08.10.2019
Attitude of Ukrainians towards the land market introduction
- According to a survey conducted by Rating Group, only 19% of respondents support the introduction of sales of agricultural land. 73% oppose this initiative, while 8% are undecided. Support for launching a land market is relatively higher among younger and wealthier respondents and among land-share owners who cultivate their land themselves. However, even within these groups, at least 60% oppose the initiative.
- Support for allowing foreigners to purchase agricultural land is even lower: only 13% are in favor, while 81% are against. Although among the youngest and wealthiest about one in five does not oppose foreign ownership, three quarters of these groups still firmly reject it.
- 74% believe that any decision on introducing sales of agricultural land in Ukraine should be made through a nationwide referendum; 17% disagree.
- 58% think agricultural land should remain state-owned, following models such as Canada or Israel. 22% support a model similar to Italy, where arable land can be bought and sold, while 20% could not choose between these options. Preference for state ownership is more common among older and poorer respondents and those without land shares; support for a market model is higher among younger, wealthier respondents and self-cultivating land-share owners. Still, even among these latter groups, at least half favor the Canadian/Israeli model.
- Perceived benefits of allowing land sales most often cited include:
– owners being able to dispose of land at their own discretion (26%);
– job creation in rural areas (18%);
– investment inflows into Ukraine (14%);
– obtaining a fair market price (13%);
– enabling farmers to use land as collateral for loans (13%).
Fewer than 7% mentioned benefits such as eliminating the shadow land market, supporting SMEs, increasing budget revenues, or improving soil ecology. 35% see no benefits at all from lifting the moratorium. Self-cultivating land-share owners more often emphasized autonomy, jobs, and investment; those leasing out shares more often said there are no advantages. - Key risks most frequently mentioned are:
– land being bought by foreigners (41%);
– deception of land-share owners during sales (31%);
– dangers due to imperfect legislation (31%);
– land being concentrated by oligarchs (23%).
Additionally, 17% argue a land market is inappropriate during wartime; 16% fear destruction of small and medium rural businesses; 13% each warn of accelerated depopulation of villages or loss of stable rental income for villagers. Only 5% see no risks. Concerns about foreign purchases, fraud, and weak legislation are especially common among land-share owners who cultivate their land themselves.
Methodology
- Audience: residents of Ukraine aged 18 and older. The sample is representative in terms of age, gender, region, and settlement type.
- Total sample: 2000 respondents.
- Personal formalized interview (face-to-face).
- The margin of error does not exceed 2.2%.
- Fieldwork dates: September 28 – October 1, 2019
.webp)
