Abstract: Panel: « Today’s mobile pastoralism in Kazakhstan »
ESCAS (European Society for Central Asian Studies) XIII conference (Astana, 5th-6th August 2013) 'The Steppe and the Sown'
« One example/case of today’s mobile pastoralism in South-Eastern Kazakhstan »
Nomadic pastoralism has long been the main activity among the Kazakhs, who have been seen as “typical steppe nomads”. In fact, even at the end of the XIXth century, the Kazakhs already practised various forms of nomadic pastoralism, sometimes combined with agriculture, and only a minority of them were “pure nomads” without fixed settlement and all-year long mobility. The majority stayed several months at the same place in winter (qystau). Kazakh nomadic itineraries were either latitudinal (mainly from South in winter to North in summer), which were the longest ones, either altitudinal (from lower to higher altitudes in summer), exploiting the natural diversity of pastures and water supply. Kazakh husbandry is traditionally plurispecific (sheep, goats, cattle, horses and camels), the proportion of each species depending on the region and on individual wealth.
In the XXth century, Kazakh pastoralism has endured repeated severe crises: a firstly progressive (in Tsarist times) and afterwards brutal (in the 1930’s) forced settlement, linked with the collectivization of stock which induced a dramatic famine; in the 1990’s, a decollectivization which also led to severe decrease of livestock and reduced mobility. Nowadays the Kazakhs are no longer nomads.
Nevertheless since 2000 husbandry has been partially restored in Kazakhstan, stock numbers have increased, stimulating livestock mobility at least for the richest farmers and utilization of remote pastures, as far as the new conditions allow it. This panel aims to show a few examples of this reinvention of Kazakh mobile pastoralism, the reasons that favour its development and the problems it faces.
We think it could be interesting to examine this topic from various points of view and disciplines. So this panel will cross different disciplines (social anthropology and agricultural sciences) and experts from different fields and countries (Central Asia and Europe).
Carole FERRET
“Transhumance in South-Eastern Kazakhstan”
Carole Ferret has led field research in Kazakhstan since 1994. In 2012 she took part in a transhumance in the district of Raiymbek, South- Eastern Kazakhstan.
In this mountainous district, vertical nomadism takes advantage of the altitudinal variations of vegetation and climate. In the 2000’s, some local farmers took up again with transhumance, which has endured soviet times but almost disappeared in the 1990’s. Shepherds, who sometimes own livestock but are often employees, have two, three or four seasonal places from which they regularly move with herds. In summer, they pass pastoral knowledge and skill on their children which join them on zhaylau.