FINAL REPORT

E. Livelihood Assessment of the Farming Population in the Buyant River
Delta (J. Janzen, J. Hartwig and A. Ankhtuya; P. Myagmartseren and
P. Enkhmandakh; G. Gantulga and O. Azjargal)
13. Evaluation of Field Research in the Irrigated Agriculture of Khovd sum (J.
Janzen, A. Ankhtuya, andJ. Hartwig)
13.1.Introduction
Khovd sum was established in 1946 as sum of Bayan-Ulgii aimag and in 1955 it became part
of Khovd aimag. The sum center Dund Us is located 30 km northwest of theaimag center and
the sum borders with Deluun sum of Bayan-Ulgii aimag and Duut, Erdeneburen, Myangad,
Buyant, Jargalant sums of Khovd aimag. The highest point is Khavtgai Oroit Mountain which
is 3,776 m above sea level. Covering 282,060 ha, the territory of Khovd sum is composed of
high mountains, mountain steppe and desert steppe.
The sum is divided into five bags: Apart from the sum center Dund Us there are three rural
herders’ bags (Tsagaanburgas, Baruun Salaa, Bayanbulag) and Ulaanburaa bag where the
majority of crop farmers are located.In 2005, 144 households (17%) resided at the sum center
and 722 (83%) in the rural bags (KASY 2005).
Demography, Migration, Ethnic Composition and Poverty
In 2005, 4,644 inhabitants and 866 households lived in Khovd sum. It is the only sum in the
aimag with a majority of Kazak. 96% of the population belongs to Kazak nationality and the
remaining belong to other ethnic and national groups, like Chantuu (Uzbek), Myangad,
Torguud or Khalkh. As can be seen from Fig. 43 the total population increased until 1991 and
declined sharply in 1992 and 1993. This decline was caused by the outmigration of Kazaks to
Kazakhstan (see Fig. 44). In the following years, some migrants returned and the population
increased also due to comparably high birth rates. 16 In recent years, the population decreased
again, caused by net outmigration.
In 2005, 164 households (19%) were classified as poor and out of these 75 (9%) as very poor
households (KASY 2005).
16 In Khovd sum the average household comprises 5.36 members, compared to 4.19 which is the average
household size in Mongolia (NSOM 2006).
96