Administrative and territorial structure of the jamoat
Ghafurov Town Jamoat is administratively part of Bobojon Ghafurov District. The total area of the jamoat is 13.60 km², of which 216 ha (15.8 %) are residential land and 75 ha (5.5 %) are land under canals, ditches and roads. Six mahalla committees operate within Ghafurov Town Jamoat; all of them are now officially registered, hold certificates and have their own charters.
Ghafurov Town Jamoat is the administrative centre of Bobojon Ghafurov District. The distance to the regional centre — the city of Khujand — is 12 km, and to the capital of the Republic of Tajikistan, Dushanbe — 364 km. The distance to the railway is 550 metres (Khujand railway station) and to Khujand International Airport — 6.4 km.
Ghafurov Town Jamoat lies in the Fergana Valley. It borders Unji Jamoat to the north, Isfisor Jamoat to the south-east, and the town of Bustan to the north-west.
Historical and cultural overview
According to historical records, before the October Revolution a station named after Chernigov was established on the site of the present-day Khujand railway station in Khujand Uyezd. In 1954, for the first time, a household plot was allocated to those in need from unused land of the Isfisor rural jamoat area.
Ghafurov Town Jamoat was established on 7 April 1965 as the town of Sovetabad. By Decree of the Supreme Soviet of the Tajik SSR of 23 January 1978, No. 900, the town of Sovetabad in Khujand District of Leninabad Region was renamed Ghafurov Town in Khujand District of Leninabad Region. By Decision of the Majlis of People’s Deputies of Bobojon Ghafurov District of 06.01.2005, No. 206, the town of Ghafurov was reorganised into Ghafurov Town Jamoat.
The blending of different cultures and traditions has driven the town’s rapid development. As of 01.01.2015 the total population was 18,325, including 9,156 men and 9,169 women.
Within Ghafurov Town Jamoat, 6 residential mahallas, 4 secondary general-education schools, 1 gymnasium, 5 kindergartens, the central district hospital, the central outpatient clinic, the state centre for sanitary-epidemiological control, the tuberculosis dispensary and the SHAMS treatment centre serve the population of the town and surrounding areas.
The territory of Ghafurov Town is also home to the Sughd branch of the State Unitary Enterprise «Tajik Railways», Khujand International Airport, the Republican Museum named after Academician Bobojon Ghafurov, 19 industrial enterprises, 5 transport enterprises, 4 construction enterprises, 8 markets, a branch of OJSC «Tojiktelecom», branches of OJSC «Amonatbonk», «Agroinvestbonk», «Eskhata» Bank, the «Imon» credit organisation, 3 libraries, a house of pioneers, a youth centre, and the A. Rudaki Park of Culture and Leisure.
Today the Jamoat is home to 1 veteran of the Great Patriotic War, 3 persons with equivalent rights, 1 Hero of Socialist Labour, 29 internationalist soldiers, 6 participants in the response to the Chernobyl nuclear power plant accident, 12 participants in restoring the constitutional order, and more than 700 labour veterans.
The hard-working people of Ghafurov Town are proud to have been born and to live in Ghafurov Town, and that the town is named in honour of the Hero of the Republic of Tajikistan, Bobojon Ghafurov.
The administrative composition of Ghafurov Town Jamoat includes the mahallas of Dustii Khalqho, Bobojon Ghafurov, Guliston, Vahdat, Markaz and Istiqlol. The Jamoat has 4,778 households and 6 mahalla committees.
Natural and climatic conditions and resources
The town jamoat is located at an altitude of 100–150 metres above sea level, with an average annual temperature of +13.4 °C. The average air temperature in summer (July) is +23.7 °C, and in winter (January) −2.7 °C. The average annual precipitation is 140 mm.
The climate is moderate and favourable for growing a wide range of crops, especially apricot orchards. The soil is mostly stony. The main source of irrigation water is the «Khojabakirgan» canal, which originates from the Syr Darya River. The drinking water is supplied by 13 vertical wells.
Demographic situation of the town jamoat
Representatives of various nationalities live in the jamoat. The majority of the population are Tajiks: 66.8 % of the jamoat’s population are Tajiks, 23.1 % Uzbeks, 4.6 % Russians and 5.3 % other nationalities (Tatars, Kyrgyz and Roma).
The population is mainly concentrated in the «Istiqlol» and «Dustii Khalqho» mahallas. Population growth is natural, and no demographic problems are observed in this regard. The population grows by 2.0 to 2.3 % annually, which is higher than in some other jamoats of the district.
Table 1. Population and households of Ghafurov Town Jamoat as of 01.01.2015
| No. | Mahalla | Population | Households |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Markaz | 1,975 | 782 |
| 2 | Istiqlol | 6,324 | 1,404 |
| 3 | Vahdat | 1,444 | 773 |
| 4 | B. Ghafurov | 2,279 | 707 |
| 5 | D. Khalqho | 4,417 | 936 |
| 6 | Guliston | 1,886 | 176 |
| Total | 18,325 | 4,778 | |
Table 2. Projected indicators of natural population dynamics of the town for 2016–2020
| Indicator | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2020 as % of 2014 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 17,352 | 17,856 | 18,325 | 18,199 | 18,577 | 18,958 | 19,337 | 19,717 | 110.6 % |
The majority of the population is in the adult group of 18–60 years, who are considered the working-age population and make up 68 %.
Key socio-economic trends
The economy of the Town Jamoat is based on large and small industrial enterprises, which employ the majority of the population. Residents of the jamoat use the services of the central district hospital, health centres, the tuberculosis centre, the district centre for sanitary-epidemiological control and the Sughd regional railway hospital.
The main healthcare issues in the jamoat are a rise in cases of anaemia, oncological, cardiovascular, mental and infectious diseases, including tuberculosis. In recent years, investment in social infrastructure has been partially provided by entrepreneurs.
The economic development of each locality depends largely on the growth of small and medium-sized enterprises. In the last three years alone, the number of small and medium-sized entrepreneurs in the jamoat has grown by 65, more than in previous years. All the opportunities and resources are in place for further development of the sector in the town jamoat, although they are not yet fully utilised. Four small brick-making workshops operate in the town jamoat.
As for employment, although young people make up the majority of the population, according to data from the employment agency, 650 unemployed persons are officially registered.
Residents of the town jamoat are served by 1 central hospital, 1 health centre, 15 pharmacies, 3 libraries with a total stock of 5,000 books, 1 cultural centre with 300 seats, and a sports school.
Vision of the town jamoat
Ghafurov Town is a prosperous and modern settlement where, relying on local specialists and entrepreneurs and using modern innovative technologies and internal resources, healthy and constructive residents work conscientiously at enterprises and organisations because they look to the future with hope. This vision has been drawn up based on an analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of the Jamoat’s development, taking into account internal opportunities and threats.
Strengths
- Favourable geographical location for industrial development
- Availability of labour resources and a population highly skilled in industry
- Existence of basic infrastructure
- Presence of Khujand International Airport
- Sughd regional railway
- Existence of 19 industrial enterprises
- Public engagement of the population and the private sector
- Existence of social institutions
- Central district hospital and health centre
- Youth centre, shops, canteens, teahouses and wedding halls
- Existence of more than 60 small and medium-sized enterprises and 8 markets
- Private workshops engaged in entrepreneurial activity
- Clean air, clean drinking water
- Presence of a water and sewerage utility in the jamoat
- Employment opportunities for young people
Weaknesses
- Shortage of jobs
- Existing facilities in need of repair
- Decline in the number of industrial enterprises
- Outflow of men to labour migration
- Restrictions on electricity supply
- Roads in need of repair
- High unemployment
- Shortage of specialists
- Population’s lack of awareness of their rights
- Air pollution
- Low pensions
- Lack of modern equipment in the health centre
Opportunities
- Existence of national regulatory acts supporting entrepreneurship
- Proximity to the city of Khujand
- Attracting funding from international and donor organisations for the town’s socio-economic development
- Existence of state and sectoral programmes
- Opportunities for employment
- Attracting funds to the development of the production sector
- Neutralisation of household waste
- Construction of an agro-industrial complex (organising the processing of agricultural products)
- Establishment of a household-waste recycling enterprise
- Organising short-term courses (tractor driver, seamstress, carpenter, carver)
- Expansion of services at health centres
Threats
- Presence of radioactive uranium waste
- Impact of the global financial crisis
- Environmental conditions
- Diseases of the genitourinary system
- Importation of waste from other locations
- Climate change