Pamir Community Foundation

History of Morkhun (Avgarch)

In 1255 century a tribal chief Mr. Baba Sufi migrated from Ghoron Wakhan to cross the border and reached Sost Gojal with his whole family. In 1310 when the Taj-ud-din Mughal attacked on Gilgit state as an Ismaili commander that times the Gilgit state was ruled by empire or Mir, Raja Tura khan. He accepted his mission and vision of Taj-ud-din Mughal and both of them moved toward the Yasin valley, Ishkuman and crossed the border through Chalanji pass and reached to Chipursan, a village of Gojal valley. Moreover they came to Sost on the way they constructed a footbridge still we call it by a name thrakhan skord, (skord means bridge) secondly they have constructed a trail path to the rocky side of Thrakhan perian (thrakhan area). After Sost raja Tura khan and Taj uddin Mughal took advice and help from Baba Sufi’s grandson Bashir uddin (Bash) and Chiragh  uddin (Chiqair) and their another destination was Sirikol from where they crossed the Mintika pass and reached first village of Sirikol dafdor. They conquered the area of Gilgit to Dafdor as an Ismaili state. Until Raja Mirza Khan we were paid taxies to Gilgit state.

 



Religious education was continued with unique chapter, the communities of Avgarchi embody the spirit of mountain living. The diversity of life here is the strength. For over a hundred years, this area has thrived with a balance of part-time and full time residents dedicated to the mountain traditions. Our rich history speaks for the pride wakhik and character of this land and its people. The purpose of The Mountain Voice is to reflect the pride, celebrate the character and to lift the spirit of our region. This superiority will serve to inform our community generation to ahead, uphold our mountain traditions and promote what is best for our community.


Under the direction of (WASIP) water and sanitation improvement programme Morkhun village organization) organized the community to install a clean drinking water supply piped to all houses in the village and to build toilets for waste management. Every household was responsible for digging a dig to a 4ft depth to ensure no freezing would accrue in winter. 11km of durable Italian rubber piping was installed along with taps set in cement to ensure no freezing. Houses are now successfully receiving clean drinking water. The supply is therefore now available for commercial use also.
We have started house improvement program our house are made of stone with mud .in winter we need fuel which is not enough therefore we insolate the house and save the cost and energy. Houses were renovated in collaboration with AKRSP’s house building department. In doing so the point of not disturbing the old cultural and traditional style was kept in mind in the whole process. All the effort did gave us a change and we took a step ahead in improvement of our house and our living standards.
Morkhun Community and three of our neighbouring village’s construct the jeep road from Morkhun to boiber in the distance of 12 km. The road was constructed in three months 7 days. From this road the transportation of crops from Boiber and Avgarch, for the people, to the nearby markets got easy. The valley is one of the most beautiful and historical place in the whole of northern area, but still not known to tourists of the world, but still many visit this valley. From these valleys of both boiber and Avgarch the local community can get benefited, like by transportation, pottering, yak ridding and hostel.
We received ten apple plants as gift from iijima Japan. Which were properly distributed among the members of the community, with complete responsibility on each one of the plant holders. The plantation wing of the MVO was also responsible for the result of the plant production and to get more plantations from the few plants from Japan. The result was so good that by the end of 2006 almost every farmer in the village has a sample of the apple of Japan.

Morkhun-Avgarch Valley-Morkhun route, one of the round tracks takes its way from Morkhun passes and proceeds ahead to Avgarch. After arriving in Avgarch proper, the route diverts left from the side of Pisundhur and along the Puryar stream on the Tpop side it goes ahead and traversing the stream reaches Pryar Elga. From there one can further advance and reach to War and then to JA Kuek and on the way back taking either of routes to Boybar. From here, the route goes up to Yarzin Boybar then reaches to Mulungqir, and via Sangghar this track comes to an end back to the other part of Morkhun village.
The spectacular Juntosh Glacier, Yaz, is ever shining landscape of Avgarch valley. During the daytime, it is very attractive, but especially during the nighttimes, when moonlight embraces the glacier, this glacier, Yaz, gets the most valuable golden sight. Therefore, particularly, during the nighttimes, the moonlight tracking indeed becomes stimulated and fanciful in order to fully enjoy the nature. From Boybar, the moonlight tracking takes more or less three hours to reach the Yaz of Juntosh.

Sost, which is at a distance of one hour drive from Gulmit, is these days a hub point among Pakistan, China and Central Asia. And that is why the Cheek Post of the Customs and Immigration of Pakistan lies here. Its intra-strategic significance is also obvious. From its south, Sost rendezvous the Avgarch Valley, Shimshal Valley and Lower Gojal; while from the north, it connects the Chuporson valley, Misgar Valley and Khunzhrab Valley. From the historical perspective, Sost is rich in one of its most crucial cultural heritages that possesses centuries old house of Baba Sufi, the apical ancestor of the Avgarch People who had come from Afghanistan Ghuran on the way of Amu Derya.
In the contemporary context, Sost's importance further multiplies when one goes through another cultural site and it is indeed a miraculous heritage. This awesome site is the Sost’s long irrigation tunnel. This rock tunnel was a mega and venturous project of the Aga Khan Rural Support Programme whereby the dwellers of Sost constructed this frightening tunnel without any loss of lives in 1980s. And the work was carded out with the help of gas lamp. So this tunnel is, of course. Of great attraction, if it is exposed to the tourists.

As has been mentioned above about the Old House of Bobo Sufi, this lies in the Avgarch Fort. This fort has, because of strategic reason, two parts: lower and upper. Within these forts are the kungras, the watching towers, and mosque of Ghulom Ali Shoh-a native scholar. In addition with this mosque, there is now a Jamat khana, which is run under Mukhi, the religious head of the settlement.
After reaching at Avgarch Proper, the link road proceeds ahead for the Boiber, another fascinating site in the valley; but before accessing to Boybar, in Chilkhun, the Tenov, line of reference, of the Shohi Sham’s Shrine come. This line of reference has been constructed in shape of shrine recently for the last one year. The objective of this Tenov is clear to the native peoples of Gojal that one must regard the valley in the perspective of faith and spirituality that the people should not involve themselves in evils here; and must regard the areas from all angles of behaviour. After reaching here, one ought to pay tribute to the great saint, Shohi Shams, whose shrine is in Shimshal valley.
In the section of the physical sites of Avgarch valley, Puryar Pasturage has been discussed briefly. This is a beautiful meadow, and here on the Elga, the residences of the pastoralists who used to spend the summer time here. In the summertime, this pasturage cannot only provide opportunity in terms of viewing the nature but rather the people's warm hospitality that visit them there.
The villages of Ghalapan, Morkhun, Jamalabad, Gircha, Sertiz and Sost are predominantly inhabited by the descendents of Bobo Sufi. And, therefore, People of Avgarchi, being one of their progeny, had great fame in terms of their scholastic contributions. Mr. Ghulam Ali Shah had, constructed second mosque in Gircha, which still exists here. These mosques are full of architectural potential; and the front side of the mosque had got very fascinating and meaningful carvings. Along with theses carvings, there are wooden inscriptions as well, which has, of course, great knowledge for the knowledge loving visitors.
In the earlier period, when for the first time Quern was brought to this area then for the purpose of this Holy Book's sacredness Qur'an Khona, literally Qur’an’s Rooms were constructed. The Holy Book brought later by different persons was kept in the maktab, and their concerned houses. The Qur'an Khona of Morkhun is one of such objectives as well. Later on, when the Ismaili missionaries used to visit these areas, they brought along with them the Farmans. (Massages by the Present leader or Imam) The directives of the Ismaili Imams and these Farmans were also kept in this small room. With regard to religion, these Farman Khonas have therefore great significance and learning.
The Kunjerab National Park (KNP) is the place to be seen and for the trophy hunting. The Khunjerab Zero Point where the Pakistani and Chinese border guards and posts fascinate tourists and visitors, besides the natural beauty and heaviness of 4742m height above sea level and the serenity of snaky metalled Karakoram Highway (KKH) going up and into Chinese territory.   The community conservation area in Dhee managed by KVO is also a unique eco-tourism attraction. In Avgarch Valley, there are very attracting and also very interesting sites both in physical and cultural. In physical sites, the Juntosh glacier presents a very fanciful view especially during the moonlights of summer. In addition, Puryar meadows and pasture are another resort whereon summer camps could be held and the beautiful scenery could be captured both in the form of man-made cameras and in the human memoirs. In cultural sites, the Avgarch Fort and the defensive post, Kungras are remarkable. More details about the cultural and natural resources in the section on the valley.
We are looking for the latest in sustainable agriculture, organic farming, and other new opportunities.  We went to Japan to learn new methods, and were taught techniques and principles in depth.  We learned how we can improve production, organic methods, and local cultural practices, and how to sustain crops and livestock, begin marketing, and establish regional and national influence in sustainable agricultural activities. In this paper i will present some of my questions and ideas on this topic.
 Introduction
Morkhun is located in the middle of entire Gojal area. The wakhik people in Gojal, as elsewhere, follow a settled transhumant pattern, living in agricultural communities; seasonally moving livestock to upland pastures located several days’ walk from the villages. The villages in Gojal are located on alluvial fans between major flood plains and steep mountain slopes. These fans are terraced and the terraces irrigated by melt water from the glacial streams that formed the fans. The gravity fed irrigation channels mark the boundaries of each village, visually dramatizing the edge of settlement. Insufficient rainfall (four to six inches per year) and poor soil make irrigation and fertilizer, typically manure, essential for fertility. Villages are at the upper limit of cultivation (8000ft elevation) where only one crop can be harvested each year. Crops include hardy cereals (wheat, barley and buckwheat), potatoes, peas, beans, apples and apricots. It is not possible for the people to survive solely on agriculture - livestock husbandry is essential. In the summer months livestock are moved to pasture at elevations up to 15000feet, typically several days walk from the main settlement. The society is organized into part lineal descent groups that share labour and inherit property.
Social mobilization of Morkhun community has been continues to be one of Morkhun village organization’s unique strengths. The purpose of social organizations is to create village based organization in which people can decide their own development priorities, plan and implement programmes, and make efficient use of services afforded by the variety of the development organizations such as JICA.
Human resource development
For sustainable development and institutional growth, human resource development is an important function which enables the building of capacity and competence. An essential for this development is the existence of villagers who have been trained as specialists in relevant technical Vocational skills.
Vegetable development
 Fodder production
There is a serious shortage of fodder throughout the Gojal area. Conditions are worst during late winter and early spring. The situation adversely affects milk and meat production and the draught capacity of animals is also reduced. Alfalfa, maize, turnip and other seed are supplied to VOs for producing additional fodders.

The local farmers have been producing deciduous fruit for centuries. The natural conditions are such that nearly every household plants tree of different types scattered all over the irrigated fields. Subsistence production of fruit has resulted in a fairly large number of fruit varieties which are not marketable due to variation in quality. After the JICA Japanese training we introduced superior quality and high production fruit plants like the Fuji apple, the shinanoi sweet apple, the tsugaro apple, and a Japanese pear in upper hunza Gojal area. The response in 2007-08 has been highly encouraging when we harvested these varieties. Now we are encouraging farmers to grow quality fruits and renovate inferior and low yielding trees as a top priority. This has been widely followed by farmers using budding and grafting techniques. During the year under review, a total of 3200 fruit plants were renovated in Morkhun, Passu, Khyber, Gircha, Khudaabad, and Shishkat. It is expected that after a few years the farmers in the Gojal area will be producing enough surplus quality fruit to export to the rest of Pakistan.
In 2006, Passu VO donated 700 apple trees to Morkhun VO.  Passu has enough apple trees, and only needs to renovate the existing trees.  The trees given by Passu were planted in Morkhun by the Morkhun VO members themselves.


Gojal valley is situated in the extreme north of Gilgit-Baltistan near China border. Gojal Tehsil is the largest Tehsil in Gilgit Baltistan with a population of approximately 25,000 individuals. The population of income is mainly based on agriculture. The people in the region prefer to cultivate crops that could more benefit the people of the valley.
This project will plant 7,600 apple, peach and grapes over five years on 10 hectare of land, located from the outer wall of the Morkhun Japan Fuji apple park that is part of the Morkhun village site of the area.  The arable land is provided by Morkhun community for this proposed tree nursery of fruit varieties that do not require pesticides. The project is for the benefit the rural Morkhun village that is socio-economically disadvantaged due to the Attabad disaster.
Rural Morkhun community makes up approximately 45 percent of their areas population and experience the far majority of the nation’s poverty. Eighty-five percent of rural households earn less than the national average.
This proposed fruit tree project of varieties that do not require the application of pesticides; integrate solutions to socio-economic, political, cultural, and environmental problems. The project objectives include:

During that period a man khuwaja uddin Mughal reached to Sost in search of Taj-ud-din Mughal and Raja Tura Khan. He finds out information from the people of that area. They were on an adventure of hunting. On their return the people of Sost gave the confidential message of that person who was asking for them after these inquiry both Bash and Chiqair were angry mean while they started to search for that detective at Khuja shithk. (Khuwaja Shitck means the place where khuwaja Uddin was killed). When Raja Tura khan and Taj Uddin Mughal returned from Sirikol they were astonished from the death message of Khuwaja Uddin. Raja took action by vacating Bash and Chiqair from their homes and their land in Sost.

Bash and Chiqair shifted to the Avgarch village where this was the place of their father Yaqoob Mohd (Quba). Avgarch was a place of agriculture and pasture for Quba. Water spring was a natural gift of God for this place which made in valuable. This spring was surrounded by lush green and mountain wild flowers where it was the attractive part for Quba. He named the place Chiririk. Chiririk is a very beautiful place in Uzbekistan at Farghana valley.

Bash has one son named Khuda Burdi where as Noor Mohd was the only son of Chiqeer. Rumi was the grandson of Bash while Chiqaeer has four grandsons, Ponshumbi, Chorshumbi, Hofiz and Ibrohim respectively.

Khuda Burdi was associated with Haqthpan family and has occupied the central Avgarch spring water irrigated area. Noor Mohd with their four sons started new water system for the irrigation of Avgarch area where this water was not connected to the spring this irrigating system was powered from the stream (zwor). Noor Mohd and his sons started to construct water channels for other barren lands first they constructed Boibar channel at Yarzin side where the other Peryar side was constructed by the family of Khuda Burdi and Haqthpan. Both these families irrigated villages of Gircha, Morkhun and Ghalapan. The above three villages were built in a tense condition among the two groups due to the central Avgarch land. Each group was to have that particular land for their family.

The story from got a twist which is the family of Haqthpan’s family crashed in an accident at a cave at Boibar village. At the same time Mr. Ibrahim and family was affected by a diseases named Chicheck (Missals) and the whole family was disappeared from the area at Pastu-hill which was name the place. Again baba sufi’s family was re habilitated by this incident the whole area was again merged in terms of water channels and all distributed things in which land, water spring, and pasture is included. The lands and assets of Haqthpan and Ibrahim family were distributed to the new tribes which were migrated from Wakhan Nirse to Avgarch. The families were Ghulam Ali family and the second was Nasir Ali family.

In 18^th century four families became the part of Avgarch valley 1^st Mohd ali (budlay) from Gulmit, 2^nd Dolat ali arrived from Wakhan, 3rd Qazian (sheekh) who were basically from wakhan 4^th Thalay Mohd they migrated from Aliabad Hunza to Sost through the concerns of Mir of Hunza. The land and assets of Baba Sufi which was in the supervision of the Mir was handover to the thalay mohd’s family.

People were initially having permanent residents of avgarchi village until Mir Saleem khan arrived in Gojal.  Mir Saleem Khan 1^st requested the residents of the avgarchi to build a fort at Gircha and after couple of year also requested to build a fort in Morkhun village.

In 1926 one more group of people came to Ghalapan they belong to the sub group of Rozdor kuthor named as Harri kuthors. In 1944 again people moved from Hussaini to Morkhun these were the people who belong to Nabi kuthor.

In 1938 Mir Nazim khan constructed a new village Nazimabad where the two linguistic groups (khick & brushu) were settled. The Wakhiks were from Gircha and brushaski speakers were from central Hunza

Jamalabad was a new village which was constructed by Mir jamal khan in 1948. Some people arrived from Gircha and mostly were settled here from Morkhun.

Educational background of Morkhun

Let’s start a journey of education with Mirza Hassan. He started this journey in late seventies 1700. For the purpose of education he went to Bukhara and Samarqand. His vision and mission influenced the people of Avgarchi. Eight students were taught the education of Mirza Hassan, which he had brought from Bukhara and Samarqand. Mostly his education was religious education. The students he tought were Arbob Dolic, Elchi Nazar ali, Khalifa ghulam ali, Ghulam Nasir, Shah Mohd and Mirza Hayat.

The second school batch was also a success in the supervision of Ghulam ali shah. He was one of the bright students from the first batch. His services are continuously being encouraged today too. He was a very philosophical poet of Wakhi Language. He contributed in creation of alphabets of Wakhi language. He worked in Hunza, Gilgit and Khapulu.  Khuda quli, Ghulam baqir and Bashran Ali from Passu were the excellent students of his era.

In 1922 Agha Samad shah who was a religious leader and scholar gave the concept of school system in Morkhun (a village of upper Gojal Valley). The school was one of the gifted rooms for Aga samad shah by Arbob Dolik.

In 1946 the sir Aga khan III celebrated the diamond jubilee of his Imamat and he started to established diamond jublee schools in Gulmit, Gircha and chipurson villages. The first teacher of these schools from the area was Dolat ali. With great success the first most batch passed out .  The students were Mula burdi, Sufi bhai, Asad ullah, Amir ullah, sher ali shah, Aziz jan. Zaman ali, Mirza shah, Aman ullah, Noor hayat and Aman ali. Five years later the second batch was started under the guidance of Rahmat Ali.

In 1962 a primary school was inaugurated in Morkhun. In (1976) The Morkhun community built the school building on self_ help basis. Now almost 100% children are going to school. It is the highest achievement of Morkhun community.

In 1974 the state of Hunza was dissolved after that 1975 people were indulged with the preparation of Khunjrab national park and in 1976 a great initiative was taken by the people of Morkhun by constructing a community based school which was totally the efforts of the brilliant minds and energetic people of this area this school was constructed under the supervision of Mula burdi. It was not only a school but a role model throughout Gilgit baltistan. In 1978 this school was upgraded by the collaboration of Aga khan education service Pakistan (AKESP).

In 1983 Mr. Aziz Ahmad passed 8^th class examination first position whole Gilgit Baltistan Board. His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan IV takes appreciation and gave prayers for Morkhun community.

1991-92 the Aga khan education service Pakistan (AKRSP) constructed a new school building in Morkhun Gojal. The community school building was again handover to the Gilgit baltistan education department for the purpose girls’ higher secondary school in (1996-97).

Donation of Building for Girls Higher Secondary School

In upper Hunza valley (Gojal) from Gulmit to Misgar, not a single institution was available that can provide educational facilities for females at Secondary and Higher Secondary levels while a large number of female students were desirous to seek admission at the secondary education level.

Inhabitants of the village were mostly literate and have great intentions for education. The people of Morkhun village had arranged a building consisting of 11 classrooms, an examination hall, and four toilets along with furniture for the opening of a Higher Secondary School at Morkhun.

The people have already transferred this school building property to The Government Education Department free of cost and the Govt. Education Department provides their teaching staff. The other staff was enthusiastically completed with volunteers. The Khunjrab students’ welfare federation (KSWF) has also organized a school bus which was donated by the Japanese Embassy Islamabad, to give pick and drop for the girls students from all over Gojal (from Gulmit to Khudaabad). However, not much positive action has been shown by the Education department of the Government and the community of Morkhun with the same passion for education is working their best. On the other hand students were most suffered who came from far across of distances. They cannot go with just a sole teacher from the government for the poor students of Eight to Twelve village students. The community was waiting for a miracle to happen and to help the suffered students. Note here only those girls can come whose parents cannot afford to pay their children to go to other areas for higher education (above eight standers).

(1998)Free Library Book Delivery Service Gojal Library service (GLS). The KSWF has also organized a Library Book Delivery Service. The book center was established by a Voluntary Service Overseas teacher in collaboration with the community. These books are delivered to 33 Village Schools of Gojal on the School bus and other local transport. And these schools get these books without any cost, for one week to two weeks. The community is looking forward to extend the number of books but needs more funds for it which is only possible with NGOs involvement.

In 2007 Mir Gazanfar ali khan allocated fund to construct a new building for girls higher secondary school Morkhun. The building was started in 2008 and was completed in 2014 and on 16 October 2014 this building was inaugurated by Mr. wazir baig speaker legislative assembly Gilgit baltistan.

Village development activities

The wildlife conservation started in 1991and Trophy Hunting was initiated in 1993, the first Himalayan Ibex was hunted by the Chief Secretary Northern Area. Trout fish farm introduced 1998 research basis.

Morkhun Commercial Sector as Dry Port

On 8^th June 1998 an idea was submitted to Mr: Nasiullah Khan Wazir an additional secretary Central board of revenue (CBR) a government organization to construct Dry port in Morkhun, Sector of trade linkage between china and Pakistan.

The idea words were

“Thank you for your interest in our letter dated 8^th June 1998. Thanking you for sending a copy of the letter to the collector of customs and central excise and for the action of compiling a report for CBR. These actions are much appreciated.

We would humble like to draw your kind attention toward some of the important features that why Morkhun village is a suitable location for the Dry port.

The distance between Morkhun and china border is only 80 Km and the Pakistan custom and immigration posts are nearby, and we have -the land capacity to manage all the requirements

The community of Morkhun is one of the well organised communities in the region.

The community of this village has the human resource to run all the commercial business of dry port, putting their expertise. There will be no compacting vested interest from different political groups because Morkhun is a village community at all the people are united in their decision. There is no communinal problem in this area, no sectarian rivalries occur in the Morkhun area. Therefore this area will be a stable one and have a long term future with no rivalry over the dry port facility

We are writing with farther idea on the subject of the use of Morkhun commercial sector as a Dry Port. The Morkhun community are quite prepared to Donate 2 Kanals land to the custom authorities to use for their offices. We believe the best way to develop the rest of the Dry port by Morkhun community. The Morkhun community to take responsibility for building the necessary warehouses Bank etc. We would appreciate your gaudiness’ in gaining a loan from the NDFC or RDFC with a low rate of interest then we could create the necessary buildings without extra cost of the Govt.  We believe that Morkhun can make a very successful plan with the CBR and other Govt. Agencies. We will be an excellent and reliable partner for the CBR in long term future and overall we feel that locating Dry port in Morkhun will be in the best interests of the Nation of Pakistan as a whole.

MCH centre constructed in 2000

 The Mother care House (MCH) was build by the government in 2000 with the collaboration of Morkhun community who donated 2 Kanal land for the building. During this period employees were not hired and still have lack of staff.

(1980-90) land development

Land development remains one of the primary requisites for sustaining the livelihood of mountain communities. Evidence shows that Morkhun community has derived immense confidence and a sense of ownership through increasing in assets productivity. This has further raise their economic and social status, giving them hope for a better future and motivation for collective action, which has been the foundation of Morkhun community’s participation approach to development in the village.

Morkhun village organization’s infrastructure activities are unique because the community takes responsibility for the complete project cycle. Many basic facilities projects are implemented at a small scale that allows the community to dictate and handle its own development. This involvement at grass root level result in tailor made product-using technology suitable to the fragile mountainous ecosystem. The infrastructure activities focus on three areas: land development, communication and power generation. The first comprises protective works and irrigation structure to channel water to barren or marginal land; the second connect community through secondary road, bridge and rope way, and the last supply clean water and cheap energy using hydropower – water for power generation. In addition to these principle components, activities have included small-scale project like community centre, common meeting place and water supply scheme for household.

(1995) the student organization khunjerab students’ welfare federation (KSWF) promotes education and green work because of ecological degradation along the KKH. “we have launched a campaign to ban the use of plastic bags and stop the burning of plastic. Litter containers have been placed in areas where villagers gather, particularly at custom and check post areas. We have branched into eco tourism, training local guide to be ecologically responsible during treks”

In the same year planning was started under the guidance of AKRSP for the control of future development in Morkhun.  It was agreed to create clear sectors for residential, economic and agricultural land use. The important point being not to let uncontrolled development take up valuable agricultural land.

(1996-97) the Morkhun Village Organization (MVO) was build the micro hydro project in Morkhun. It is funded by Canadian embassy Islamabad. Some of 668000Rs is donated by CIDA and 400000rs included labours work and local material provided by villagers. This power house is generated 62kw which is not enough for Morkhun village.

(1998) Water supply scheme

(1999) House improvement and renovation (collaboration basis)

Siphon Irrigation system introduced in 2001 & (2002) Construction of link road from Morkhun to Boiber valley

(2001) New town planning in Ali Mohd town (east-Morkhun)

The community started to work on a bran land in a systematic way. A town plan committee was given the task to give its feasibility report on the project. They first gave the proposal to construct a suspension bridge on Hunza River to connect the new land to proper Morkhun living side. Secondly to fixed the pipe line from Morkhun side to the new town area which this system of irrigational pipe system is called siphons system. Miss Yoko Kondo san and kumagui san helped from Japan assist the community to prepare the basic map of Morkhun new town through the Sustainable Development Plan (SDP) institution. Still work is going on the final map of the new town and we are hoping that it will soon be completed by the end of this month. (2002) we got a donation of two buses from Japan embassy Islamabad, which we are using for school and college students, from different villages from Gulmit to Khudaabad.

In the same year we got a donation by s. I. Himeji group Japan for construction of community centre. We constructed a community meeting hall, MVO head office, women organisations office and two store rooms in the centre of the village beside the kkh. The construction was completed in just three months time.

2003 Apples from Japan

Community farmer trained by JICA 2004-5 in Japan

2004 three farmers had to go to Japan for apple and other agro related training. Our organization has a training programme in ijima machi for one year. The project is organized by iijima international partnership association. The title is apple growing techniques.

·         Fruit Improvement programme started in 2006

Local Support Organization (LSO) established in 2006-07

Local Support Organisation (LSO) is one of the community development organization in the area established in 2007, an idea by the community and leading members of Morkhun, which after that extended to the all other villages of Gojal. Now the area has four local support organizations inclosing 33 villages. From these organisations the community of Gojal developed in many sectors such as agriculture, skills, economics etc.

2nd phase Micro Hydro electric power unit constructed in 2008-09

By the help of Pakistan poverty fund (PPF) the community of Morkhun construct the 2^nd phase of hydro electric power unit, the capacity of 400 KV, for the consumers of 150 households, providing employments for 5 members from the community.

Livestock improvement project started with help of SLC-USA in 2008

A project was signed with the snow leopard conservancy by the supervision of khunjrab villagers organization to improve the Quality and standard of livestock.

Gojal Fuji Apple Grafting is continuing from 2005 to till now in different village self-help basis. In 2010 the community established community base local NGO, Pamir Community Foundation in company ordinance act 1984.

In July 2010 huge flood destroyed all the linked irrigated channels, main while through the supports of CARITAS project the community renovated the channels in 2011. During 2012 – 13, formation of the Morkhun micro cedi program, to strengthen the financial position of the community.  New idea was introduced, all the households ware deposited equally share capital in the village based micro credit program.

In June 2013 the community of Morkhun start the renovation of Jamat Khana (prayer hall) and completed in December 2013.In 2014 an electronic resource canter was established. In 2014 TOR was signed between Pamir community foundation and Japan international corporation agency (JICA). In the same year two members from PCF visited to Japan for training of fruit improvement project.

Morkhun Tourism Route

Moonlight Track: Boybar to Juntosh Yaz (three hours)

Track Routs

1.    Morkhun to Boiber (3200mt) 1st day

·         Boiber to Molung Qir(4000 meter

·         Molung qir to Sor viwe point 4500 Meter back to Morkhun

2.    Boiber to peryar 1st day 2nd day Peryar to Qarun pass (5000 Meter)

·         Back to peryar 3rd day Boiber or Morkhun.

·         Boiber to Juntosh Glacaier( 3500mt) 1day track from Morkhun 2days track

·         Boiber to Peryar Glacair (4500mt) 1day, 2ndday peryar Glacaier to Tapopdan peak base camp(4900mt) 3rd dary returen to Boiber.

·         Morkhun to Shelay 1day track Chines Script rock painting. 3000year old

Morkhun to Ser 1st day, 2nd day ser to Molung hill (3600mt), 3rd day Molung hill to Yazben(4500mt) 4th dayYazben to Laa pass 5000mt , 5th pass to Sokhtarabad (4000mt), best pleace for Blue sheep Hunting and Photography area 6th rest day . 7th Furzeen to Sokhtarabad Gase (3219mt) and the 8th day Sokhtarabad to KKH and back to Morkhun.

Track from Morkhun to Wonder gar 1st day. 2nd day Wonder garsar Lash green area. (4000mt) 3rd back to Morkhun. Morkhun to Shach Kater 1st day one h/ drive by car and track to Furzeen, 2nd day Furzeen to Molung Gengal 3000mt, 3rd day Molung Gengal to Rokhen Jerave (4200mt) Best pleace for High bex Hunting and photography area.

Morkhun to Sokhtarabad 1hour by car and track to rach  Hut. Snow Leopards core Zone area for Photogeraphy ( Hot spring 42c’) 2nd day Furzeen, 3rd day Nilterkeen Dasth Bluesheep Hunt and Photography. For snow Leopards Photography need 20days with sporting scope, Game Cameras, Solar pawer, camophlage cloths and camp and other reqierd tools and eqipments.

Famous Peaks of Avgarch valley

·         Jurjur Khun Sar

·         Juntosh

·         Boybar Peak

·         Qorun Peak

·         Prighar SAR

·         Sachkatr Peak

·         Quez

·         Sukhtarabad Peak

·         Suegardan

Lakes

·         Sukhtar Lake

·         Juntosh Lake

·         Khure Zhuye

 Glaciers

·         Pryar Yaz

·         Boybar Yaz

·         Qorunkuh Yaz

·         Sukhtarabad Yaz

Names of Pastures

·         Mulung Qir

·         Dhest Goz 

·         Juntosh hel   

·         Pryar

·         Yarzin Boybar

·         Saro Goz

·         Tpop

·         Quez

·         Sangar

·         Meydun

·         Kerch KerchCultural Sites and Social Sites

Sost Old House (900 years old) of Baba Sufi)

 Sost Tunnel

Baba Sufi house in Avgarch Settlement

In the Avgarch Valley, especially in the Avgarch Proper, there is the Old House of Baba Sufi. This is of great interest when some on visited to the valley. Bobo Sufi, the apical ancestor of Avgarchi, the Avgarchi People, is said to have arrived firstly in Sost, but later on, due to the defence purpose, Sost was not secure due to its strategic position. Has searched ahead to access a defensive place, and who finally had got Avgarch Proper as secure and facilitating place, due to its pastures, flatland for irrigation, spring and glacial water. That is why he made Avgarch as his permanent habitat and the history's old house still stands in Avgarch, which today presents a unique opportunity to learn from this house and environment in such an arduous terrain.

Avgarch Forts (Upper & Lower)

Eco Tourism Study, Avgarch Proper, and other sub-valleys within it, is no more isolated but rather is accessed through a small vehicular link road. One can easily drive from the KKH in Morkhun and reach the proper settlement within half an hour; and could be entertained by the beautiful landscapes of the valley.

 Shohi Shams Tenov in Boiber

 Elga of Puryar

Mosque of in Avgarch

 Qur'on Khona of Morkhun

 Khunjerab Villagers Organization (KVO)

National Park Tracks

From Morkhun to Dee by car is one hour track to Dee Huts and Gengle area. The 2nd day to Dee sar 4500mt. Dee to Furzeen Dur 30minuts by car and track to Helga, 2nd day Helga to Yazben, 3rd Yazben to KKH.

Morkhun to Bar khun by car, 2hours drive and track to Qush Dur gace, 2nd day Qush Dur gace to Right  Perpak Hilga, 3rd day Hilga to Bibith Hillga, many small and beautiful peacks and galaceirs.this is sumer track routs.same days to h ere you can find Wakhik peoples with their live stocks . The same days track you can use to Left Perpak.

Morkhun to bar khun by car, 2hours drive and track to Yofa Dur gace, 2nd day track to Yofa dur sar best place for Snow Leopards photography, you can spend many day. You need National Park permit and camp side fee.

Morkhun to Kukcell by car 3hours drive and same day track to Chafhingol, 2nd day track to Goze if you want to climb on small and flat peak. You can spend five days climbing.

Concept paper and vision for apple growing project

What is sustainable agriculture?

Sustainable agriculture is the way in which we can sustain our present farming life.  It will enable us to survive.

If we start to grow the apple trees in Morkhun now, apple production will begin in 5 years.  Once apple production begins, farmers will be able to spend their time producing apples, rather than Working small jobs in the marketplace. Could we improve the existing apple trees in Morkhun? What impact will the new techniques have on cultural practices?

Executive summery

The Aga khan rural support programme was initiated in December 1982 in the northern region of Pakistan. In Morkhun, the programme initially operated through the concept of a village organization, which began in 1983. We are looking for the latest in sustainable agriculture, organic farming, and other new opportunities.  We went to Japan through Japan international cooperation agency (JICA) to learn new methods, and were taught techniques and principles in depth.  We learned how we can improve production, organic methods, and local cultural practices, and how to sustain crops and livestock, begin marketing, and establish regional and national influence in sustainable agricultural activities. In this paper i will present some of my questions and ideas on this topic.

What is sustainable agriculture?

Sustainable agriculture is the way in which we can sustain our present farming life.  It will enable us to survive. If we start to grow the apple trees in Morkhun now, apple production will begin in 5 years.  Once apple production begins, farmers will be able to spend their time producing apples, rather than Working small jobs in the marketplace.

Could we improve the existing apple trees in Morkhun?

What impact will the new techniques have on cultural practices?

Among the wakhik of Gojal, dairy tasks (milking, cheese and butter making) and much of the herding are performed by Women, with the assistance of young children. Most of the agricultural task (plowing, making fertilizer, cultivating) are done by men. Although all wakhik love the pastures, men recognize it as the Women’s zone. Wakhik people describe the summer pastures as places of happiness. This flowered grassland with sparkling streams beneath snowy mountains is more than just a pleasant place.

The local farmers have been producing deciduous fruit for centuries. The natural condition is such that nearly every household plants tree of different types scattered all over the irrigated fields.

Social Organization

Broadly, the village based organization has become a source of ideas, information, technology and finance for the community. Now, for the first time, village communities are also putting ecology and environment on their development agenda, and are posed to manage their natural resources in sustainable and renewable ways.

After 25 years of the organization’s operation, the community has completed many infrastructure development projects, and established many sub-organizations, such as an education committee, a livestock committee, an agricultural committee, and many more. Now the community has established an umbrella organization, registered with the government of Pakistan under the rule of companies act 1984 on equal share basis. The organization name is Pamir Community Foundation.

The provision of technical training to VO/WO (villagers’ organization/Women’s organization) members has been the major component of Morkhun village organization’s human resource development programme. Training is imparted in the field of apple fruit improvement, agriculture, livestock, poultry, marketing accounts, vegetable growing and silage making.

During the year under review, regular training courses were organized for members from 13 different village organizations in the Gojal programme area, and were attended by 1120 VO and WO members. I trained the members of selected villages on the one year cycle of apple growing.  Every year i visit each village four times for refresher courses.

Natural resource management

Since 2005 we have approached natural resource management in the fields of agriculture, livestock, and fruit improvement. We have contacted the Gojal area VO and WO members to diagnose our agricultural practices and our participatory ruler analysis exercises have led the communities to think of management issues for other natural resources beyond the traditional boundaries of the village. For the organization, the process has led to integrated planning at the intra regional level.

Agricultural

Wakhik people have central Asian agricultural methods. Insufficient rainfall (four to six inches per year) and poor soil make irrigation and fertilizer, typically manure, essential for fertility. Villages are at the upper limit of cultivation (8000ft elevation) where only one crop can be harvested each year. Crops include hardy cereals (wheat, barley and buckwheat), potatoes, peas, beans, apples and apricots. During the year under review, the major activities included crop improvement, and fodder production. Linked to these activities was the training and technology development programme. For this programme Mr. Nakara shigo san gifted me a seeding machine. When we introduced the seeding machine the crop production increased and the nutrient erosion was reduced. The seeding machine resulted in crops that were well-rooted in the soil, so that the roots were not pulled while harvesting.  This resulted in less erosion, and left more organic matter in the soil for better fertility.  The machine also resulted in less mixing with wild grasses, which made weeding of the wild grasses easier.  The proper spacing of seeds provided by the machine also made for stronger plants, so that the stalks did not bend over in the wind, also improving the harvest. 

By tradition, vegetable growing is a female’s activity and almost every household grows vegetables for domestic consumption. Now we have initiated the vegetable development programme with the objectives of increasing nutrition levels and income through marketing.

Vegetable introduction package

We have imported many varieties of high yield vegetable seed from Canada, Japan and china. Now the farmers are trying to produce these vegetable as cash crops, particularly beans and tomatoes. These activities are all being done with organic production methods.

Crop improvement program

Linkage and technology development

There are many new tools and technologies that are not available to us in Pakistan.  Some of them we have found in china and begun to introduce here.

Fruit development

Nursery development

Traditionally, Wakhi people have planted new trees along the bottom of fields, which has served to reduce erosion, and has made use of whatever manure and nutrients have been eroded by the watering of the fields.  Now people are beginning to plant their trees together in nurseries or orchards, which reduce the amount of Work involved in maintaining the trees and harvesting the fruit.

Tree distribution

Renovation

Plants budded every year, Morkhun VO gives other villages stems for grafting from its quality fruit trees. There are various Plants variety selection .We have established a practice of grafting on the north side of the trees, and leaving the south side in its original condition.  This provides for cross-pollination, which improves fruit quality.

·         Livestock future priorities

·         Feed improvement programme

·         Breed improvement programme

·         Cattle improvement programme

·         Sheep & goat improvement programme

·         Poultry development

·         Disease control programme

·         Policy and future plan

The government of Pakistan does not regulate marketing.  The middle men get huge profits, while producers and shopkeepers struggle to make a profit.  In this matter, the VOs have decided to establish processing units in each of their own villages.  These processing units will assist in grading quality and managing the marketing of our produce.

Every village has different climate and soil conditions, so we need laboratory tests and data do determine how best to fertilize each field for maximum production.

Strategy for maximizing household income

Ultimate objective of the project is to attain the balanced regional development by identifying and developing the Gojal region specific crops/ products of the regions so far lagged behind in term of the returns capital and labour. Through the project, maximization of household income of targeted segment of rural residents, namely marginal and small farm-households and landless non-farm households is attempted by way of enhancing labour absorption in production, processing and marketing. It is anticipated that the existing poverty in the regions will be reduced satanically in this process.

In an attempt at maximizing household’s income, WO assumptions are crucial to bear in mind. First the targeted group of household in Gojal area is not a risk taker. In other Words we should not expect a radical shift of farm management from supply driven one to that of demand driven.  It means we should allow sufficient time before the targeted beneficiaries are convinced with the anticipated charge. Second, in promoting production which is demand driven by smaller farmers, the primary processing plant should be located near the production sites. It is expected that the new value added would be captured by the region like potato marketing. But more importantly, the farmers would know better the demand structure and its change. Therefore, the project assumes that the sustainability of this project depends crucially on the extension private participation in the processing activities.

Income and value addition of the targeted household can broadly be classified into four heading: income from staple crop production (mostly for home consumption, thus implicit), value added in livestock activities (partly marketed), fruit and vegetable (mostly for market), and non-farm income, including remittance from services and pension. The basic strategy of household income maximization can be conceived in two stages. The first stage is to try to shift production function of the staple crops up ward, introduce location specific livestock for dairy products and green fodder, and region specific crops. The second stage is to enhance income by shifting the weight of production activities towards high value and demand driven crops and dairy activities.

Morkhun-Japan Fuji Apple Park

The Morkhun organization is a civil society organization of the Gojal valley working for the agriculture development of the village. The mission of Morkhun organization is to work to establish development projects in different parts of the village that local communities design and manage, and that are in partnership with government and non-government agencies. Morkhun organization uses a participatory development approach that includes beneficiaries as active partners in every step of the development process

Project summary

At the beginning of the project’s 2,300 grapes will be planted on the contributed land, and in the plantation will be done with the help of the people of the village. People will plant the trees in their own area which is already been distributed to all the households.

They will also maintain them and be the sole beneficiaries of the new income generated from fruit yields. At the beginning of the second phase of the plantation 1,300 peach trees will be planted again, and will be done along with the help of the community.

And in the third and last stage of the project 4,000 FUJI apple will planted in the contributed land. This will cover most of the area of the Morkhun Japan Fuji Apple Park. The park will also have processing center of the fruits and a separate building will be constructed in the middle of the park which will have road access along with feasible for all the people to bring the fruits for processing easily.

After 5 to 8 years, the 7,600 trees (factoring in survival rates) will generate for the rural communities approximately $ 500,000 in fruit yields, which will increase multiple-fold average household incomes. The project will also sustainably prevent erosion and desertification.

This project for fully implement the Morkhun community-managed fruit tree nursery kindly requests $ 100,000. This proposed project is a pilot project; there are other similar special sites in rural areas that the Morkhun community can potentially contribute. The project creates a real example of organic fruits, and implementing it will also create a vital international example of diverse collaboration.

Projects’ Social Context

Agriculture remains the engine of the Pakistani economy, employing nearly half of the country’s population. Nearly 80 percent of rural economies in the area are supported by agricultural production. The low market value of traditional peach, grapes and apple from which most rural households derive their income, and population growth, have made subsistence agriculture unsustainable and has compelled farmers to transition to plant cash-crops, most commonly fruit trees, to generate significantly greater income. Farmers find that cash-crops, most commonly fruit trees, generate significantly greater income and important environmental benefits. Generally, however, the slow pace of the transition to cash crops for many rural communities and agricultural development in Morkhun village is widely considered to have greater income source.

Benefits

1.      Planting 7,600 fruit plants in a community-managed nursery that will after six years double incomes (on average) from fruit sales of each household in Morkhun village (1,000 people);

2.       Diversifying rural economies, creating employment, and helping to increase the organic food production in the region;

3.       Strengthening the environment by preventing soil erosion, offsetting carbon emissions, and creating new income which will decrease dependence on the natural resources of the Morkhun Japan Fuji Apple Park;

4.      Diversifying diets and contributing to public health initiatives from the consumption of fruit.

The proposed fruit tree nursery park is determined and designed through a series of participatory planning meetings involving all households of the villages. Participatory planning activities are interactive information gathering methods that help local community members evaluate their conditions and plan and implement projects that are most important to them.

Participatory methods utilize and ranking to help prioritize development opportunities in the village. Also used are visual forms of analysis, such as mapping the locality, household well-being, risk identification, and community assets. Diagrams identify key areas of plantation that will show the area divided, and there will be work activities across seasons. The nursery is selected as a top priority because of the critical benefits they generate for each of the households among all the household of the village.