QURGHON TEPPA, January 17, Asia-Plus  - With introduction of a new mechanism of financing farming units, 491 cotton-growing farms in the Khatlon province have to date concluded contracts with banks for totaling 76 million somonis, Mukarrama Ishoqova, chairperson of the Khatlon branch of the National Bank of Tajikistan (NBT), told Asia-Plus on Thursday.     

According to her, 1.5 million somonis have already been provided to farming units growing cotton on the area of 17,000 hectares.   

She added that 17 microloan organizations working in the province last year provided loans for a t total amount of 90.3 million somonis.  56.5 percent of this amount went to supporting enhancement of the agrarian sector.   

“In all, branches of banks and microloan organizations operating in Khatlon provided totaling 536 million somonis in loans last year,” said Ishoqova, “Of this amount, 359.5 million somonis or 67.5 percent went to supporting enhancement of the agrarian sector.”