Note: This not a scientifically written article, it is just the summary of what I have submitted for approval to CORRB (Council of Renewable Research of Bhutan). I received the approval and will be heading to the field for about two months (starting August, 2011). There are no citations and references. If anyone is interested, I will give the citations and references.
Title: Disappearing tradition of transhumance and changes in mind-set of nomadic communities after developmental activities
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| A typical nomadic village in Bumthang |
Introduction: The transhumant yak system is limited to the alpine-cool temperate areas around the world. Throughout the Tibetan areas and northern parts of Bhutan, India and Nepal, nomads are an important element in the local economy and society. It has been reported in the number of literatures that, in high altitude grasslands of Bhutan, yak herding is an important source of livelihood for the nomads. Yak herding is one of the dominant activities for the pastoralist who prevails in ten of the twenty dzongkhags in Bhutan, benefitting roughly 1400 households. High elevation herders have been practicing migratory cattle grazing as forest dependent livelihood strategy from temperate to sub-tropics of Bhutan for more than 1300 years. Livestock movements are generally season bound and related to fodder availability, births of animal and growing season, and herders are reported to respect and follow their age-old traditional migratory routes to respective designated pastures in various altitudes.
In general, yak herding involves migrating from winter pastures (3000m and 3500m) to summer pastures (3500m – 5000m), where summer pastures are usually grazed from June to September and winter pastures from November through March. Migration is a strategy adopted by herders to overcome extreme winter conditions in higher altitudes (which translates to a shortage of resources and to exploit economic opportunities at lower elevations. The animals are moved from one grazing site to another, usually between 4-6 weeks depending on the number of sites and situation of fodder availability. Through the long history of using grazing sites, herders have developed some basic thumb rules to determine the time and duration of grazing on particular sites. Usually, the productivity and vegetation types do not differ significantly from year to year and herders move the animals after grazing for approximately the same number of days every. It is reported that nomadic community as a whole is suffering from the shortage of herders since younger generations opt for modern education and aspire for career in white collar professions to their age old nomadic lifestyle.
Rationale: It is noted by various researchers that very little is understood with regard to migratory cattle and its impact on the household subsistence economy in Bhutan. There are reports that, residence of Sakteng depends on livestock husbandry as their only source of livelihood but in recent years, farmers of Merak have started to grow agricultural crops (potatoes) in their home gardens, signifying the change in cropping pattern. With access to education for the younger generation of the nomads, future of nomadic activities are bleak as young people are reported reluctant to continue with tradition of their forefathers, and opting better opportunities in urban areas. One literature reports; people of Soe and Yaksa in Lingshi switching from herding to more of a settled lifestyle. The change in such approach and agricultural practices may have been influenced with the advent of socio-economic changes, bringing easy access to health, education and markets for the nomads.
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| New house built in yak herder's village |
With the initiation of various developmental activities, Bhutan in general has undergone dramatic changes over the decades in embracing modern amenities and technologies. However, owing to distance and isolation, nomadic people were deprived of developmental activities for a very long time, but are gaining momentum. If this phenomenon is left unchecked, there is every chance of mass rural-urban migration leading to loss of rich culture and traditions and exposing to threats of illegal occupation of the high elevation rangelands as highlighted by Bhutan’s Minister of Agriculture and Forest during the nomadic festival in 2011.
Kuensel reported; people of Merak and Sakteng buying electrical appliances for they have been promised electricity by June, 2011. With the advent of various developmental activities in the nomadic areas of Bhutan, it is foreseeable that, there may have been changes in how people are adapting to the developmental activities.
Main objective: This study is intended to find out the change in migration pattern of nomads with time and their mind-set with coming of developmental activities. The study will specifically focus on:
a. How societies respond to development; Change in livelihood pattern (coming of farm road, electricity, schools etc)?
b. Change in numbers of yak herders and yak numbers?
c. Migration a decade ago and now?
d. Issues on border encroachment?
e. Issues on Tsamdro?
Expected output of research: The report of the research will be out latest by June, 2012. The ambitious aim will be to get it published in some peer reviewed international journal if not, I will try to get it in Center of Bhutan Studies Journal or RNR Journal.
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