KULOB, March 20, Asia-Plus – On Friday March 17, adviser to the Group on Implementation of the Project of Independent Commission for Solution of Debts of Tajikistan’s Cotton-growing Farms, Brain Lynch, and audit with the Center for Implementation of the “Cotton Debts and Ways of Solution” Project, Sharif Qudratov, met with senior representatives from agrarian sector in Kulob to discuss issues related to debts of the cotton-growing farms.
Mr. Qudratov has told Asia-Plus that a total debt of the country’s cotton-growing farms has amounted to nearly US$300 million. “This problem is so acute and pressing that by president’s order the Strategy of Solution of Debts of the Cotton-growing Farms of Tajikistan has been adopted and the Independent Commission (IC) for seeking solution to this problem has been set up,” Mr. Qudratov said, noting that the plan of the IC actions includes measures on five directions and is designed for the period till 2009.
The main objectives and goals of the IC and the Group set up within the Commission for implementation of the project are in ensuring rights of all participants of the process of production and processing of cotton, including dehqan (peasant) farms and their members, to make independent decisions on all financial-economic, legal and social issues of production and processing of cotton on the basis of complete and authentic information, according to Mr. Qudratov. He says the Independent Commission and the Group are dedicated to play a significant role for achieving these goals. “We hope for fruitful partnership in successful settlement of the situation, which has acquired a national scale,” Qudratov said, adding that the IC website would be launched in near future. Besides, they plan to set up discussion club, organize publication of bulletin and provide direct channel of communication with the Group via Internet.
The adviser to the Group on Implementation of the Project of Independent Commission for Solution of Debts of Tajikistan’s Cotton-growing Farms, Mr. Brain Lynch, has told Asia-Plus that it is necessary to restructure the debts and the term of repayment of debts could be prolonged event up to 40 years.
