KULOB, February14, 2011, Asia-Plus -- The Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) will provide 100 tractors to all ten districts of Khatlon’s Kulob region this year, Ahmad Safarov, a leading specialist with the Kulob agriculture department, said.

According to him, the tractors will be delivered to the region under agri-leasing according to applications from farming units.  “The tractor will be based at machine and tractor stations (MTS) and they will be used in agricultural operations under contracts with dehqon (peasant) farms and private farmers,” Safarov said.

He noted that Shouroobod and Vose districts had set up their own machine and tractor stations and the Danghara cotton-ginning factory had acquired 12 tractors.  “Besides, local entrepreneurs bought 27 Russian and Iranian made tractors last year through the Hissar-based closed joint-stock company, Agrotekhservis (agricultural technical service), and the Tursunzoda-based public association, Madad,” Safarov added.