A Proposed Typology of Farming Systems for Assessing Sustainable Livelihood Development Pathways in the Tien Shan Mountains of Kyrgyzstan

Abstract

In Kyrgyzstan, most farming systems focus on animal husbandry, which depends on mixtures of crops and pastures around settlements and higher-elevation summer pastures. These farms face the problems of insufficient fodder production and pasture degradation due to overgrazing, resulting in low productivity of livestock and reduced household incomes. The spatial diversity of farms often hampers the development of interventions aimed at improving crop and animal productivity, as well as sustainable grassland management, while the absence of a comprehensive and systematic classification system that effectively encompasses the diverse range of livelihood strategies within farming systems presents a significant obstacle to the advancement of initiatives promoting sustainable livelihoods. This study aimed to develop a consistent typology of smallholder farms in the Tien Shan using multivariate analysis. By analyzing data from 235 farm-households and evaluating key classification variables, we identified two distinct farming systems, upper mountain farms and lower mountain farms, based on socioeconomic and agro-ecological characteristics. Our typology considers elevation, grazing period, cultivated area, and off-farm income and better captures the diversity of farming activities and household income compared to current classification models. These findings will inform and tailor policies and interventions suitable for enhancing sustainable livelihoods in Kyrgyzstan’s mountain farming systems.

Effective Economic Model for Greenhouse Facilities Management and Digitalization

“…𝛱 = 𝑃 × 𝑌 − 𝐶 × 𝑌 − 𝐹𝐶 + 𝛽 5 × 𝐷𝑃𝑆𝐼 + 𝜀 3 (6) where: 𝛱 = Total profit; 𝑃 = Selling price per kg; 𝑌 = Crop yield (kg/m 2 ) from the production function; 𝐶 = Total costs from the cost function; 𝐹𝐶 = Fixed costs; 𝐷𝑃𝑆𝐼 = Digital platform supply chain integration (categorical 0/1 variable for access vs non-access); 𝜀 3 = Error term.…”

“…For example, solar technologies may carry different economic profiles across arid versus temperate zones [5]. As Uzbekistan aims to expand greenhouses to bolster horticultural output and support rural farmer livelihoods, location-specific economic modeling aligned with support policies can drive success [6]. With rigorous yet adaptable financial planning, greenhouse facilities can assist the country's national development.…”