Traditional farming and household practices in the Vakhiyo valley

The Tajiks of the Vakhiyo valley, which lies in the Khingou river basin, preserved distinctive traditional methods of farming and household work. Hay and sheaves harvested on mountain meadows were brought down to the villages in two main ways: bundles and sheaves were carried on the back or transported on special drag sledges.

Such sledges were called “chigina” and were used to transport hay and other farm loads across mountainous terrain. The sledge was made of separate parts: kashkorak, bolishtak, poya, rauchu and binikash.

The “chigina” drag sledge: 1 — kashkorak; 2 — bolishtak; 3 — poya; 4 — rauchu; 5 — binikash.

These ways of carrying loads reflect the traditional economic culture of the people of the Vakhiyo valley and their adaptation to difficult mountain terrain.