Since the early 1960s, over 400 gardening societies have been established in Kyrgyzstan, providing gardeners with rocky plots unsuitable for agriculture. Despite their existence, these societies operate outside the law. The Republican Voluntary Society of Gardeners and Horticulturists of Kyrgyzstan has been advocating for legal recognition for years, requiring a simple step - the adoption of a special law.
Decades ago, resolutions were passed to create gardening societies in Kyrgyzstan, with the majority now located in the Chui region. However, the societies operate in a semi-legal status, lacking proper documentation to address their issues and maintain infrastructure.
The lack of registration poses challenges, as authorities do not recognize the societies, demanding tax identification numbers. Attempts to re-register through the Ministry of Justice have been unsuccessful, leaving the societies in legal limbo.
The only solution lies in enacting a specific law to define the status of gardening societies. Similar issues have been faced by countries of the former USSR, with Russia passing a law in 2016 to address legal forms for gardeners. Kyrgyzstan now calls for a governmental document to determine their status.
Efforts were made in 2013 to draft a law for gardening societies in Kyrgyzstan, but the document was sent back for revisions. The plea remains simple: legalize the societies to ensure proper tax compliance and regulations are met. The call for legal recognition echoes the desire to operate within the bounds of the law and contribute positively to the system.
