Practical study on farming development to overcome poverty in livestock farms in Keerqin Sand Land, Inner Mongolia, China

In villages in Keerqin Sand Land, Inner Mongolia, China, desertification ha s been progressing severely for 30-40 years, resulting in poverty of the li vestock farmers. A demonstration study has been carried out to increase the income and raise the villagers' living standard through the prevention of desertification and the development of integrated farming combining animal husbandry and agriculture. Guidance on farm management was given to farmers in 5 model farms. In addition, Japanese voluntary helpers (JVH) have attem pted to fix the moving sand dunes in close collaboration with the villagers to motivate the farmers to promote afforestation. Results of surveys on th e development of these model farms and the effects of JVH work are as follo ws: 1) Development of model farms Effects of fences on model farms were so remarkable for controlling overgrazing that farmers harvested a large amoun t of hay. Since the production of maize, soybeans and rice with irrigation was successful, farmers obtained a high yield of grain which was consumed i n their homes, sold to the market or used as feed for the animals. Conseque ntly, the income of the model farmers was 3-5 times higher than that of the average village farmers. 2) Collaboration for the establishment of the "vi llage forests" Collaboration was extended for the establishment of village forests, which were completed in 1998, and planting of apricot gardens bega n in 1999. 3) New land use system Reform on the land use system was promote d to utilize pastures collectively. It is considered that the collaboration extended by the authors and JVH based on a farmer participatory system con tributed to village development by fostering a "self-help" approach among t he farmers. Strategies to prevent desertification and for rural development are presented.