Pastures Seized from Farmers in Ukana Pshavi

Lease agreements were annulled with the farmers from the villages of Ukana Pshavi because of unpaid lease-taxes and their pastures were seized.

Farmers told the Information Center of Mtskheta-Mtianeti that they could not pay the fees after the Dusheti municipal board increased the fee at 10 GEL for each hectare of pasture. Consequently, the initial tax – 1 GEL was increased at ten times.

“We had leased the pastures since 1997; initially we paid 1 GEL per hectare. Eventually the fee increased and in 2010, based on the instruction of the Dusheti municipal board, it amounted to 10 EGL per hectare. Who could pay such a huge tax? I personally had leased 300 hectares of pasture and relatively I had to pay 3 000 GEL per year. Of course I could not afford it,” said Vakhtang Tsolikauri from Vake village.

“We cannot understand what their purpose is. We visited the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development and they told us the government has not taken concrete decisions regarding our pastures. People in the mountains say that ministers have purchased the mountains of Pshav-Khevsureti. The locals earn their living from cattle-breeding. So, they are depriving the only source of our income from us and it is no difference for us who will exile us from our homeland – Russian invader of Georgian minister? And generally, is there any logic when land is leased to Pshavi people? But, even it has become impossible now,” said the farmers.

Head of state property registration and privatization department within the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development Davit Koberidze clarified that leasing of pastures has been canceled since May 1, 2011.

“Those, who had leased the pastures before 2005, should have applied to our department and purchased them before May 1, 2011. Hence, pastures will no longer be leased out,” said Koberidze.

ICMM