DUSHANBE, October 20, Asia-Plus -- 484 dehqan (peasant) farms have been established on the basis of 24 collective farms in Tajikistan since the beginning of the year, Davlatsho Gulmahmadov, the head of the Committee for Land-tenure Regulation, announced at a news conference in Dushanbe on October 19. 

Inspections by the committee revealed that many of the newly established farms do not observe the principles of activity of dehqan farms and continue to work in the old fashion, he said. ”Thus, in the northern district of Bobojonghafurov, only one dehqan farm has been established on the old collective farm, which is in contrary to our agricultural reform principles,” Gulmahmadov said. 

The committee head noted that 170,000 land users, including 2,619 dehqan farms and 100,000 peasant plots, have been registered in Tajikistan as of October 1.  ”Owners of these farms and plots are being given certificates allowing them to use the land,” Gulmahmadov said, noting that 64,618 people have received certificates thus far. 

Gulmahmadov noted that committee inspections have recorded 6,375 violations of the country’s land legislation. He said that that there were cases of heads of districts or cities illegally allotting lands for housing, mainly at the expense of irrigation areas.