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Ukrainian parliament extends farmland sale moratorium for another 12 months
The Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine's parliament, has extended a moratorium on the purchase and sale of farmland for another 12 months, until January 1, 2017.
Bill No. 3404 on amendments to Section 10 "Transitional Provisions" of the Land Code of Ukraine concerning the extension of the ban on the sale of agricultural land was supported by 309 MPs, according to an UNIAN correspondent.
Presenting the bill, head of the Parliamentary Committee on Agrarian Policy and Land Relations Taras Kutovy said that the extension of the moratorium for another year would give time to legislatively adjust the procedure of agricultural land sale and purchase. Under the amendments, the Cabinet of Ministers should prepare a respective bill by March 2016.
"We have got a request addressed to the Cabinet of Ministers, which will become an obligation: to prepare a bill on agricultural land sale and table it in parliament by March 1 next year," he said.
As UNIAN reported earlier, the Ukrainian parliament in 2012 extended the moratorium on the sale and purchase of agricultural land until January 1, 2016.
The State Service of Geodesy, Cartography and Cadastre says that Ukraine will be able to lift the moratorium on farmland sale not earlier than in 2018. The agency also proposed an economic experiment when state-owned agricultural land could be sold in auctions.
Experts have different opinions as for the cancellation of the moratorium. Some claim that it stimulates the shadow land market, while others forecast that farmers may lose farmland due to engrossment of land foreign companies if the moratorium is lifted.