Tajikistan’s first-ever auction on granting right to use land held in Khatlon

Tajikistan’s first-ever auction on granting right to use land (lease) was held in the Sitorai Surkh jamoat, Khatlon’s Yovon district on September 26.  Five lots with a total area of twelve hectares from the State Reserve Fund were put on auction.

“In our district, a total area of the State Reserve Fund lands is 250 hectares and we plan to put more than 50 hectares of these lands on auction until the end of this year.  The right to use these lands (lease) is given for three years.  After the auction, local authorities conclude contracts with winners,” Askarbek Nabizoda, the deputy head of Yovon district, told Asia-Plus in an interview.  .

According to him, their specialists have been making map of the State Reserve Food lands during several months and categorized them.  

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“The auction was held according to the English method of bidding,” Nabizoda noted.  

An English auction is the common auction form used for selling antiques, art, used cars, and cattle.  IT is the auction where bids increase until no one is willing to top the current bid.  The auctioneer starts low and calls out prices until no bidder is willing to bid higher than the current high price.

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“We have reduced the price of each lot by 50 percent.  Why?  Because it was the first auction and we did so in order to attract more bidders.  But taking into consideration the results of this auction, which showed that there are enough persons wishing to participate in such auctions, we will put the land use right on the next auctions at the price determined by specialists,” Yovon official added.   

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For example,  the initial price of one of the lots.– two-hectare plot – was 2,308 somoni, and the right for using was granted for 2,408 somoni, while another lot – 1.8-hectare plot with initial price of l1,987 somoni – was given for 3,187 somoni.

The auction was held under support of the USAID project, Feed the Future Tajikistan Land Market Development Activity.

A ceremony of official opening of the auction was attended by acting Chairman of Yovon district Jamshed Saidzoda, U.S. Ambassador to Tajikistan John Mark Pommersheim and Chynara Arapova, the chief of party for the Feed the Future Tajikistan Land Market Development Activity. 

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