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

5.3 Migration and rural exodus

"Uzbeks stay in the place where they were born. They don't migrate much." [FN 144] There is a general dislike to move out of a community. Further there is a prevailing myth that living conditions in the countryside are better. The rapid agricultural growth after the 1960s led to a rise in living standards in rural areas. Income differences between the rural and the urban population were small. This has always weakened the incentives to move into the cities and Uzbekistan has been able to avoid a rural exodus and its consequences. At the same time, though, living conditions in the countryside are distinguished by health hazards caused by pollution and malnutrition, by low income and a lack of access to services. Nevertheless, town peolpe are induced to move to the villages or at least obtain leases for garden plots in order to support their food consumption and their income. The population living in the countryside has, since independence, increased from 59.7 % to 61 %. [FN 145]

The village people see the immigration of town people sceptically. Especially part-time farmers, who would keep their job in the city were seen as intruders and as taking away the land from those who it rightfully belonged to. [FN 146] (See above chapter I. on the Adat.) This was especially pronounced in the Ferghana valley and around Tashkent where there is a high pressure on land and of townspeople moving to the villages. In these areas the administrations joined the argument and said that land would only be given to those who would permanently settle in the countryside. In most kolkhozes the rule that only members could obtain leasing contracts, was followed strictly.

When village people move into towns they flee from the unemployment in the villages. [FN 147] Often they are members of the village community who have no land, not even a family yard. They plan to join into the founding of new enterprises or find employment in the industrial sector. Community members who have a family or even a Ui Haule try to stay in the village.

Since in the cities connections, relatives and other networks play an important role in everyday life, from finding a house and a job to buying sugar, village people experience difficulties to gain a footing. People from the rural areas develop new communities. No matter from which area a person originated, "village people" are united by the experience of the difficulties they encounter in the cities and help each other. [FN 148] Networks are a decisive factor in managing every day life, so "artificial" networks are created. Networks may not only refer to a common biographical experience (such as being a villager in the city) but may be based on religious communities, (re-invented) ethnic links and others yet to show. [FN 149]