Yova Jamoat

Historical and cultural background

Every settlement has its own history and chronicle, and the village of Yova is no exception. Historians regard Yova as one of the oldest villages around Khujand.

In historical sources and cultural compendia — the oldest of them the sacred book of the Avesta, whose earliest parts were written some 3,000 years ago — the word Yova means “grain”. In the Vendidad section of the book the word appears many times. The word yova in the sense of grain and grainfield is still used today in the Shughni language.

It can therefore be said with full confidence that the name of the village derives not from the Turkic word yov or from yovar, but from the Avestan and Old Persian form yava, meaning grain and grainfield. The village’s geographical location confirms its role as a grain-growing place. Since ancient times a river — known today as the Khojaboqirgon — has flowed through it.

Yova Rural Jamoat was established on 26 February 1918.

Climate and geographic location

The jamoat lies in a steppe landscape and has a dry climate: average summer temperatures range from +25 °C to +40 °C, while winter temperatures can drop to −20 °C.

Fertile soils together with the waters of the Khojaboqirgon stream and of the Great Fergana Canal (lines 1 and 2) have shaped the agriculture of the jamoat — cotton, grain, fruit and vegetables, rice and grapes. Silk farming has also developed here. Because average annual rainfall is low (150–300 mm), intensive irrigation is essential.

Population

In 2015 the population of the jamoat was 42,597, of whom 21,099 were women. The villages of Mirishkori Poyon, Sayhun, Qoribobo and Dungimazor are among the most populous in the jamoat.

According to projections, by 2020 natural population growth was forecast at 10.5% compared with 2014.

Table 1. Population and households of Yova Rural Jamoat

Table 2. Ethnic composition of the jamoat (2015)

Economy

The jamoat’s economy rests on dehkan (peasant) farming, which employs 64% of the population. The main outputs are vegetables, grain, fruit and cotton, produced largely by dehkan farms.

The jamoat’s proximity to central Khujand and the “Panjshanbe” market enables residents to deliver agricultural produce to buyers quickly and without loss of quality.

Infrastructure

Within the jamoat operate dehkan farms, individual farms, a brickyard and industrial enterprises. In education, the public is served by secondary schools No. 1, 10, 22, 31, 33, 47, 48, 49, 60 and 68, the private school “Safina”, Training Centre No. 1 and Vocational Training Institute No. 4.

In healthcare, Regional Hospital No. 2, the “Yova”, “Toshloq” and “Sirdaryo” health centres, and the “Navobod” and “Hayoti Nav” health houses are in operation. In addition, retail and food shops, a barber’s, a club, a chaikhana, a library and banquet halls stand ready to meet the everyday needs of village residents.

War veterans

The jamoat is currently home to 1 veteran of the Great Patriotic War, 44 veterans of the Afghan war, 5 liquidators of the Chernobyl nuclear-plant accident, 35 veterans of the battles to restore constitutional order, and more than 88 labour veterans.

Strengths, weaknesses and opportunities

Strengths

• Natural conditions suitable for agriculture, industry and related activities
• Basic social and economic infrastructure in place
• Highly qualified specialists
• Engineering and utilities infrastructure
• Modern experience in setting up new-style and low-cost greenhouses
• Industrial enterprises
• Leading dehkan farms
• An active private sector

Weaknesses

• Worn-out roads
• Shortage of kindergartens
• Lack of financial resources
• Shortage of highly qualified specialists
• Low public awareness of the prevention of socially significant diseases
• Absence of processing enterprises
• Low pension levels
• Shortage of modern equipment in health centres

Opportunities

• The Bobojon Ghafurov District development programme
• Reform of local self-government
• Reform processes in the social and economic spheres
• Proximity to the regional centre, the city of Khujand
• State support for agriculture
• Interest from domestic and foreign investors in financing the jamoat’s economy
• Implementation of the Rural Development Programme

Threats

• Climate change
• Emergencies (mudflows, earthquakes, drought, cold spells)
• Locust outbreaks
• Global economic crisis
• Conflict
• Epidemics and pandemics