@article{Avazov:159074,
      recid = {159074},
      author = {Avazov, Shakhzod},
      title = {Socio-economic Features of the Agro-pastoralists in the  Zarafshan Valley, NW Tajikistan},
      address = {2013-10-01},
      number = {1611-2016-134569},
      pages = {17},
      month = {Oct},
      year = {2013},
      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.},
      url = {http://ageconsearch.umn.edu/record/159074},
      doi = {https://doi.org/10.22004/ag.econ.159074},
}