Land reform working group agenda

1. Agriculture Land
Reform Technical
Working Group
(i) Legal and economic analysis
(ii) Expert/DP consultations
(iii) Proposals for legal changes

2. Agenda
Proposed legal changes to the Land Code
Proposal for Repeal of related laws on Farms, Dekhans
and Cooperatives
Analysis & Feedback on MoA legal proposals
Agreement on next steps

3. Guiding principles of Assessment & Proposed Legal Changes
Alignment with the Agriculture
Development Strategy (2020-
2030):
• Priority 3: Reducing the role of the state and
attracting private investment
• Priority 4: Ensuring rational use of natural
resources & environmental protection
Market-based principles of
fairness, transparency & non-
discrimination
Compatibility with international
legal practices and principles (for
legal definitions, investment, state
aid (WTO))
Uzbek legislative coherence and
consistency

4. Removal of all state crop placement legal powers
Freedom of choice for land
users to sustainably
produce productive crops
and livestock, based on the
type of land, profitability,
market opportunities etc.
Increasing investment
attractiveness

5. Expansion and clarification of
lease and sub-lease rights
Freedom to
transfer,
exchange, expand
Basis for
secondary land
market
Access to finance

6. Restriction and clarification of state powers for
reallocation and/or seizure of land
Basis for individual
secure land tenure
rights
Seizure based on
objective rather
than subjective
criteria
Minimise / prevent
abuse of power by
government
officials

7. Introduction of equal and competitive conditions in
the allocation of land use rights
Creating a level playing
field for all types of legal
subject/entity
Alignment/unification of
the rights of all legal
subjects (removing
special requirements for
agriculture legal subjects)

8. Repeal of related
laws
• Law on Farms
• Law on Dekhans
• Law on Cooperatives
To promote legal simplification, clarity and
consistency

9. Legal proposals of the Ministry of Agriculture
Legal inconsistency with the Agriculture Development Strategy

10. Proposed next
steps
1. Sharing of analysis and proposals with Working Group
members for feedback (17th March):
- Extracts from the Agriculture Development Strategy
supporting the approach
- Summary table of proposed changes to the Land
Code
- Land Code text with inserted comments/justifications
and proposed changes
- Legal subject analysis (to support proposed legal
subject changes)
2. Working Group written feedback (24th March)
3. Feedback on MoA proposals submitted to consultation
process (24th March)
4. Final version of proposed changes to Land Code
prepared based on feedback (31st March)
5. Draft Resolution for Repeal of Laws on Farms, Dekhans
and Cooperatives (31st March)