Market Access and Herders' Strategies to Pass through Lean Winter Periods in Post-Soviet Kyrgyzstan

Abstract This study examines the strategies followed by herders to pass their stock through the lean winter period in post-Soviet Kyrgyzstan determined by markets sizes and accessibility. During de-collectivization after independence, animals from collective farms were distributed to families. Support services and facilities such as animal transportation, irrigation infrastructure and fodder imports collapsed. Herders had to adjust to this new situation. The study reviews the current strategies adopted by herders in three villages that differ in access to markets and land use. Results show that big urban markets are impacting the rural areas in its vicinity to diversify cropping and feeding strategies to produce fresh milk, vegetables and fruits to meet the urban demands. To ensure regular supply of milk to urban areas the milking cows are not sent to remote pasture areas in summer and kept at higher plane of nutrition during lean winter periods.