In a recent video selector meeting chaired by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev on November 21, key issues pertaining to the rational use of land resources, land accounting, and the enhancement of cadastral services were addressed. The meeting highlighted the significant role of land in regional economic growth, food security, job creation, and attracting investments.
Over the past three years, digitization efforts have resulted in registering 40mn hectares, equivalent to 90% of the total land, in the cadastre. However, challenges persist as the market value of approximately 44.8mn hectares of land and 8.3mn buildings and structures has not been calculated. The current conditional cadastral value of existing structures stands at $70bn, significantly below their actual market value, which is estimated to be 4-5 times higher. This underscores the potential economic value of these assets.
The use of modern aerial cameras and drones has revealed discrepancies and opportunities for optimization in land use. For instance, in the Karshi district, it was found that 45,000 hectares of arable land documented in reports included 5,100 hectares of pasture land. This discrepancy implies a loss of potential revenue, jobs, and income to the budget.
The incomplete documentation of rights for 286,000 hectares of agricultural land and unclear legal status for 460,000 hectares allocated for permanent use contribute to a total of over 900,000 hectares of agricultural land not registered in the cadastral system. This absence from the cadastre hinders the issuance of official secondary leases for repeated crops, impacting at least 300,000 jobs, products from repeated crops, and informal rents.
To address these challenges, a thorough examination of the efficiency of such lands was initiated. Productive land use by peasants and farmers will lead to lease agreements registered in the cadastral system, while lands not utilized optimally will be returned to the hokimical reserve.
To facilitate the implementation of this system, official ministries were tasked with conducting aerial photography next year and completing the agricultural land cadastre. The objective is to create a transparent and efficient land management system that supports sustainable agriculture.
During the meeting, it was decided to allocate a minimum of 100 hectares of vacant land in each district for the cultivation of exportable vegetables. Presentations will be organized, and individuals with knowledge of the industry and export skills will be provided training at the "farmers' school." The arable land will be auctioned with the right to rent, ensuring efficient use and export-oriented cultivation.
Attention was also directed towards addressing discrepancies in land accounting, particularly the misclassification of 817,000 hectares of land converted into residential and industrial areas but still reported as agricultural land. Instructions were given to the cadastral agency and hokims to resolve these issues and accurately reflect the current "land balance" in reports.
Undocumented lands in water management were identified as potential sources of additional economic benefits. A complete cadastre of these lands, including canals, collectors, natural lakes, and rivers, is proposed to unlock reserves for job creation and food production.
The road industry also faces challenges with undocumented lands along certain internal roads. In Karakalpakstan and Khorezm, over 2,700 vacant plots of land suitable for auction were identified during the demarcation of internal roads. The plan for next year includes preparing cadastral documents for internal roads within the framework of the "Initiative Budget" and "My Way" projects.
The meeting extensively analyzed the issue of effective land use, acknowledging the reduction of 42,500 hectares from agriculture to settlements and industrial lands over the last five years. However, it was noted that regional, district, and city authorities are not effectively utilizing the reclassified lands. Approximately 17,500 hectares of reclassified land in 100 districts were neither allocated to entrepreneurs nor put up for auction, leading to lost budget revenue.
Mayors were given strict instructions to expedite efforts in utilizing reclassified lands, emphasizing the economic potential and benefits for both entrepreneurs and the state.
The meeting concluded with an emphasis on the imperative of completing all programs, "roadmaps," and projects on time, reinforcing the importance of adherence to implementation discipline in the pursuit of building a new Uzbekistan.
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