Micro Farms Project Tibet Nomads

Micro Farms Project - Tibet

The area we are using for this example Microfarm in in Tibet, and it is a farm for nomads who now graze their Yaks in the hillsides. The people are the Pumi of Sichuan (Poo-mee)

According to Coralee, our Tibet project coodinator, this area may not be on the map, An area called Muli. The area is about a 2 day walk from Muli City north, and area called Sholo. This is an area which is a transitional zone with herders and farmers.

Altitude ranges from 14000 to 17000 ft. Sichuan Province

Design resources for this project
China Red soil
Lucerne for grazing

Yaks are ruminants - very much like cattle in that respect.

Question from Coralee to Peggy: if we are successful in growing the hydroponic forage, could it dried and then maybe be compressed , vacuum sealed or what ever so it could be stored? I have not looked into it much but have seem or heard of compressed hay bales that we send to China I don't want the feed pellets - they cause choking in animals - if this would work, we could grow it at the lower elevations, store it and then package it in compressed stare that would be transportable

Peggy's reply: We can grow hydroponic forage for the Yak, by sprouting seeds and then having them eat the young grasses, but we can also fertigate a field of legumes and then dry that. As an example, Uzi from Israel says they have a site in Africa getting 100 tons of corn from a single hectare under fertigation. The silage or leaves and corn stock could be dried and used later. Peggy is asking Coralee to characterize the nomads diet: Seems primary need other than meat products is barley, some dried radish or cabbage. How much is animal products and how much meat in the diet.
Nomad Diet

Coralee expresses concern that the area might not be degraded: I don't know if the area I want to work will have "degraded" soil - I think most likely it will just be very poor soil - some of that area really looks like moon scape - also - let me know anything I might now know to think about - for example - could the farm be above the tree line in elevation?? maybe just some more details from you re what we need. - ie - worms probably don't do cold too well! maybe tell me what the highest elevation is where the farm could work.

Peggy's reply: Yes the worms need to be kept warm in the winter. The soils, if they are being used for intensive grazing could have degraded areas. There are landsat photos that can show that pretty clearly.
A nomad camp
Yak hair tent
Drokpa
Chinese Culture Online

According to the research I have done the Tibetan in Muli are classed as Pumi - this is a Chinese site - tells some of ag practices - never know how similar these facts are to the area where we want to go - no mention of yaks so much lower in alt - yak do not live below 1000 ft
Tibet Information

Coralee expresses concern about changing peoples habits.

Peggy responds: As far as habits go. The FAO page is a good one about giving people an alternative. There are many problems now in the traditional agriculture practices and especially the limitations. There are many things we can do to change their opportunities.
Tibet Qinghai-Tibet Plateu

Gymnosprems of Sichuan

Muli, Sichuan

FAO Pasture Resources

Photos some of Muli,Sichuan Province
China change in Nomad to farmer