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HISTORICAL ASPECTS OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF AGRARIAN RELATIONS IN
UZBEKISTAN" (SECOND HALF OF THE 19TH CENTURY - 20TH CENTURY)
Safarboev Donobek Amin ugli
1st year master's student, history department,
Karakalpakstan State University
Scientific advisor:
Tangirbergenova Kalligul
Abstract:
This article explores the historical evolution of agrarian relations in Uzbekistan from
the second half of the 19th century through the 20th century. It examines the transformation of
land ownership, irrigation systems, the role of the Russian Empire and Soviet policies, and their
impact on local agricultural practices and rural society. The study highlights the continuity and
change in land relations, emphasizing the role of reforms, colonial influence, and socialist
collectivization in shaping Uzbekistan’s agrarian landscape.
Kеywоrds:
Agrarian relations, land ownership, Russian Empire, Soviet collectivization, cotton
monoculture, land reforms, dekhkan, kolkhoz, irrigation.
INTRОDUСTIОN
Agrarian relations have historically formed the backbone of Uzbekistan's socio-economic
structure. Due to its geographical location and reliance on irrigated agriculture, land and water
rights have long been central to the livelihoods of rural populations. The second half of the 19th
century marks a turning point in Uzbekistan's agrarian history, as the region became part of the
Russian Empire. This transition initiated a series of transformations in land tenure, taxation, and
rural administration. These changes intensified during the Soviet era, culminating in
collectivization, the establishment of kolkhozes and sovkhozes, and the imposition of cotton
monoculture. Understanding these historical phases is crucial to grasp the present condition of
agrarian policies and rural development in Uzbekistan.
MАTЕRIАLS АND MЕTHОDS
Following the Russian conquest of Central Asia in the 1860s and 1870s, the territories of
present-day Uzbekistan were integrated into the Russian colonial system. The Tsarist
administration introduced legal and administrative reforms that affected agrarian relations,
though to a limited extent in the early years.
The traditional system of land ownership in Uzbekistan was complex. Lands were classified into
several types: waqf (religious endowment), mulk (private property), and state-owned lands.
Under the Russian regime, while customary land use remained in place in many areas, new taxes
and administrative controls were imposed. The introduction of the zarurat (land necessity)
principle and expansion of the cotton economy led to the commodification of land in fertile oases,
particularly in the Fergana Valley.
The Russian administration also invested in the expansion of irrigation canals, primarily to boost
cotton production for the imperial textile industry. This shift initiated the transition from
subsistence agriculture to a market-oriented, export-driven cotton economy. However, this
expansion came at the cost of local food crops and increased the dependency of the region on
external supplies.
RЕSULTS АND DISСUSSIОN
Colonial policies altered the traditional social structure in rural Uzbekistan. The emergence of
land intermediaries and the concentration of land in the hands of local elites (beys, arbobs, and
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religious leaders) created a class of wealthy landowners, while a large portion of the population
became landless sharecroppers (muzdurs) and tenants (yollanma dehqonlar) [1].
Russian legal codes limited the land rights of indigenous populations while granting privileges to
Russian settlers in certain areas. This inequality was particularly pronounced in newly irrigated
lands where settlers received priority access. These shifts created the foundation for socio-
economic polarization in rural areas and set the stage for peasant unrest and discontent,
especially during the early revolutionary movements of the 20th century.
The Bolshevik Revolution brought radical changes to land relations in Central Asia. The Soviet
regime abolished private land ownership and redistributed lands among the peasantry under the
slogan of “land to the tiller.” However, this initial redistribution was short-lived. By the late
1920s, Stalinist policies enforced collectivization, which marked the creation of collective farms
(kolkhozes) and state farms (sovkhozes).
Traditional farming systems were dismantled. Peasants were forced into collective farms under
pressure, often accompanied by repression, famine, and resistance. The concept of
dekulakization targeted wealthier peasants, many of whom were dispossessed and deported.
Collectivization led to the institutionalization of centralized planning in agriculture. Local
autonomy in land management was eliminated. The Soviet authorities introduced monoculture
— particularly cotton — turning Uzbekistan into the empire's primary raw cotton supplier. This
process fundamentally altered the landscape, water management systems, and labor patterns,
with long-term consequences for soil fertility and ecological sustainability [2].
After World War II, the collectivized agricultural system in Uzbekistan was fully entrenched.
The state controlled nearly all aspects of rural production, including land use, cropping patterns,
labor allocation, and marketing. Land remained formally under state ownership, and peasants
worked as laborers on collective or state farms with limited economic autonomy.
The Khrushchev and Brezhnev eras witnessed attempts at improving productivity through
mechanization, land reclamation, and increased irrigation. However, these efforts were often top-
down and disconnected from local needs. Cotton quotas grew more rigid, leading to over-
irrigation, land salinization, and ultimately, environmental degradation — most notoriously
reflected in the shrinking of the Aral Sea.
Despite centralized control, rural communities maintained some elements of traditional social
structure, especially through informal networks, local leadership, and customary norms of land
and water distribution [3].
By the 1980s, the Soviet agrarian system in Uzbekistan faced stagnation. Land productivity
declined, ecological damage increased, and the heavy reliance on cotton exports made the region
economically vulnerable. Attempts at reform under Gorbachev's perestroika had limited success
due to bureaucratic inertia and resistance to decentralization.
Nevertheless, the period preserved certain continuities from both pre-Soviet and early Soviet
agrarian traditions: collective responsibility, seasonal labor organization, and strong kinship ties
remained influential in shaping rural work and identity. The legacy of collectivization, however,
left deep structural and environmental scars that would challenge the newly independent
Uzbekistan in the 1990s [4].
СОNСLUSIОN
The development of agrarian relations in Uzbekistan from the second half of the 19th century to
the end of the 20th century reflects a complex interplay of tradition, colonial influence, and
socialist transformation. From the layered land tenure systems of the khanates to the centralized,
planned economy of the Soviet era, each stage brought new institutions, power structures, and
environmental pressures.
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Understanding this historical evolution is crucial not only for appreciating the socio-economic
fabric of Uzbekistan’s rural communities but also for addressing the contemporary challenges of
land reform, sustainability, and rural development. The legacies of both the Russian Empire and
Soviet Union continue to shape land policies, agricultural practices, and social dynamics in
Uzbekistan today.
RЕFЕRЕNСЕS:
1.
Pierce, R. A. (2000). Russian Central Asia 1867–1917: A Study in Colonial Rule.
University of California Press.
2.
Keller, S. (2001). To Moscow, Not Mecca: The Soviet Campaign Against Islam in
Central Asia, 1917–1941. Princeton University Press.
3.
Khalid, A. (2015). Making Uzbekistan: Nation, Empire, and Revolution in the Early
USSR. Cornell University Press.
4.
Spoor, M. (1993). Transition to Market Economies in Former Soviet Central Asia: The
Agriculture Sector. The Journal of Peasant Studies.
