Analysis of Labor Productivity in Single and Multi-household Grassland Management Patterns: A Case Study in Maqu County, Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau

Abstract

This study investigated labor productivity in meat and milk/dairy production within single and multi-household management patterns, based on primary data collected from 156 randomly selected herder households in Maqu County, Tibetan Plateau. The results showed that in the rotational grazing system, herder households in both single and multi-household management patterns achieved higher labor productivity for meat production (70.36 Kg/man-day and 51.21 Kg/man-day, respectively) compared to the overall study households (40.89 Kg/man-day). In contrast, within the continuous grazing system, the single-household management pattern recorded lower labor productivity for meat production (23.04 Kg/man-day). Significantly, regional variations in the distance between pastures and market centers led herder households in the single-household management pattern within the continuous grazing system to achieve superior labor productivity for milk and dairy production (19.74 $/man-day) compared to the overall study households (15.44 $/man-day). In the rotational grazing system, labor productivity for milk and dairy production stood at 12.63 $/man-day for the single-household management pattern and 8.30 $/man-day for the multi-household management pattern. These findings underscore the complexities associated with achieving high labor productivity simultaneously in both meat and milk/dairy production within the same grassland management pattern. While the multi-household management pattern shows promise in reducing labor inputs, it also grapples with challenges in achieving substantial production levels for meat and milk/dairy products. To address these challenges, policymakers should consider follow-up measures that prioritize the simultaneous enhancement of meat and milk/dairy production within the multi-household management pattern. Special attention should be given to reducing the distance between herder households and market centers to facilitate the sale of milk/dairy products. Simply advocating for the broader adoption of the multi-household management pattern may fall short without addressing these production-related hurdles.