Afghanistan's Kuchi Pastoralists: Change and Adaptation

Abstract

Afghanistan's nomadic peoples are now either migratory and livestock-dependent pastoralists or recently settled but formerly migratory pastoralists, who still hold on to the cultural identity and refer to themselves as kuchi. Radical changes in both summer and winter pastures have taken place over the last centuries, and currently the pastoralists' access to the summer pastures in the central highlands is compromised. Customary mechanisms had come into existence over the last century, and still function in certain areas. However, in large areas, and in particular those where issues of grazing rights have become heavily politicized and strongly associated with ethnic identity, there is a high level of conflict over these user's rights, which have often proven to be inflammable. There are large differences in migration patterns and livelihood strategies between the pastoralists of the different regions. Income derived from livestock production is often supplemented by other income sources, like harvesting and casual labour, but also through the purchase of agricultural land. In recent years, an increased diversification of household income and a move towards a more semi-migratory lifestyle has taken place. Pastoralists still do make an important contribution to Afghanistan's national economy, as they did in the past (35 per cent of all exports were from livestock products). Recent estimates indicate that there around 2.5 million kuchi, of which 1.5 million are still migratory pastoralists and one million are currently not migratory and are former pastoralists. The drought of 1999 to 2004 severely affected pastoralist livelihoods and livestock numbers plummeted. Estimates on livestock numbers indicate that in the north they started reaching their pre-war levels, whereas the south and the east are still lagging behind. It has been estimated that kuchi own around 30 to 50 per cent of the national herd.