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

2.7 Conclusions

The overall feeling is that of gratefulness for receiving land. Whispers of awe and amazement circle when somebody has been granted a lease. [FN 93] There is no awareness of rights to land, of a legal claim to benefit from the land reform. Good relations with the persons in charge of the implementation of the land reform, namely the Hokhim are considered a necessary prerequisit for obtaining a lease.

Which form of privatising land will be most successful is not yet clear. All have their different advantages as well as their limitations. All have a different incentive structure. They do not, though, fully explore their potential to serve the different conditions in the rural areas. Further flexibility as to how land rights are adjusted to local needs could be elaborated.

However, as the UN Report on Social Development points out, a variety of forms of land tenure could also be disruptive. The different incentive structures, above all the different rate of return of the existing forms could lead to disputes. [FN 94] The Dehkhan are largely independent from state procurement and crop directives. [FN 95] Therefore, they potentially have a higher rate of return, although they do carry more risks. Not everybody will be able to obtain Dehkhan leases. The experience of relative deprivation on the side of Shirkat farmers and shareholders might cause social unrest.

If the different forms of land tenure were equal in their duration and right of heritability, one conflict factor might be removed. Although the different rates of return would still exist, benefits and risks of Dehkhans compared to Shirkat would be more balanced. Therefore, the importance of duration and long-term rights has to be clarified for all. Heritability, investment and the right to use land as collateral are as decisive for agricultural property as the right to possession and use.

Agricultural labourers without land are exempt from these considerations. The difference between tenants of any kind and landless labourers will probably increase and legislation to regulate seasonal work and other matters related will have to be introduced.