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Carbon finance and
dryland af forestation
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Natural Resources Forum 34 (2010) 211–221
Migration and animal husbandry: Competing or complementary
livelihood strategies. Evidence from Kyrgyzstan
Nadia Schoch, Bernd Steimann and Susan Thieme
Abstract
Animal husbandry and labour migration are important livelihood strategies for a large proportion of the rural population in developing countries. Up to now, the two strategies have usually been studied by looking at either one or the other; their interlinkages have rarely been examined. Based on a case study in rural Kyrgyzstan, the aim of this paper is to explore the links between animal husbandry and labour migration. Results show that for most rural households, livestock is crucial yet not sufficient to make a living. Therefore, many people diversify their income sources by migrating to work elsewhere. This
generates cash for daily expenses and the acquisition of new livestock, but also leads to an absence of workforce in households.Yet since remittances usually exceed the expenses for hiring additional workforce, most people consider migration profitable. From a socio-economic point of view, migration and animal husbandry can thus be considered important complementary livelihood strategies for the rural Kyrgyz population, at least for the time being. In the long term, however, the
failure of young migrants to return to rural places and their settlement in urban areas might also cause remittance dependency and lead to an increasing lack of qualified labour. From an environmental point of view, the investment of remittances into animal husbandry poses challenges to sustainable pasture management. Increasing livestock numbers in rural areas raise pressure on pasture resources. Since most people consider animal husbandry their main future prospect while continuing to use pastures in a fairly unsustainable way, this may further exacerbate the over-utilization of pastures in future.narf_1306 211..221
Global Change and Sustainable Development: A Synthesis of Regional Experiences from Research Partnerships
Edited by Hans Hurni, Urs Wiesmann and an international group of co-editors, 2010
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Last year NCCR North-South has launched the Policy Brief series evidence for policy provides research highlights on important development topics.
A policy brief on migration issues in Central and South Asia has been published last year
Thieme, S.; Bhattarai, A. and Gurung, G. (2009): Making Migration Safer. NCCR North-South Research Evidence for Policy. No. 2. NCCR North-South, Berne.
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The fourth issue focuses on effective natural resource management in mitigation and adaptation strategies. Topics covered in Natural resources: the climate change challenge include the multiple benefits of restoring soil fertility.
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The Other Silk Road
An NCCR North-South and PANOS South Asia production, 2008
Republics of the former Soviet Union in Central Asia are now developing countries. Kyrgyzstan is one of them.
While people here struggle to get acquainted to a new world order created by an era of economic liberalisation, the gap between the rich and the poor is on the increase.
Consequently, people from former farming collectives and former employees of the state, specially from the south of the country, are migrating to Bishkek, Almaty and Moscow to work as traders, waitresses, construction workers and any work that is created by the new economy. Some are successful, some not.
Nevertheless, many families and sometimes whole villages in Southern Kyrgyzstan are now supported by remittances.
Tracing migrants from Ylaitalaa in Southern Kyrgyzstan to markets of Bishkek and Almaty, this film is a tale of this movement of people and of lives affected by it.
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