U. Aripov
Karakul Sheep Research Institute
Samarkand, Uzbekistan
The Republic of Uzbekistan, in Central Asia, covers an area of 447,000 km2 and has a population of 21.3 million people. Karakul sheep have for many centuries been one of the most important branches of livestock production in Uzbekistan. They are an important source of meat, milk and wool and their skins have a very high value on both domestic and international markets. With the recent move in Uzbekistan to a market economy, the production, processing and marketing of karakul sheep is being privatised and reorganised. As well as the large new organisations, there are smaller, specialised companies, processing high quality skins and coats.
Karakul sheep are very well adapted to the harsh environment of the desert rangelands, where 65% of them are kept throughout the year. Average annual temperatures are between 12°C and 15°C, with a mean of 40–45°C in summer, and rainfall is very erratic, with an annual average of 80–280 mm. The soils in both the desert and the semi-desert regions are very saline.
Production is based mainly on grazing natural pastures. The productivity of these pastures is low, 150–300 kg dry matter/ha, with large seasonal and annual variations. The total grazing area is about 17.5 million hectares, including 3 million hectares of shifting sands. The shortage of water and overgrazing are very serious problems. More than 30% of desert rangeland has been completely destroyed or very seriously degraded through overgrazing, with serious economic and environmental consequences, not only for Uzbekistan but also for neighbouring countries. The management, preservation and control of natural resources, and the reorganisation and economic reform of karakul sheep production are important issues for the government.
The Uzbek Research Institute for Karakul Sheep is responsible for setting priorities and for organising national research on production, animal breeding and the conservation and breeding of forage plants in the desert and semi-desert regions. It has two farms, two research stations and a staff of 150 scientists. Priorities are to improve pasture use and to develop effective management and marketing systems. The research programme includes work on the improvement of soil and pastures, methods to reduce desertification and the degradation of arid rangelands, the improvement of co-operation between producers and processing industries, and the introduction of new technology in manufacturing.
Co-operation between scientists and institutes is essential within Uzbekistan, with the other Central Asian Republics and with international organisations. Research has started, in collaboration with the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), on the use of pastures and rangelands and on the breeding of karakul sheep.
