FINAL REPORT

households and five cooperatives plant mainly potatoes, vegetables and melons. According to
statistics provided by the sum and aimag administration, in 2005, 321 households from
Buyant sum cultivated 482 ha or 1.5 ha on average per household. 27
Myangad
4%
Kazak
34%
Other
5%
Tuva
6%
Chantuu
11%
Khalkh
40%
Source: Survey results, June 2006
Figure 74: Ethnic Composition of Surveyed
Households, Buyant sum
This means that
approximately 1,500 ha lie fallow at present -mainly due to lack of water for irrigation
according to the sum administration. The current fields are located in two main areas within
the Norjinkhairkhan bag: North of the aimag center, at Durviin gazar, and in the vicinity of
the sum center. In recent years residents from Buyant sum have also started crop farming on
fields located on the territory of Khovd sum, Ulaanburaa bag, west of the Buyant sum center.
In this area, the course of the border between Khovd and Buyant is contested. According to
the sum administration, there are several households in the sum who intend to engage in
cultivation agriculture if they gain access to
irrigated land. In addition, the administration has
signed a contract with aChinese investor. The
investor will start wheat cultivation in 2007 on
up to 500 ha land in the Buyant River Delta at
Zakhin guu. At present, this land lies fallow. This
was explained with problems arising from water
availability. Nevertheless, asked how the investor
would solve the irrigation problem, it was
answered that the available amount of water was
considered sufficient by the investor to irrigate the land for wheat cultivation.
15.2 Results of Household Survey
The survey covered 53 households. Out of these, 48 were official residents of the sum center
Norjinkhairkan bag, two were registered in Nariin gol bag and three in Jargalant sum. Out of
surveyed households 50 were actually engaged in crop cultivation. Two were members of a
herder’s cooperative. One household mentioned that he has no time and experience, therefore
is not interested in farming.
15.2.1 Socio-Ethnical Structure and Spatial Organization
Out of all surveyed households 81.1% (43) had 4-6 family members, 9.4% (5) had 6-12,
remaining households had less than four members. Most households (92.4% or 49) had 2-4
27 According to the sum administration, titles for a total of589 ha farmlands have been given to local households
and cooperatives. The number of official land title holders was stated to be 92 thus much less than the number of
registered crop farming households. This was explained by the fact that often several households without land
titles are cultivating fields which are possessed by relatives. The maximum field size a household is allowed to
posses in Buyant sum is three ha.
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