FINAL REPORT

However, animal husbandry has become
extremely vulnerable in case of natural
disasters such as drought and “zud”. 11
After 1995 consecutive disasters have
caused a sharp decline of livestock
numbers leaving many herders in a
desperate situation (see Figure 10).
Although in recent years the total number
of livestock recovered significantly on the
aimag level, the herder’s households did
not equally profit from this increase: In
2005, 46 % of households who possessed
livestock had less than 100 animals (see
Figure 11). This number is estimated as
the minimum requirement to escape
poverty.
Another problematic development is the
Households
3 500
3 000
2 500
2 000
1 500
1 000
500
0
0-50 50-
100
100-
200
200-
500
500-
1000
>
1000
Number of livestock per household
Source: Statistics provided by aimag administration
Figure 11: Herds Size among Livestock Owning
Households
sharp increase of goats, driven by the rising demand for cashmere (see Figure 10). In
combination with reduced mobility of herders, goats are contributing significantly to the
degradation of pasture land (seeJanzen / Bazargur 1999:55/, 2003:54-56).
8. Cultivation Agriculture in Khovdaimag and in the Buyant River Delta
(J. Hartwig)
Cultivation agriculture has a long lasting tradition in Khovd dating back to pre-socialist times
when it was mainly practised by national and ethnic minorities.
During socialism, two foddercrop state farms were established 12 ; together with the cultivation
agricultural brigades 13 of the negdels up to 10,000 ha farmland was cultivated in Khovd aimag
each year. The majority of the farmland was used for cereal and livestock fodder production.
Due to the arid climate, all fields had to be irrigated by the streams and rivers that originate in
the Altai Mountains and run to the endorheic basins. About 30-40% of the aimag’s farmland
was located in Buyant and Khovd sum, in the Delta of the Buyant River. Besides cereal,
11 The term “zud” refers to food scarcity of men and livestock caused by drought, heavy snowfall, freezing rain
orstrong frost.
12 One fodder crop farm was established inBuyant Sumand another in Erdeneburen sum.
13 The term “brigade” was used in socialism for the negdel’s work units.
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