Prospects for Pastoralism in Kazakstan and Turkmenistan: From State Farms to Private Flocks

Pastoralism has an ancient heritage in the vast natural pastures of Central Asia. These pastoral systems were profoundly altered after the incorporation of Kazakstan and Turkmenistan into the Soviet Union. Pastoralists were collectivized into state farms, building an industrialized nomadism, which was highly productive while preserving elements of the pastoral systems. Independence from the Soviet Union then brought new policies, which reorganized the state farms and removed state support in what has been termed the 'second revolution'. This collection traces how pastoralists have coped with the challenge of change in a part of the world with a long-tradition of livestock keeping. Their precarious position-balanced between a market system where only the fittest may survive, and their attempt to remain a human resource for the future development of the natural pastures and livestock industry-is carefully and critically examined by the contributors. The pastoralists' unique skill at managing livestock in avariable and challenging environment, and their ability to supply commodities much in demand mean that an understanding of their societal position is essential for anyone interested in transition in the former Soviet Union.