Local responses to too much and too little water in the greater Himalayan region
In the first, animals, mostly cows, are lent to relatives, compels a significant proportion of the male workforce
neighbours or any other household in the village for (skilled and unskilled) to migrate to other areas for
a certain period with an agreement to take care of it, better livelihood opportunities. They migrate out both
the recipient household utilises the products of the lent individually and in groups. Households with limited
animal and returns it when the agreed time finishes. The resources are more willing to migrate.
agreement can be extended with mutual consent. The
second type of lending is called ‘zhawki’ – long-term Social networks play an important role in facilitating the
lending of a young animal in an agreement under which migration process. Migrant communities in Pakistan’s
the recipient household rears the animal and uses the major cities assist new arrivals to get accommodation
products, but returns it once the lent animal gives birth to and jobs. The migrants also help and support each other
a calf, which the recipient household keeps. in case of mishap. Internal lending is a common practice
among the migrants to purchase rations for home, pay
Borrowing fodder – Borrowing fodder and weeding school fees, and arrange travel expenses. Migration
others’ crops for fodder is also popular among poor takes a heavy toll on women as it leads to an increase
households to meet fodder shortages. In addition, in their workload when they have to take over the
women collect wild shrubs to supplement the livestock household chores of the migrant men.
fodder needs.
Seasonal movement of families and herds for water
Pooling and shifting herds – To address the shortage and fodder – The dwellers of Mulkhow practise short-
of fodder, households in Mulkhow shift their cattle to term intra-rural migration to overcome water shortages.
high pastures to graze freely without any caretaker, but In summer, almost half of the dwellers shift their families,
villagers make regular visits to the pasture to check the belongings, and livestock to temporary houses at high
status of animals. Under the traditional system of sotsiri, altitudes. They return to their permanent settlements in
households pool their animals for grazing attended by November.
one or two members of each concerned household on
a rotational basis for agreed periods, mostly daily. A Permanent migration – In addition to seasonal
traditional system called pajal (shepherds) is also intact migration, permanent migration is used as a strategy to
in Mulkhow in which local men or boys are paid in deal with the persistent drought in Mulkhow. Between
kind or cash to graze the animals in high pastures and 1998 and 2008, approximately 195 (10% of total)
protect them from predators at night. households permanently migrated from Mulkhow to
different localities in Chitral. Though men make the final
Modification of livestock breeds – To cope with fodder decision, women play a key role in mobilising and
shortages due to water stress, people in Mulkhow rear convincing their male partner to migrate permanently
local breeds of cattle because they require less feed and settle somewhere else.
due to their small size and are also acclimatised to the
local climatic conditions. Women might shift from goat
to sheep rearing in order to minimise the loss of animals
Factors Influencing Local Adaptation
because the local breed of sheep is more resilient to
Several factors in Chitral may either enable or constrain
drought and provides quality wool for the production of
the capacity of the local communities to build their
local carpets and traditional woolen fabric (shu).
capacity to adapt to water stresses and hazards. These
factors combine social, economic, geographic, and
Mobility is an adaptation to diversify livelihoods
political issues.
People at both the Shishikoh and Mulkhow study sites Strong, inclusive social capital – Social networks and
have been coping with water stresses and hazards organisations play a key role in shaping adaptation
through mobility – through seasonal migration, for strategies and reducing vulnerability of the local
employment, seasonal movement of herds to areas communities in the study areas. Strong social capital
with more water and fodder, or permanent migration promotes active participation of community, a sense
to places where they have better opportunities for of responsibility, and cooperative action among the
livelihoods. communities, which is key for sustainability of the
adaptation strategies. In addition to this, it allows the
Seasonal migration of the labour force – The impact community to collectively defend their interests and
of water induced hazards in Shishikoh and Mulkhow organise access to the services of development agencies.
21
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76