HISTORICAL ASPECTS OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF AGRARIAN RELATIONS IN UZBEKISTAN" (SECOND HALF OF THE 19TH CENTURY - 20TH CENTURY)

Аннотация

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 collectivizationinshaping 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. MАTЕRIАLSАND 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 alimited extent in theearly 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) principleand expansion ofthecotton economy led tothe commodification ofland in fertileoases, particularly inthe FerganaValley. 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. RЕSULTSАNDDISСUSSIОN 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 313 Volume 4, issue 2, 2025 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 theearly revolutionary movements of the20th 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 statefarms (sovkhozes). Traditional farming systems were dismantled. Peasants were forced into collective farms under pressure, often accompanied by repression, famine, and resistance. The concept of dekulakizationtargeted wealthier peasants, many ofwhom 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, withlong-term consequences for soil fertilityand 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 s