KULOB, July 24, 2008, Asia-Plus  -- Over the first six months of this year, the branch of Tajikistan’s savings bank, Amonatbonk, in Shuroobod has provided 1,519,570 somonis in loans to local entrepreneurs and farmers, Ibrohim Azizov, head of the Amonatbonk branch in Shuroobod, announced at a press conference in Shuroobod on July 23. 

According to him, this amount included 370,000 somonis of the government funds and 816,500 somonis of bank’s own funds.

“Of the government funds, 25,000 of the government funds have been provided in loans to local beekeepers at 7 percent annual interest, 30,000 somonis have been provided for development of the livestock sector, and the remaining 317,000 somonis have been provided in loans to local grain growers,” Azizov said, noting that the Shuroobod grain growers were tasked to have produced grains this year at a rate of not less than 400 kilograms per head (Shuroobod ahs the population of some 50,000).

Azizov added that the bank had also provided 754,000 somonis of its own funds to local grain growers.  “714,000 somonis have been provided to them at 36 percent annual interest and 40,000 somonis have been provided to grain growers at 24 percent annual interest,” the head of Amonatbonk’s branch said, adding that in all, 329 dehqon (peasant) farms have received loans for development of grain growing.