Kazakhstan could introduce digital farmland distribution procedure from 2027

ASTANA. April 7 (Interfax) - Kazakhstan's Agriculture Ministry has proposed amending the country's Land Code to move farmland distribution to a fully digital format involving electronic competitions from next year onwards.

"The main goal of the amendments is to ensure transparency in farmland distribution by eliminating land commissions and moving entirely to an electronic format," Deputy Agriculture Minister Azat Sultanov said at a parliamentary working group meeting dedicated to discussing amendments to land conservation legislation.

He said that new editions of several articles from the Land Code were being proposed, moving the land allocation mechanism into a digital format based on electronic competitions.

Sultanov said the amendments stipulated that land competitions would be held on the state property registry website as part of a fully automated process from application to winner selection.

"The whole process, including decisions by local executive authorities, lease agreements and identification documents for land plots will all be handled electronically," Sultanov said.

The changes would cut competition timelines in half, from 90 calendar days to 45.

Sultanov said the electronic system would provide swift and equal access to land for agricultural businesses while significantly reducing the administrative burden on government bodies.

If parliament approves the changes, the new rules will take effect on January 1, 2027.