In several districts of Syrdarya region, large tracts of farmland previously managed by local farmers are being reclaimed and put up for auction. Reports indicate that potential buyers are likely to be foreign investors. Kun.uz spoke with economist Otabek Bakirov and agribusiness expert Kamoliddin Ikromov to explore the potential consequences of this trend.
Large-scale land consolidation raises concerns
Kamoliddin Ikromov, head of the Agribusiness Association, highlighted that districts such as Khovos, Guliston, Oqoltin, and Qorgontepa are seeing a wave of land consolidation. “Authorities are not only reclaiming land but also aggregating vacant and reserve plots into lots too large for local farmers to acquire. For example, a single lot of 1,000 hectares may be sold cheaply to a foreign investor at about 8 million UZS per hectare. Meanwhile, in the same district, a local farmer may have paid 80–400 million UZS for just one hectare. Who benefits from creating such oversized lots that local farmers cannot afford? What’s the underlying rationale?”
He warned that such practices could eventually jeopardize local agriculture. “If these lands are leased long-term to investors, there is a risk that local farming could disappear in the area.”
Legal framework and rights of farmers
Journalist Shokir Sharipov asked what the economic implications might be.
Otabek Bakirov explained that the situation depends on how the law functions. “Last year, the president issued a decree allowing five districts to conduct a legal experiment: 80 percent of farmers’ land would be returned to the state reserve, while the remaining 20 percent could be purchased by the farmers at 50 percent of the normative value. The plan is to eventually expand this experiment nationwide. But questions immediately arose.
“First, farmers have long operated under inheritable lease agreements. Why should they give up lands already under lease and then purchase 20 percent anew?
“Second, if large amounts of land are aggregated into reserves, what should be the maximum and minimum lot sizes? Oversized lots are problematic because they exclude potential buyers, especially local investors who lack the resources of large foreign companies. Local farmers have already invested in production and crops. Equity in lot sizes is essential.”
