Development of methodology for mountainous farming systems classification: Case study of Tien Shan Mountains, Kyrgyzstan

Azamat Azarov, MBA

Disertační práce

Abstract:

The objective of this doctoral thesis was to develop an appropriate and robust classification methodology of the prevailing farming systems in south-western and central Tien Shan mountains as well as to fill the gap of missing information on the socioeconomic status of farms by creating a new farm typology. Another objective was to simulate the impact that Kyrgyzstan’s accession to the EAEU (Eurasian Economic Union) may have on the income of identified smallholder farms. Data were collected in two rural regions in the south-western and central parts of the country, which we have conditionally divided because of the differences in agricultural production and livelihoods due to the complex topography and climate. Thus, 220 farm-households in three villages in the south-western study site and 235 farm households central Tien Shan study site were surveyed. Quantitative farm level data on the organization and economic performance of smallholder farms were collected in structured questionnaires. These data were assessed by two multivariate methods to create robust farm typologies based on principal component analysis (PCA) and cluster analysis. Then a t-test and analysis of variance were used to compare the means of independent groups to determine whether there is statistical evidence that the respective population means differ significantly. Since we conducted the analysis in two different conventionally divided research regions separately, our analysis identified five distinct farming systems throughout the study areas. In the south-western Tien Shan site, three distinct silvopastoral farming systems were delineated based on classification variables associated with sources of income and livelihood strategies in which farmers collection and selling of non-timber forest products (NTFPs) was important, but also included: (i) relatively high NTFP income, medium-size livestock herds, and low off-farm income; (ii) moderate NTFP income, large livestock herds, and high off-farm income; and (iii) low NTFP income, small herds, and moderate off-farm income. In central Tien Shan, two distinct mixed crop-livestock farming systems were identified based on their socioeconomic and agroecological characteristics: (i) upper jailoo farms (UJF), high-elevation mountain ranges between 2000–2400 m, based on fodder and livestock production and characterized by a short pasturing period and low off-farm income; and (ii) lower jailoo farms (LJF), mid-elevation mountain ranges between 1500–2000 m, based on crop and livestock production with comparatively longer pasturing periods and moderate off-farm income. Recommendations to support agricultural development and sustainability in these farming systems are presented based on technological advances and production. Specific recommendations are provided to increase sustainability for each type of farm system. In general, improving the forage base for livestock and improving grazing management in forests and pastures are relevant for all types to conserve and sustainably use forests and pastures. In the case of silvopastoral groups, value-added processing of NTFPs and contributions from off-farm activities, such as tourism, are necessary. For crop-livestock farming systems, improvement of irrigation systems and more advanced cultivation of fodder crops is necessary to reduce the pressure on pastures. Our classification methodology has distinct advantages over traditional typologies based on farm size and legal status because the latter does not consider diversity among size classes and do not include agroecological conditions as well as the socio-economic status of the farms. These findings can benefit policymakers and development practitioners in efforts to promote rural development of mountain regions that will help alleviate current socio-economic disparities. This classification approach can be adopted for application in similar mountain regions.

Keywords

Farming systems economy, pasture and forest degradation, Central Asia, silvopastoral and agropastoral production, cluster analysis

Jazyk práce: angličtina

Datum vytvoření / odevzdání či podání práce: 8. 6. 2023

Obhajoba závěrečné práce

• Vedoucí: doc. Ing. Zbyněk Polesný, Ph.D.
• Oponent: Tomáš Ratinger, doc. Dr. RNDr., Martin Schlossarek, externi, Dietrich Schmidt-Vogt, externi

Česká zemědělská univerzita v Praze

Fakulta tropického zemědělství

Doktorský studijní program / obor:
Zemědělská specializace / Sustainable Rural Development in TS