Hajigabul district located on the Silk Road, was part of the Arab Caliphate, Seljuk, Sacids, Hulakids, Shirvanshahs, Safavids at different times. During the division of the State into the Khanates, the district was included in the Shamakhi khanate. After joining of North Azerbaijan to Tsardom of Russia,[3] it was included in Shamakhi Uyezd of Caspian province which was established in 1830.[4] After the abolition of the Caspian province in 1841, it was included in the Shamakhi governorate. After the devastating earthquake in 1859 in Shamakhi, the capital of the governorate was moved to Baku. In 1860 - 1930, Hajigabul was part of the Shamakhi Uyezd in the Baku province. On August 8, 1930, Uyezd was abolished and as a result of this, the new Garasu was established. Since November 29, 1938, city status has been awarded to Hajigabul.[5][6]
Divisions
There are 31 populated areas. One of them is a city, 1 city-like settlement, 4 settlements and 25 villages. There are 15 administrative-territorial units, 5 medical institutions and 55 cultural centres. The Pirsaat River and Prsaat valley is located in this region.[7]
Population
According to the report of the Statistical Committee of the republic, the population was 74,7 thousand at the beginning of 2018. 37,4 thousand of them lived in urban areas, 37,3 thousand people in rural areas.[8]
Population of Hajigabul by the year
(at the beginning of the year, thsd. persons)[8]
Population
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
Hajigabul region
57,9
58,5
59,1
59,7
60,2
60,7
61,7
63,0
63,9
64,8
65,7
66,5
67,3
68,3
69,1
70,1
71,2
72,5
73,6
74,7
75,6
76,6
77,1
urban areas
26,4
26,8
27,1
27,3
27,6
31,7
32,2
32,6
33,0
33,4
33,8
34,1
34,5
34,8
35,2
35,5
36,0
36,5
37,0
37,4
37,7
38,0
38,2
rural areas
31,5
31,7
32,0
32,4
32,6
29,0
29,5
30,4
30,9
31,4
31,9
32,4
32,8
33,5
33,9
34,6
35,2
36,0
36,6
37,3
37,9
38,6
38,9
Economy
The Baku-Tbilisi railway and 82 km of the Silk Road pass through the region. Over 35 state and private institutions operate in Hajigabul. The largest of these institutions is the Department of the operation of Kura Water pipelines. It was opened in 1971. It provides the surrounding areas and capital of country with drinking water. The Gas Pipeline Production Department and the "Kalmaz" Underground Gas Storage meet the natural gas demand of the Republic. Railway institution operates in the district. Poultry farms named "Adishirin" and "Pirsaat" meet the egg demand of Hajigabul and nearby areas. Both farms have been operating since the independence period.[9] Although the economy of the region is based on agriculture, recently an automobile plant put into operation in Hajigabul Industrial Estate based on the cooperation between Russian Gas Group and Azermash OJSC. Additionally, according to the order of the president of the Republic of Azerbaijan dated 2017, an industrial district will be established in Hajigabul which is considered to develop and regulated by Azerbaijan Investment Company OJSC.[10][11]
Agriculture
Agriculture plays key role in the economy of district which includes livestock, grain growing, cotton growing, horticulture and especially melon and watermelon growing.[12]
Agriculture
2010
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
Total area of sown agricultural crops (ha)
Cereals and cereal legumes
9171
12377
12689
12919
14179
15216
Including wheat
4730
6288
6415
6475
7130
7478
Cotton
-
-
-
-
526
1204
Sugar beet
-
-
-
-
160
556
Sunflower for seed production
24
78
75
49
-
-
Potato
-
38
38
39
40
42
Vegetables
520
728
761
776
781
442
Horticulture
1038
1618
1579
1572
1572
828
Fruit and berry
1303
1431
1431
1431
1437
1437
Grape
98
115
115
115
115
115
Productivity (in all categories of farming), ton
Cereals and cereal legumes
26874
37010
37909
44146
51241
50329
Including wheat
16110
21865
22213
24735
25922
24136
Cotton
-
-
-
-
800
1000
Sugar beet
-
-
-
-
5400
22821
Sunflower for seed production
29
103
102
67
-
-
Potato
-
417
418
428
451
461
Vegetables
13540
18959
19818
20216
20431
7295
Horticulture
15258
23882
23306
23306
23428
11675
Fruit and berry
5850
10997
11051
11057
11205
11314
Grape
180
252
253
264
261
262
Productivity (in all categories of farming), centner / ha
Cereals and cereal legumes
29.3
29.9
29.9
34.2
34.8
32.9
Including wheat
34.1
34.8
34.6
38.2
36.4
32.3
Cotton
-
-
-
-
15.2
8.3
Sugar beet
-
-
-
-
388
459
Sunflower for seed production
12.1
13.2
13.6
13.7
-
-
Potato
-
110
110
110
110
110
Vegetables
260
260
260
260
260
157
Horticulture
147
148
148
148
148
141
Fruit and berry
47.8
80.8
81.2
81.2
78.8
80.2
Grape
21.2
29.1
29.1
29.1
22.8
22.8
Number of Livestock (in total)
Cattle
35163
37241
37508
37819
38414
38798
Including cow and buffalo
14948
15675
15858
15990
16245
16424
Sheep and goats
124600
132325
133765
134838
135956
136906
Birds
1377872
2870130
3632510
4637392
3414135
3798969
Production of animal products, ton
Meat
2817
3418
5777
5984
6175
5360
Milk
13800
17168
17172
17217
17242
17253
Eggs
113480
280355
327071
331199
327143
350497
Wool
206
223
224
225
225
228
Geography
Hajigabul district mainly is located in the Shirvan plain and it is below sea level. The Neocene and Anthropogenic sediments cover the surface of the plain. The soil of the region is composed of grey-brown, grey-meadow, saline soils. Like other regions of Shirvan-Salyan Economic Region, it is also possible to encounter mud volcanoes in the Hajigabul district. Oil, gas, clay and oak are the main minerals of the region. The river system is very sparse due to its climate. The Kur and Pirsaat rivers, Hajigabul Lake are the major water sources are in the territory of the region. The vegetation is half-desert type. The gazelles, the red-tailed sandwiches, the turtle, the turquoise and the pigeon are the typical animals of the district.[13][14]
Climate
Hajigabul district has a dry subtropical climate with hot summers and cool winters, with some to minimal precipitation. The level of precipitation heavily depends on seasonality so that the region receives considerably more rains during the winter period rather than in the summertime. The average temperature is 2 °C in January and 26 °C in July, respectively.[15]
Gallery
Road from Shirvan reaching Hajigabul District. Hacıqabul city (or Qazıməmməd) in the background