Files
Abstract
This paper analyzes the livelihood of the agro-pastoral communities of Western part of
Tajikistan, the Zarafshan valley. The data were amassed on current fodder management
practices in eighteen villages through households as well as agro-pastoralists and
visual observation on local pasture areas. The interviews and discussions yielded
more information on the decision-making processes that dehkans (farmers) employ
to determine the quantity and composition of feed offered to livestock at particular
times of the year. Among the influences to decisions were constraints to grazing and
knowledge of appropriate lopping regimes for different animal fodder species. Varying
degrees of access to off-farm fodder sources and the numbers of livestock kept by
different households were also seen to affect fodder management decisions. Development
activities aimed at labour use to fodder collection and the exchange of local knowledge
regarding local fodder management are most likely to result in improvements in the
levels of fodder supply for the majority of households in the short term. The variations
were discussed within site-specific dehkan groups and between group representatives
at a series of workshops. According to the results, stable type, number of cattle, size of
cultivated land, labor availability per household, existence of small ruminant flock in
the village, and the number of small ruminants were found to be most important factors
affecting household economic status. It was concluded that more robust and long-term
studies should be conducted using a wider variation in grassland quality to confirm the
study findings.