Archive for October, 2023

Winter Preparation & Feed Management | Field Research

Posted by Katy Edwards

In collaboration with Agricultural Master’s student Alina Haus, from the University of Göttingen in Germany, the SFA initiated a study around the winter preparation and feeding management of certified herder cooperatives. In the summer of 2022, low precipitation rates and the ongoing increase of inflation impeded the usual winter and feed preparation of herders, such as harvesting hay and purchasing concentrated feed. Therefore, this study was carried out to explore opportunities to improve support to affected households and improve the winter preparation for upcoming winters at the herder cooperative level.

The study encompassed four cooperatives and their herder members across two study regions (Galuut Sum in Bayankhongor Aimag and Khulunbuir Sum in Dornod Aimag), who differed in the degradation status of the rangeland. In sum, a total of 21 households were interviewed, two focus group discussions were organized, and a total of 52 feed samples that were collected from state emergency fodder banks and herders were analyzed in the lab to assess the nutrient quality of the feed.

The interviews encompassed preferences for feeding and the quantities supplied, measures taken in advance to prepare for the winter (e. g., selling livestock before the winter, repair and insulation of the winter shed, etc.), as well as demographic aspects. During the focus group discussions, challenges and obstacles during the winter and feed preparations were discussed with herder cooperative leaders and members. Group work then followed to discuss and develop potential solutions at the cooperative level.

The results reveal that households in Galuut Sum faced great obstacles during the winter and feed preparation, and consequently prepared significantly less hay and other feeds than households in Khulunbuir Sum. Also, collaborative actions were implemented poorly on this site, while the cooperative leaders in Khulunbuir Sum organized communal haying events before the onset of the winter.

In Galuut Sum, financial resources for herders and cooperatives were not accessible, and the high prices for feed and fuel led to the reluctant purchase of feed during the winter. In contrast, sufficient pasture productivity in Khulunbuir Sum allowed herders to prepare in advance for winter challenges, and decent infrastructure enabled herders to acquire wheat bran as feed from local mill companies.

Finally, the discussions with cooperative leaders and herder members revealed great potential to provide support to herders at the cooperative level. For instance, feed bulk orders initiated by the cooperative leader could increase the herders’ leverage in pricing negotiations, and the communal installation of storage for meat and feed could reduce individual costs. Further,  cooperative leaders are in charge for communicating the needs of their members to local government and administration to ensure local policies are being developed to support herders and cooperatives. Nevertheless, skills in organizational management and communication of the cooperative leader are prerequisites for the successful implementation of collaborative activities.

With the help of these outcomes, the SFA will provide support to those herders and cooperative leaders who need assistance in the feed acquisition and winter preparation to increase their resilience to future winter hazards and climate change, to strengthen their capacity to adapt and improve management to overcome natural disasters. The study researcher believes that supporting activities in this direction will undoubtedly be an important measure that will greatly encourage the sustainable operation of cooperatives in the longer term.

SFA Mongolia Conference 2023 | Summary

Posted by Katy Edwards

After the busy seasons of spring and summer for producing cashmere fibre, herders have gathered once again this autumn, on 8 September 2023, for an important branch conference in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia in run up to the international Natural Fibre Connect (NFC) conference.

Bringing together over 150 in-person attendees, the SFA Mongolia Conference included delegates from 57 herder organisations from 41 soums and across 14 provinces in Mongolia. The conference also brought together cashmere processors, researchers, academics, and specialists from the Mongolian government.

The assembly this year was held under the theme of Human-Centred Natural Fibre with a purpose and outcome that herder representatives would share their findings as part of the global NFC conference that was later held in Biella, Italy at the end of September. These herder representatives would be the voice for Mongolian producers and bring herder’s perspectives and valuable input to the discussion from source level.

What made this assembly even more unique was that it was held and organised by the herders themselves with support from the Sustainable Fibre Alliance (SFA), the Association of Nutag Cooperatives – an inter-cooperatives initiative for better representation in the fibre market – and The Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Light Industry of Mongolia (MoFALI). The event has been praised by academics for its successful organisation, meaningful presentations and discussions that were hosted by the cashmere herders.

Presentations and talks were held throughout the day, along with roundtable discussions. Topics that were discussed included:

  • Herding as a profession.
  • Government updates on the sector, policy, and vision.
  • Necessity of collaboration of herder cooperatives.
  • The benefits of practicing “One-Health” – combining health awareness campaigns for herders, animals, and the environment.
  • Capacity-based training.
  • Importance and requirement of developing a combined fibre standard.
  • Developing standards for other fibres, including yak, sheep, and camel.

The core of the conference declared the necessity of a human-centric idea for the sector and the importance of coming together collaboratively as herder cooperatives. Key takeaways focused on discussions regarding standards for herding as a profession, the “One-Health” initiative for the welfare triangle of human-animals-environment and the new generation of herders. As well as good practices of animal husbandry in different animals and the production of natural fibres.

Further, the SFA raised the discussion and held consultations during the conference on the development of standards that branch out into other natural fibres for fibre-producing and supplying. Consultations took place for sheep, yak and camel, and were based on experience from the SFA Cashmere Standard.

Concluding the event was a spirit-lifting highlight of the conference, the Herder Sustainability Awards, a presentation of nominated herders and herder cooperatives celebrating their achievements over the past year. The six main award categories were:

  • Best Cooperative for Quality Improvement
  • Best Producer Organisation for Animal Welfare
  • Best Producer Organisation for Land Management
  • 3 awards for Best Female Herder
  • 4 awards for Best Herder Trainer
  • 4 awards for Best Young Herder

The awards were sponsored and presented by the SFA and SFA brand members, including Scottish-based brands Johnstons of Elgin and Alex Begg, who once again sponsored the Best Young Herder and Best Producer Organisation for Land Management awards, respectively. And the Best Female Herder award was sponsored this year by Mongolian brand Sor Cashmere.

The SFA would like to thank everyone for attending this year’s SFA Mongolia Conference, to all the inspirational speakers and to all our sponsors and supporters. As well as a heartfelt congratulations too the winners of this year’s Herder Sustainability Awards!

Tamir Bud

SFA COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER

11 October 2023