Resettlement policy framework and specific resettlement action plan

4.5Farmers’ awareness about the Project, readiness to participate, and suggestions about the future land acquisition process

The consultations with farmers and with authorities in the Project districts during the RF preparation clearly confirm that in autumn 2008 a total of 43 farmers were informed about the plans of the construction of IDs and the implications this would have on temporary and permanent land acquisition. Thus, the affected farmers had a solid understanding of land acquisition implications of the Project. At that time, the Ferghanagiprovodkhoz institute representatives pegged out the routes of the IDs. Since then, however, the State program to consolidate farms reduced the number of affected farmers from 43 to 37. Thus, it is possible that all 43 leasehold farmers continue their cultivation efforts until the present, but only 37 are recognized as legal entities, and the remaining farmers operate under the management of those 37 farms.

Because of the farm consolidation process, at the time of the 2009 Land Acquisition and Resettlement Survey, 8 new farmers (21.6 percent of all affected) were not informed of the implications of Project activities by officials, but knew about the issues based on information they received from neighbors, other farmers, and WUAs. Since then, all affected leasehold farmers have been informed; indeed, all 37 farmers participated in the 3 focus group discussions (FGDs) held in the 3 Project districts, and their households were visited during the systematic surveys.

However, farmers were not provided with written documentation because the exact routes of IDs will have to be confirmed by the Contractors yet to be chosen.

Every effort was made by technicians to prevent adverse impacts on settlements and other permanent structures, including the existing on- farm structures. It was agreed with farmers that the routes of IDs will be close to the existing roads. Similarly, effort was made to avoid works in orchards so as to align the ID routes away from fruit gardens.

During the survey most of farmers (73 percent) stated that there was no need for them to get replacement land for the land they may permanently lose to IDs. Instead, they preferred to be compensated for standing crops and revenue losses. In addition, farmers wanted re-adjustments made to the State order so as to reflect loss of land.

The fruit farmers wanted to be compensated for the losses of income for all the years of expected productive life of trees.