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Another 100 thousand hectares of land will be offered in Uzbekistan under a new system with a lease for 49 years

Uzbekistan will adopt a new decree on the transfer of agricultural land for long-term lease and improvement of mechanisms for their implementation. About this on April 21 it was said during a presentation to President Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

As noted, over the past five years, systemic reforms in the field of land relations have been carried out in Uzbekistan. In particular, the powers of khokims to distribute land were terminated, and their implementation was transferred to an auction mechanism. During this time, 616.3 thousand hectares were distributed through auctions, and 1.4 trillion soums were received into the budget.

“Most importantly, thanks to the emergence of a real owner, the income from each hectare increased 3 times and reached 50-60 million soums,” the message says.

Today, these lands annually produce products worth 539 trillion soums, and the volume of exports reaches 2.1 billion dollars.

At the same time, despite the reforms, unresolved issues remain in the industry. In particular, the independence of tenants in the use of land remains limited, which hinders their involvement in the turnover. For this reason, 117.6 thousand hectares of land have not yet been sold.

In this regard, it is planned to introduce a new system for providing agricultural land for lease, as well as put up another 100 thousand hectares for auction in 2026 on updated terms. At the same time, the emphasis will be on strengthening economic incentives for efficient use of land.

The practice of independent selection of crops by tenants, introduced in a number of regions, has shown positive results. In 2025, entrepreneurs planted their chosen highly profitable and export-oriented crops on 16 thousand hectares of 20 thousand hectares, creating the basis for exports worth $150 million, the report says.

The President emphasized the need to expand this practice and provide land usersgreater economic freedom.

For the development of industrial plantations and livestock farming, it is proposed to auction plots ranging from 50 to 500 hectares. Already this year, at least five large projects are planned to be launched in each region.

For their implementation, support measures are provided, including covering the costs of water and electricity supply, preferential loans for up to 7 years with a three-year grace period, interest rate compensation and subsidizing up to 50% of product packaging costs.

First Deputy Minister of Economy and Finance Ilkhom Norkulov, in an interview with the Uzbekistan 24 TV channel, recalled that last year about 20 thousand hectares of land had already been leased for 49 years in plots of 50 hectares. “This reform has gone well,” he noted.

The new system proposes to expand the practice of long-term rentals and give tenants more freedom.

“Now, within a single system, includingPresidential Decree No. 18“, it is proposed to lease agricultural land for 49 years with the right to freely choose crops, with an emphasis on attracting professional investors,” said the first deputy minister.

New approaches to the sale of land plots are also being considered. In particular, it is proposed that, at the initiative of khokims, land for industrial plantations with an area of ​​up to 500 hectares can be put up for sale through an auction.

“At the same time, it is proposed to sell irrigated lands at a price of up to 50% of the standard cost, and if they are not sold at auction, the starting price can be gradually reduced by 10% - up to 10%,” Norkulov noted.

Pasture lands are proposed to be auctioned at a price of 1% of their assessed value.

“In general, new approaches are proposed aimed at finding effective owners and transferring land to professional investors,” emphasized Ilkhom Norkulov.

Let us remind you that by 2027 all agricultural land in Uzbekistan should betranslatedfor rental relations. Since 2021, such lands are provided only on a lease basis, but some of them are still used under the old conditions.

By presidential decree of September 12, 2025, agricultural land tenantsallowedtransfer part of your plots for rent to other users. The document also stipulates that the only form of ownership of agricultural land is lease. Other forms of ownership are not subject to registration, with certain exceptions.



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