Herder Aptitude And Its Effect On Income: Evidence From Maqu County, Gansu Province

Improving herder aptitude and increasing their incomes are two key components for achieving sustainable development of pastoral region and grassland livestock production in China. A household survey was conducted at Maqu county, Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Gansu Province, China. The relationship between herder's ability and their incomes was analyzed, with the aims of providing support for decision making on sustainable development in the pastoral regions in China. The results indicated that the herders have less education compared with the national average, with about 59.25%of total number of male herders surveyed having never been to school. The percentage of herders with any special skills other than feeding livestock is only 30.3%of the total sample population. Livestock production is still the major source of income for the local households. The labor force working on pastoral production was up to 91.0%, whereas less than 10%of the total labor force was working on other sectors.Effects of herder's aptitude on their incomes was analyzed, comparing the variables of years of education, skill in speaking Chinese language, working skills other than raising animals and other commercial activities against income. The results indicated that number of years of education is positively and significantly correlated with income. The correlation coefficient was calculated as 0.501. The regression equation illustrated that under the Maqu economical and social conditions the herder's income will be increased 503.54 Yuan by increasing one year school education. Income was also correlated significantly with the skill in speaking Chinese language, having working skills other than raising animals and other commercial activities. The correlation coefficient was 0.451,0.330 and 0.279, respectively. The findings also indicated that traditional thinking amongst herders has become a limiting factor for improving their livelihoods-an examples being that some herders will not kill slaughter their animals.Suggestions were presented based on the outcomes of the research. They are the establishment of special education and training systems which are targeted to the herder's education, the development of special education zones so that herder's education could be given top priority among other important issues and the development of long distance learning systems. Additionally, a comprehensive system involving all government departments should be established to improve the herders' aptitude.