Impacts on Mixed Mountain Agriculture in the Rupal Valley, Nanga Parbat, Northern Pakistan Author(s): Marcus Nüsser and Jürgen Clemens Source: Mountain Research and Development, Vol. 16, No. 2 (May, 1996), pp. 117-133 Published by: International Mountain Society Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/3674006 Accessed: 14-04-2015 21:22 UTC REFERENCES Linked references are available on JSTOR for this article: http://www.jstor.org/stable/3674006?seq=1&cid=pdf-reference#references_tab_contents You may need to log in to JSTOR to access the linked references. Your use of the JSTOR archive indicates your acceptance of the Terms & Conditions of Use, available at http://www.jstor.org/page/info/about/policies/terms.jsp JSTOR is a not-for-profit service that helps scholars, researchers, and students discover, use, and build upon a wide range of content in a trusted digital archive. We use information technology and tools to increase productivity and facilitate new forms of scholarship. For more information about JSTOR, please contact [email protected]. International Mountain Society is collaborating with JSTOR to digitize, preserve and extend access to Mountain Research and Development. http://www.jstor.org This content downloaded from 129.206.86.242 on Tue, 14 Apr 2015 21:22:29 UTC All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions MOUNTAIN RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, VOL. 16, NO. 2, 1996, PP. 117-133 IMPACTSON MIXEDMOUNTAIN AGRICULTURE INTHE RUPAL VALLEY, NANGAPARBAT, NORTHERN PAKISTAN MARCUS NOSSER1 AND JURGEN CLEMENS2 ABSTRACT In the Hindukush,Karakorum, and northwestHimalaya the struggle for subsistence by mountain farmers is based on agricultureand animal husbandryin the formof mixedmountain agriculture. This studyanalyses the seasonal pastoralmigrations to alpine pasturesas a strategyfor utilizing the naturalresources in theRupal Valley,south of Nanga Parbat(8,126 m). Traditionally,this strategy of resourcemanagement was sustainable,but increasesof populationand livestockas wellas external innovationsare rapidlyeffecting change throughoutthe region.However, the resultsof thisdevelopment vary according to the potentialfor off-farm employment and accessto modeminfrastructure in each valley.In Hunza,approximately 100 kmnorth of Rupal, theutilization of alpine pasturesdecreased following a significantreduction of themale workforce and, afterthe introduction of cash cropsand foddercultivation, cropping patterns changed. Agriculturein theRupal Valleyduring the last 20 yearsis characterizedby an increasein animalhusbandry and pastoralmovements. Althoughthere is also off-farmemployment, itis morelikely that animal husbandry will remain an importantpart of theagro-pastoral economyand thereis potentialfor its commercialization. sur mixtede montagnedans la de Rupal, Nanga Parbat,Pakistan du nord.Dans l'Hindoukush, RISUMt Impacts 1'agriculture vallie Karakorumet l'Himalayadu nord-ouest,la luttepour la subsistancedes fermiersde montagneest basee surl'agriculture et I'ilevage, sous la formed'une agriculturemixte de montagne.Cette etude analyseles migrationspastorales saisonnieres en tantque strategie d'utilisationdes ressourcesnaturelles de la vallee de Rupal,au sud du Nanga Parbat(8 126 m). Cette strategiede gestiondes ressources&tait viable dans le passe,mais la croissancede la populationet du betail,ainsi que le prograsf l'extbrieur,ont entrainedes changementsrapides dans la region.Cependant, les r'sultatsde ce developpementvarient selon le potentield'emploi non ruralet I'acces a l'infrastructuremoderne de chaque vallee.Dans l'Hunza, faenviron 100 kmau nordde Rupal, I'utilisationdes pituragesalpins a diminuepar suited'une reductionimportante de la main-d'oeuvremile, et les modes de cultureont change apres l'introductionde culturescommerciales et de la culturedu fourrage. L'agriculturedans la vall*e de Rupal au coursdes 20 dernieresannees est caract&ris6epar une augmentationde l'6levagedes animauxet des deplacementspastoraux. Bien qu'un l'emploinon ruralexiste, il estprobable que l'6levagedes animauxcontinuera a tenirune place importantedans l'&conomieagro-pastorale et qu'un potentielexiste pour sa commercialisation. ZUSAMMENFASSUNG Einfliisseauf die Hochgebirgslandwirtschaft imRupal-Ta4 Nanga Parbat, Nordpakistan. Autochthone Handlungsstrate- gien zur Existenzsicherungim Hochgebirgsraumvon Hindukusch,Karakorum und Nordwest-Himalayakombinieren den Bewasse- rungsfeldbauauf Talniveau mit almwirtschaftlicherNutzung alpiner Hochweiden.Dieser Beitraguntersucht die Formender Hochgebirgslandwirtschaftund ihrejiingere Entwicklung im Rupal-Tal,siidlich des Nanga Parbat(8126 m). Die traditionelleHochgebirgslandwirtschaft hat bislangeine nachhaltigeNutzung der natiirlichenRessourcen gewdhrleistet. Bev61lkerungswachstumund die Zunahmeder Viehbestinde sind typisch ffir den gesamtenHochgebirgsraum. Doch in Abhfingigkeit von der M6glichkeitzu auf3eragrarerErwerbstfitigkeit zeigen sich verschiedene Verinderungen. In Hunza (etwa100 kmn6rdlich von Rupal) erfolgteein Rfickgangder Hochweidenutzunginfolge einer Arbeitskraftverknappung sowie verfinderter Anbauschwerpunkte durchmarktorientierten Anbau und Futterbauwirtschaft. Im Rupal-Talist ffir die vergangenen20 Jahrejedoch eine zunehmendeBedeutung von Tierhaltung und Almwirtschaftfestzustellen. Trotzder einsetzendenauBeragraren Einkommensm6glichkeiten wird die Viehwirtschafthier auch weiterhineine hohe Bedeutung behalten,zumal noch Potentialezur marktorientiertenViehhaltung erschlossen werden k6nnen. INTRODUCTION This studypresents a detailed surveyof the systemof akorum the utilization of alpine pastures forms an in- animal husbandryand grazingresources in the Rupal tegral part of high mountain agriculture. The ecological Valley,a side valley of the AstorValley in the Nanga potential and limitations of the summer and transitional Parbatarea of thenorthwestern Himalaya (Figure 1). The pastures, shortages of winterfodder, and socioeconomic adaptivestrategies of mountainfarmers and thecarrying impacts are factors that affectland use. capacityof the land are analyzedin termsof the use of The central concern throughout the Himalaya is the alpine pastures.In the Hindukush,Himalaya, and Kar- threatto montane forestresources fromoverexploitation IDepartmentof Geography,The Free Universityof Berlin,Grunewaldstrasse 35, D-12165 Berlin,Germany. 2Departmentof Geography,University of Bonn, MeckenheimerAllee 166, D-53115 Bonn, Germany. ? International Mountain Society and United Nations University This content downloaded from 129.206.86.242 on Tue, 14 Apr 2015 21:22:29 UTC All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions 118 / MOUNTAIN RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT A generalview of theNanga Parbat region showing the upper Zaikot Valley. All photo- graphsare by M. Nfisser. and subsequenteffects on theneighboring lowlands. This There have been fewscientific studies based on synop- regionhas been thefocus of muchenvironmental discus- ticaspects of theNanga Parbatregion. There is a remark- sion and manydevelopment projects; however, it has been able gap of knowledge in the relationship between suggestedthat frequently studies have been based upon human activitiesand the biosphere.In the 1930s some false assumptionsand inaccurate estimatesdue to in- well-knownstudies of physical geography were carried out sufficientknowledge of local conditions(Ives and Mes- withinthe framework of mountaineeringexpeditions to serli, 1989; Kreutzmann,1993 b: 10-15). However,the Nanga Parbat.To thisday, the 1934 topographicsurvey by ecological aspects of high pastureshave receivedvery Finsterwalderand Raechl (Finsterwalderet al., 1935 a, b) littleattention. and the 1937 vegetationsurvey by Troll (1939), which This content downloaded from 129.206.86.242 on Tue, 14 Apr 2015 21:22:29 UTC All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions Mixed Mountain 5 Agriculturee 4450 in the Rupal Valley 6 (NW-Himalaya) oo 0 1 2 3 4 5 km Sources: Kartader Nanga Parbat-Gruppe, 1:50.000R Deutsche Himalaya Expedition,1934 397 KFA-1000Satellite-Data; 11.7.1988 gometrical rectified 4004 Own Survey, 1992 & 1993 Draft,1994: J. Clemens & 60 M. NOsser .35.15'. Cartography:J. Clemens 35*15' - -3310 4270 m npur* 2577 3982 - -P ano3982aP . [m] PermanentSettlements So4ooo 3982 AltitudeContourline[m] - Nucleated , .... Pass Settlement o, o-0--0 Glacier: V 11 Dispersed .3580 I -Ice/Snow-covered Settlement .. -2oc Sa isonal Settlements: C: Up" " S 4233 ? -Debris-coverederce , -With River OnlyPasturesCultivation to ....... Lake, zCo _ i o- IrrigatedFields - Deserted 310'N 043D472 Jeeproad atii 435o10 4839 SFootpth [111. of peditions/ x 17440' Bridge 'BasecemaCamps Lt'0 FIGURE1. The the cultivated area n/ Rupal Valleyshowing (i.e., irrigated) and thelocation of seasonalsettlements in relationto the permanentvillages. tm1 z(A NN ?.D This content downloaded from 129.206.86.242 on Tue, 14 Apr 2015 21:22:29 UTC All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions 120 / MOUNTAIN RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT 'Usks kistan(.'t7Oq-< 81 :MV131MI'm aplis a ?-:x::x...........lNEP Aghanistan, I.:~NXMM.-?-.-NE.M.......M-M-MMM-.... ... ... .... .. NER ....... .... ....i::M M ::- .... M.N NJ~?? Townnhaitans>25000 37f......... ....k 0 K O M........... WO N Pakistan VrrPass' ittnLie1'1ouAlteN.ro 100 m Tereresetatin otncesaiyofintenatinaluhoiatvIndia FIGURE 2. The locationof the re- searcharea. During the period of Britishcontrol, the Astor Valley pro- videda routethrough the mountains betweenSrinagar and Gilgit; after partitionof the subcontinent in 1947, thesetraditional communication lineswere interrupted; more recently