Agricultural developments on the rangelands of the Tibet Autonomous Region in China, with a special emphasis on the role of Tibetan women

Abstract

Tibetan women play integral roles in agriculture on the rangelands of the high plateau of the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) in China. Agricultural development was the focus of ACIAR (Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research) funded projects in Tibet including capturing socioeconomic facets. Two projects that the authors worked on (2009-2012) provided the opportunity to explore firsthand livestock production systems in pastoral and crop-based areas of TAR. This paper aims to offer sociocultural insights, and to highlight the role of women in Tibet as enablers of change. For agricultural developments to proceed with greater success it will be important that women are included in changing practice.