Julia Eckert, Georg Elwert (1996):
Land Tenure in Uzbekistan

2.4.1 Land quality and target yields.

While land far away from the villages was designated for the new Dehkhans, many Shirkat members complained that only bad, infertile land was leased in the Shirkat system. They had not been able to obtain the land they had wanted. The bad quality of the land made it unlikely that they would be able to produce a surplus and thus earn an actual profit. [FN 66] Some feared that the land was so infertile, that they would not even be able to meet the target, which they would have to pay or sell at fixed price to the kolkhoz.

The targets were estimated according to the productivity of the soil. Calculations about the productivity of the soil were based on the results of scientific research about the yield of certain species. In some cases old five year plan targets were used to determine the amount to be paid as rent. Those projected yields might differ quite significantly from actual yields. The tenant farmers estimated that they would have to sell (or pay as rent) the largest part of the harvest to the kolkhoz (at the fixed state prices.) Many Shirkat farmers feared that there would be no surplus to be sold privately. [FN 67] There were reports about cases in which the rent and fixed amount to be sold were larger than the harvest. [FN 68] In one case the tenant fell short of 50% of the prescribed amount and had to buy the lacking amount on the market. [FN 69] In a similar case, the tenant had to borrow money in order to buy the produce on the market. To be able to pay the interest on the loan he then had to sell his seed. A spiral of debt opened. [FN 70]

Complaint against unfair estimates can be filed at the Hokhimiat but the estimates are made by the Hokhimiat in the first place. Although the tenant can carry his case in front of the district prosecutor, there is an actual lack of separation of powers at the first step of a complaint.

There were no reports of an adjustment of the target yield. Counter to the reports of some farmers, none of the Hokhimiats interviewed have had cases of insolvency. 14 % of them established the rule, that if a tenant could not pay his rent, he would be barred from tenancy for three years. Only one kolkhoz had a concept of bankruptcy. [FN 71]