded good results.

According to official data, an estimated 15,000 to 20,000 residents of Qubodiyon travel abroad each year, primarily to Russia, seeking better employment opportunities.