In
the high altitudes of Haa, majority of nomadic inhabitants depend on rearing
yaks (Poephagus
grunniens or Bos grunniens) for their livelihood. Located
at an elevation ranging from 1,000 to 5,600 meters above sea level, around 25% (Torsa Strict Nature Reserve, 2011)of the people depends
on yak and its products for their livelihood. Yak is the prime source of their livelihood and is also used
as a beast of burden. However, with modernization seeping in, yak herders say
that the tradition may vanish in a few decades. ( Dahal, 2008)
Yak
is a multi-purpose animal, providing its owners with milk (and the resultant
milk products), meat, hair and wool, hide, work as a draught animal (packing,
riding, ploughing) and feces – important as fuel in the absence of trees, but
also as manure and as a building material. The yak is integrally associated
with the culture, religion and social life of its herders, their families and
communities. However, with outside pressures influencing the life of the people
and with technical developments impinging on yak husbandry, it seems likely
that the nature of yak keeping has entered a period of change.
Their
numbers of yaks are said to be increasing in some areas of China in general and
similar trend is observed in Bhutan too. While number of yak increased from 40,374
in 2009 (Department of Livestock, 2009) to 43144 in 2011 (Department of
Livestock, 2011)
at the national level which according to department of livestock accounts for
5.2% of the total livestock (Department of Livestock, 2013). But the trend is
reversed when we look at situation in Ha Dzongkhag. The Dzongkhag had more than
7765 yaks during 2005. However, the population dropped by 53.85% (National Statistic Buereau, 2011)and had just as few
as 3583 in the 2011. In Katsho Gewog, the number of yak herders decreased from
161 to 73.
The
problem however came into limelight with reports stating that the population of
the herders and nomads on decline due extreme climatic conditions entailing
hard work with no commensurate gains. Thus to intervene the deteriorating
culture of yak rearing, royal government projected and total out lay of 55
million ngultrum for the 11th five year plan for the development of
targeted highlanders (Gross National Happiness
Commission, 2013).
Department of livestock has developed strategies such as Institution of nodal
agency to address the livestock priority needs of nomadic Communities and
eco-tourism and niche product development. Thus, this paper aims to find prerequisite
for the identification and formulation of appropriate factors contributing to
decline of yak population and parallel factor for relevant development
strategies.
The
yak (Poephagus grunniens or Bos grunniens) is regarded as one of the world’s most
remarkable domestic animals due to its ability to survive in extremely harsh
and deprived conditions while providing a livelihood for people. Yak are usually
found at elevations between 2000 and 5000 m (the lower elevations at the more
northerly latitudes). At the present time, the total yak population is
estimated to number around 14.2 million, of which 13.3 million are in Chinese
territories, about 0.6 million in Mongolia and the rest in other countries,
mainly in mountainous countries surrounding the Himalayas and countries of the
Commonwealth of Independent States (formerly the Soviet Union) (Gerald,
Jiwnlin, & Ruijun, 2006).
Although
the Yak population is relatively insignificant in global terms, yet it is
critical to the livelihood security of the herders in a rather difficult
environment. In the high altitude areas of Bhutan at elevations higher than
3000 m above sea level, yak production has been the main source of livelihood
for people inhabiting this rugged landscape (Jamtsho, 1996), In
summer pastures, above the tree line, yak dung is the only source of fuel. Yaks
also play special roles in the religious and cultural life of the herder's
society. They are closely tied to the social customs and identity of the herder
communities. In recent years, yak are increasingly being used in the
high altitude tours and trekking industries. (Dorji, 2014) Furthermore,
Yaks by their nature can efficiently convert these high altitude grasslands
into sources of energy for human use at no opportunity cost (Ura, 1993) and yak herders complemented border
security personnel as their presence in the bordering alpine area served
to safeguard the land (Wangmo, 2012 ).
However,
with outside pressures influencing the lives of the people and with technical
developments impinging on yak husbandry, it seems likely that the nature of yak
keeping has entered a period of change. Yak husbandry is now becoming less of a
hassle, because of a rapid decrease in its population over the years and
political issues. (Pem, 2007) Herders reported
that in the earlier days, the livestock population decrease was mainly of Gid
disease (Multiceps multiceps) ( Gyeltshen, Tshering, Tsering,
& Dorji , 2010).
In
Yushu prefecture of china, due to rangeland deterioration, suggests a reason
for the recent decline of the yak production in Qinghai from its former
foremost position in China (Gerald, Jiwnlin, & Ruijun,
2006)
In recent years, pastoral farming is becoming socially and economically less
attractive for reasons like, lack of adequate services, inadequate
infrastructure and degrading quality of pastures due to over grazing both by
domestic animals and wildlife. In addition, due to difficult living conditions
and minimal development services, members of rangeland communities are
increasingly migrating to lowlands, in search of better economic opportunities
and employment. Such trends are undesirable and may lead to extinction of yak
farming as a livelihood option. (Department Of Livestock, 2009)
Policy
implications are also high in Bhutan. Herders had customary grazing rights over
traditional grazing areas prior to land act 2007, however with implementation
of land act 2007, all the pasture lands are nationalized (Royal Government of Bhutan, 2007) creating so much ambiguity and worry in the minds of the Bhutanese
people who depend on livestock, which can also be assumed to be the cause for
unwillingness to raise yaks. Other reasons for decrease in yak population are
FMD (foot & mouth disease) incidence, and attack by wolf, yearly slaughter
of adult yaks for meat for their lochoe and sale of adult yaks
for meat in Paro and Thimphu towns during winter (Jamtsho,
1996).
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