Research, Policy and Practice
Table 7 Herders’ view of challenges and problems related to herding and rangeland management, underlying reasons and possible mitigation measures as identified in 30 individual interviews each in Hopar, Phandar and Shimshal valley, and in three, four and three focus group discussions in Chapurson (C), Haramosh (H) and Khaplu (K) valleys in Gilgit-Baltistan
From: Constraints and prospects of utilising mountain pastures in Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan
Challenges and problems | Problems identified by n respondents in | Reasons | Suggested mitigating measures | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hopar | Phandar | Shimshal | Group discussionsa | |||
Herding | ||||||
 Shortage of skilled labour | 10 | 15 | 29 | C1, C2, C3, K3 | Young generation involved in education and tourism, business/jobs; family members must also work on farmland. | Restructuring of school schedules, training programmes for young herders, herding incentives in cash and kind, joint herding. |
 Animal herding is a tough and time-consuming job | 5 | 4 | 27 | C1, C2, C3, K1, K3 | Harsh climate, year-round duty. | Training for herders, incentives in cash and kind. |
 Lifestyle changes, people are less tough and lazier | 18 | 11 | 23 | C1, C2, K3 | Infrastructure development, quest for luxuries. | Training for herders, incentives in cash and kind. |
 Livestock keeping is no more a family business | 2 | 24 | 19 | C3, H1, H4, K1, K3 | Family engagement in other work, low prices of milk products. | Markets for products, training in making good-quality milk products. |
 Climate change (closure of roads, washing away of bridges) | 9 | 5 | 1 | C2, K2, K3 | Not known |  |
Rangeland/pastures | ||||||
 Productivity of pastures is low | 21 | 24 | 3 | C2, K1, K2, K3 | Mismanagement, concentrated grazing. | Pasture rehabilitation plans. |
 Management issues (overgrazing, overexploitation) | 25 | 27 | 10 | All valleys | No (clear) management system, no taxation, no one’s property. | Animal grazing fees. |
 Rapid increase in tourism | 17 | 11 | 22 | H2, H3, K2 | Camping, expeditions. | Tourism guidelines development. |
 Climate change (erratic rains, soil erosion) | 9 | 5 | 1 | C2, K2, K3 | Not known. |  |
 Conversion of pasture areas into farmland | 21 | 18 | 12 | C1, C2, H1, H4, K1, K2, K3 | Farming provides more (cash) income than herding. | Policies for land use, community organizations taking care of such matters. |
 No access to traditional cross border pastures due to political issues | 0 | 0 | 16 | C2, C3 | Political decisions. | Providing access to cross border areas. |