Pasture User Union meeting in Tajikistan (Margaux Thain)

Pasture User Union (Tadjikistan)

Jamiyati charogoh istifobarandagon

Description

Livestock holders at village level join a pasture user union to access different rights provided under the national law "About pastures" passed in 2013. Among others, the Paster User Unions (PUUs) are able to obtain onwership of a communal collective pasture land, have the right to collect fees to improve the pasture and balance livestock and available fodder amounts in the watershed areas.

The Pasture User Union (PUU) is the legal entity at village-level to implement the law "About pastures" passed on 19th of March 2013.

All households of a village are represented by one female and one male representative in the union. At the general assembly, 11 people are selected as governing body of the union. The union is entitled to:
- receive a land certificate for communal collective daily pastures nearby the village as well as more distant summer pastures
- collect fees according to a system they can decide at their general assembly (in the study case the fees were based on heads of animals)
- can use collected fees to improve the pastures of the village
- can represent villager’s interests when it comes to land use conflicts related to pasture and livestock

The Pasture User Unions have the obligation to:
- pay taxes to the land use committee
- sustainably use their pasture land

Pasture User Unions were trained by SLM specialists from Caritas Switzerland on a series of technologies to improve their pasture land. Relevant technologies consist of rotational grazing, water points in pasture areas, calculation of bearing capacities, implementation of contour lines plantations etc. All these technologies aim at a sustainable use of the land, that result in increased vegetation cover, increased infiltration of water, and reduced erosion, degradation and mass movements/landslides.

As one of the only functioning structures at village-level, with access to resources, the pasture user unions take lead during disasters and emergencies. Pasture User Unions have for example evacuated animals during flood events in a collective manner. They have also organized a “Hashar” i.e. a collective voluntary work to clean the flood channels crossing their village. The longer term impact of pasture unions both at watershed level with improved pasure management and at village level with improved preparedness is yet difficult to assess.

Lieu

Lieu: Muminabad, Khatlon, Tadjikistan

Géo-référence des sites sélectionnés
  • 70.03372, 38.0935

Date de démarrage: 2013

Année de fin de l'Approche: sans objet

Type d'Approche
Watershed degratation and loss of vegetation cover by overgrazing and trampling of animals. Pasture User Unions regulate grazing to reduce and halt land degradation, for example by keeping animals on slopes on defined paths to the pastures to reduce destruction of vegetation by trampling. (Fazila Beknazarova )
Small scale landslide triggered by heavy rains and combined with loss of vegetation cover due to deforestation and overgrazing. (Fazila Beknazarova )

Objectifs de l'approche et environnement favorable

Principaux objectifs de l'Approche
Enhance rights and profit of livestock onwers at the community level
Conditions favorisant la mise en oeuvre de la/(des) Technologie(s) appliquée(s) sous l'Approche
  • Disponibilité/ accès aux ressources et services financiers: as juridical person (i.e. pasture user union) services can be accessed for example credits. Projects can thus cooperate with the Pasture User Unions and receive resources.
  • Collaboration/ coordination des acteurs: Bringing together of people facilitates collective action, especially that related to communal work such as cleaning of flood channels
  • Cadre juridique (régime foncier, droits d'utilisation des terres et de l'eau): Based on the pasture law passed, a series of rights are given to pasture user unions
  • Gouvernance foncière (prise de décisions, mise en œuvre et application des décisions): Paster user unions are responsible for managing land governance and land user conflicts
Conditions entravant la mise en oeuvre de la/(des) Technologie(s) appliquée(s) sous l'Approche
  • Cadre juridique (régime foncier, droits d'utilisation des terres et de l'eau): Missing legal frameworks in neighbouring countries can be an obstacle.

Participation et rôles des parties prenantes impliquées dans l'Approche

Parties prenantes impliquées dans l'Approche et rôles
Quels acteurs/ organismes d'exécution ont été impliqués dans l'Approche? Spécifiez les parties prenantes Décrivez le rôle des parties prenantes
exploitants locaux des terres / communautés locales PUU are composed by maximum 2 representatives of each household of the community - the PUU should be composed by 50% women and 50% men. Out of those community representatives 11 people are elected as the governing body of the PUU (the women's quota should be at least at 30%).
Spécialistes de la GDT/ conseillers agricoles Private sector rural advisory services provide support to pasture improvements. Veterinary services enhance animal health. Rural advisory service is available at the district level and supports farmers and farmer groups with payable advise on agricultural questions. Veterinary services are availible at district level on demand, they provide vaccination and treatment for animals.
ONG Supports the capacity building of the union by trainings and non payable rural advisory services as well as awareness raising on legal situation. Regular visits to the management board of the PUU as well as open door for questions by PUU.
gouvernement national (planificateurs, décideurs) Guarantees the fulfilment of rights provided in the law "About pastures"
Organisme chef de file
The lead is with the local land users
Participation des exploitants locaux des terres/ communautés locales aux différentes phases de l'Approche
aucun
passive
soutien extérieur
interactive
auto-mobilisation
initiation/ motivation
originally technologies to improve the use of pastures were introduced by Caritas Switzerland, which helped the farmers to organise in livestock committees.
planification
Caritas and livestock commitee members were involved in developing and passing the law "about pasture" in Tajkistan to ensure the protection of community pastures.
mise en œuvre
Implementation is entirely in the hands of the unions.
suivi/ évaluation
Monitoring is entirely in the hands of the unions.
Diagramme/ organigramme

Muminabad Pasture User Union organogram

Auteur : Sa'dy Odinashoev
Prises de décision pour la sélection de la Technologie de GDT

Les décisions ont été prises par

  • les exploitants des terres seuls (auto-initiative)
  • principalement les exploitants des terres soutenus par des spécialistes de la GDT
  • tous les acteurs concernés dans le cadre d'une approche participative
  • principalement les spécialistes de la GDT, après consultation des exploitants des terres
  • les spécialistes de la GDT seuls
  • les responsables politiques/ dirigeants

Les décisions ont été prises sur la base de

  • l'évaluation de connaissances bien documentées en matière de GDT (prises de décision fondées sur des preuves tangibles)?
  • les résultats de recherches?
  • expériences et opinions personnelles (non documentées)

Soutien technique, renforcement des capacités et gestion des connaissances

Les activités ou services suivants ont fait partie de l'approche
Renforcement des capacités/ formation
La formation a été dispensée aux parties prenantes suivantes
  • exploitants des terres
  • personnels/ conseillers de terrain
Formats de la formation
  • sur le tas
  • entre agriculteurs (d'exploitants à exploitants)
  • zones de démonstration
  • réunions publiques
  • cours
Sujets abordés

Awareness raising of livestock onwers on bearing capacities of pastures;
Facilitation of introduciton of rotational grazing system of spring, summer and autumn pastures. Skills training for hearders including identifiation when pasture is ready for grazing (i.e. good herbs arelady have reproduced seeds).
Training of farmers in the PUU in cultivation of fodder crops (Aflaalfa, esparcettes, etc)

Service de conseils
Le service de conseils était fourni
  • dans les champs des exploitants?
  • dans des centres permanents
NGO services helped to set up the pasture management system by facilitation of process through visual aids like watershed maps showing soil quality, slope gradients, vegetation cover, etc. Together with the number of animals in the community and the fodder needs of the community was established and guided the discussion to identify pastures, define rotational schemes, identify potential options of water points on daily pastures, identify arable land to cultivate fodder, identify and demarcation of roads for herds to reach daily pastures.
Renforcement des institutions
Institutions ont été renforcées ou mises en place
  • non
  • oui, un peu
  • oui, modérément
  • oui, beaucoup
au niveau suivant
  • local
  • régional
  • national
Décrivez l'institution, ses rôles et responsabilités, ses membres, etc.
While the institutions are local and at the municipal level, the law is established at the national level.
Type de soutien
  • financier
  • renforcement des capacités/ formation
  • équipement
  • legal advice
Plus de détails
Mainly technical trainings on pasture management as well as legal how to apply and register pasture land for the use by the PUU
Suivi et évaluation
Yes pastures conditions are monitored twice a year by PUU

Financement et soutien matériel externe

Budget annuel en dollars US de la composante GDT
  • < 2 000
  • 2 000-10 000
  • 10 000-100 000
  • 100 000-1 000 000
  • > 1 000 000
Precise annual budget: 1000.0
Collection of fees per head of livestock
Les services ou mesures incitatives suivantes ont été fournis aux exploitants des terres
  • Soutiens financiers/ matériels fournis aux exploitants des terres
  • Subventions pour des intrants spécifiques
  • Crédits
  • Autres incitations ou instruments
Soutiens financiers/ matériels fournis aux exploitants des terres
The PUU as one of the only juridical person at grassroot level is a preferred partner in the implementation of larger projects of International NGOs and UN. For example the PUU in Muminabad district recieved a much higher share of agricultural machinery from an IFAD project than other districts in the proejct area, as the PUU gauranteed a collective ownership, which is more efficient than a single ownership for an agricultural machinery.
en partie financé
entièrement financé
water points

Construction materials of water points were funded.

La main d'oeuvre fournie par les exploitants des terres était

Autres incitations ou instruments

Policies and regulations to provide incentives to create PUUs

Analyses d'impact et conclusions

Impacts de l'Approche
Non
Oui, un peu
Oui, modérément
Oui, beaucoup
Est-ce que l'Approche a permis la prise de décisions fondées sur des données probantes?

Watershed maps were used as powerful visiual tool to identify pastures and rotational grazing schemes

Est-ce que l'Approche a aidé les exploitants des terres à mettre en œuvre et entretenir les Technologies de GDT?

Working together as a legally recognized Union empowers people and help to share the work that otherwise is assumed by livestock owners alone.

Est-ce que l'Approche a amélioré la coordination et la mise en œuvre de la GDT selon un bon rapport coût-efficacité?

Which technologies are used, is decided at the union level and not a household level, which pasture land can be used by the village is decided at naitonal level and guaranteed for long term use

Est-ce que l'Approche a mobilisé/ amélioré l'accès aux ressources financières pour la mise en œuvre de la GDT?

The PUU as juridical person has access to different services and benefits e.g. PUU were beneficiaries of a IFAD donation of agricultural machinery

Est-ce que l'Approche a amélioré les connaissances et les capacités des exploitants des terres pour mettre en œuvre la GDT?

Trainings were provided to the stakeholders

Est-ce que l'Approche a construit/ renforcé les institutions, la collaboration entre parties prenantes?

There is a regular exchange forum between state and pasture user unions at provincial and national level

Est-ce que l'Approche a atténué les conflits?

One of the functions of the unions is to mitigate land user conflicts, but more time is needed to assess its efficiency for this function.

Est-ce que l'Approche a amélioré l'égalité entre hommes et femmes et autonomisé les femmes et les filles?

by a quota of 50% women in the union, beyond this not further training is provided to women

Est-ce que l'Approche a amélioré les questions foncières et des droits d'utilisation qui entravent la mise en œuvre des Technologies?

The PUU is the key to fulfill the rights of communal pasture land certified by the state

Est-ce que l'Approche a conduit à améliorer la sécurité alimentaire et/ou la nutrition?

An estimated increase of income of 50% by appliying the different technologies connected to the approach

Est-ce que l'Approche a conduit à améliorer l'accès à l'eau et l'assainissement?

For aninmals on pastures

Est-ce que l'Approche a conduit à des emplois, des opportunités de revenus?

Single jobs as herdsmen are created and substantial increase in income is generated by healthier animals (more milk, more meat)

Principale motivation des exploitants des terres pour mettre en oeuvre la GDT
  • augmenter la production
  • augmenter la rentabilité/ bénéfice, rapport coûts-bénéfices
  • réduire la dégradation des terres
  • réduire les risques de catastrophe
  • réduire la charge de travail
  • paiements/ subventions
  • règles et règlements (amendes)/ application
  • prestige, pression sociale/ cohésion sociale
  • affiliation à un mouvement/ projet/ groupe/ réseaux
  • conscience environnementale
  • coutumes et croyances, morale
  • améliorer les connaissances et compétences en GDT
  • améliorer l'esthétique
  • atténuer les conflits
Durabilité des activités de l'Approche
Les exploitants des terres peuvent-ils poursuivre ce qui a été mis en oeuvre par le biais de l'Approche (sans soutien extérieur) ?
  • non
  • oui
  • incertain

As the PUU has become a juridical person for governing pastures in Tajikistan, including the right to collect money and obliation to pay taxes, it is highly likely that the approach will be sustainable. Social and economical benefits in beeing organized as a PUU clearly overweight negtaive aspects like spending time for meetings.

Conclusions et enseignements tirés

Points forts: point de vue de l'exploitant des terres
  • Increase in productivity (milk and meat) and reproduction of animals (offsprings)
  • PUU members gain the right to have collective land tenure guaranteed for long term (99 years) by the state of Tajiksitan.
Points forts: point de vue du compilateur ou d'une autre personne-ressource clé
  • The PUU is entitled by the law "About pastures" to act on behalf of the community related to all pasture issues.
  • Enhances the implementation and governance of technologies to improve the pasture management.
  • Being part of the judiciary, PUU provides multiple benefits to the community i.e. having a own account, having the right to collect fees and has the obligation to pay taxes,
  • Improved pasture management reduces downstream risks (floods, erosion), land degradation and enhances longer term soil fertility
Faiblesses/ inconvénients/ risques: point de vue de l'exploitant des terrescomment surmonter
  • There is not enough food/dairy processing equipment to maximize benefit from milk, meat, and wool. Need to establish a functioning cold chain for the different diary products. Get more project support
Faiblesses/ inconvénients/ risques: point de vue du compilateur ou d'une autre personne-ressource clécomment surmonter
  • Given the success of the approach, the price of meat has decreased in the market (from 30 Somoni to 25 Somoni for 1 kg of beef). This provides a low value for livestock produce to farmers. Move from quantity to quality of produce. Improve food processing standards in the local market.
  • Provide incentives to reduce livestock numbers in the watershed by diversifying farmer income such as increasing milk and meat productivity. Stall feeding, improved breeds, zero grazing etc.

Références

Compilateur
  • Boris Orlowsky
Editors
  • Sa'dy Odinashoev
  • Nicole Stolz
Examinateur
  • Alvin Chandra
  • Alexandra Gavilano
Date de mise en oeuvre: 13 octobre 2016
Dernière mise à jour: 30 octobre 2017
Personnes-ressources
Description complète dans la base de données WOCAT
Données de GDT correspondantes
La documentation a été facilitée par
Institution Projet
Références clés
  • n/a:
Liens vers des informations pertinentes disponibles en ligne
This work is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareaAlike 4.0 International