Zarzamin Jamoat

Administrative and territorial structure

Zarzamin Rural Jamoat lies in the eastern part of Bobojon Ghafurov District, Sughd Region. It comprises 11 mahallas — Jambul, Poselkai Nav, Toshteppa, Poyon, Navbahor, Javghal, Guliston, Tojikiston, Navruz, Dusti and Mehnatobod — and covers a total area of 11,322 hectares. The jamoat borders Khistevarz, Isfisor, Ghafurov Town and the city of Qayroqqum.

Historical and cultural background

Zarzamin Rural Jamoat has a comparatively short history. It was founded by settlers from the left bank of the Syr Darya. In the late 19th century, residents of the village of Khistevarz and the city of Qayroqqum migrated to the area, claimed land suitable for cultivation, and grew a variety of crops — cotton, rice, melons and vegetables.

The cultivated area gradually expanded. After the October Revolution, during the collectivisation period, these lands were assigned to the Lenin Collective Farm and later to the Communism Collective Farm. In 1988, after the merger of smaller farms, the land was transferred to the O. Ubaidulloev Collective Farm. Zarzamin Jamoat — the former village of “Qatagan” — was established later on this territory.

Natural resources and geographic position

Zarzamin Rural Jamoat lies on the right-bank plains of the Syr Darya and has a dry climate. Summer temperatures average between +25 °C and +40 °C, while winter temperatures can fall to −20 °C. Average annual rainfall is 150–300 mm.

Fertile soils and the water resources of the Syr Darya are well suited to agriculture — particularly grain growing, cotton, silk farming, market gardening, rice, orchards and vineyards, and livestock farming. The jamoat is also rich in common minerals (stone, soil, gravel, sand).

Population

Table 1. Population, households and mahallas of Zarzamin Rural Jamoat

Middle-aged residents make up the largest share of the population (52.7%) and form the core of the working-age group.

Table 2. Demographic situation in the jamoat

Table 3. Population growth forecast

Table 4. Ethnic composition of the jamoat

The jamoat is multi-ethnic, with Uzbeks forming the majority of the population.

Development vision

“Zarzamin Jamoat is a centre of developed farming and of small and medium entrepreneurship, which has positively affected the social standards of its residents. The population enjoys favourable social infrastructure and a good environment, and lives a peaceful and prosperous life.”

This vision has been developed on the basis of analysis of the jamoat’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats.

Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats

Strengths

• Availability of highly qualified specialists
• Natural resources (land, orchards and vineyards)
• Industrial enterprises and engineering and communications infrastructure
• Social infrastructure
• Proximity to the regional centre
• Advanced livestock farming
• Sanatoriums of regional importance
• Water resources and water-distribution facilities

Weaknesses

• Shortage of drinking and irrigation water
• Poor land-reclamation conditions of agricultural land
• Industrial enterprises operating below full capacity
• Irresponsible behaviour by some residents
• Growth of local waste dumps
• High interest burden on loans from financial institutions
• Old and worn-out agricultural machinery
• Morally outdated equipment in industrial enterprises
• Limited competence of local specialists in marketing, entrepreneurship and food-processing technologies
• High disease pressure on orchards and vineyards

Opportunities

• The Bobojon Ghafurov District Development Programme
• Implementation of the Rural Development Programme
• Reforms in the economic and social spheres
• Interest from foreign investors
• National-level priority placed on tourism development
• Improved legislation on local self-government bodies

Threats

• Floods and other natural disasters
• Climate change
• Global economic crisis
• Cotton-price fluctuations on world markets
• Epidemics and pandemics
• Political instability in neighbouring countries