NOMADIC RESETTLEMENT AND THE NEW SOCIALIST COUNTRYSIDE IN

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 CHENGDU 000140 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP/CM, DRL, AND G/STC E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ECON PGOV SOCI CH SUBJECT: NOMADIC RESETTLEMENT AND THE NEW SOCIALIST COUNTRYSIDE IN SICHUAN PROVINE'S ABA PREFECTURE REF: A. A) CHENGDU 137 ¶B. B) CHENGDU 138 ¶C. C) CHENGDU 90 ¶D. D) CHENGDU 91 CHENGDU 00000140 001.2 OF 002 ¶1. (SBU) Summary: According to local Animal Husbandry Bureau officials in Hongyuan County of western Sichuan Province's Aba (Tibetan: Ngaba) Prefecture, the central government has invested 30 million RMB (USD 3.9 million) to implement the "New Socialist Countryside" and facilitate the transition from a traditional to a modern animal husbandry industry. The production level in the largely nomadic county is relatively low, so nomads are being resettled into villages and encouraged to look for labor work. The West Yak Corporation purchases yak milk from 16,000 nomads to process into a UHT boxed milk product for sale in inland China. Our local hosts were eager to describe the benefits of the nomadic resettlement policy, but there was little opportunity to speak to local Tibetans privately to solicit more candid views on changes in their traditional lifestyle. End Summary. ¶2. (U) During a recent reporting trip to western Sichuan Province's Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, CG and Congenoff were hosted for a working lunch by the director of the Hongyuan County Animal Husbandry Bureau and a representative of the West Yak Corporation, an enterprise founded in 1956. The officials briefed us on economic development in the county, the nomadic resettlement policy, and the contributions of the private corporation. Investment in Hongyuan County's New Socialist Countryside -------------- -------------- ¶3. (SBU) The director of the Animal Husbandry Bureau said the central government has invested 30 million RMB (USD 3.9 million) to implement the "New Socialist Countryside" in Hongyuan County, and an additional 10 million RMB (USD 1.3 million) specifically for ecological protection. The county is undergoing a transition from traditional animal husbandry to modern animal husbandry, and Government resources are being used to smooth the transition, particularly for improving yak quality. When queried by CG about the policy of fencing off sections of grassland traditionally used by nomadic herders, the director claimed locals welcomed the policy. He asserted there was not �0A;enough grassland to go around, and that there were "conflicts" before. He added that eighty percent of the cost of the fences is subsidized by the government, so there is not an excessive burden on the herders. ¶4. (SBU) When asked about possible social conflicts due to disputes over harvesting of the valuable caterpillar fungus, the director claimed there were no conflicts because the price of the fungus is regulated in order to protect the environment. (Note: We learned in other conversations that caterpillar fungus currently sells for 30-40 RMB (USD 3.95 - 5.26) each, or upwards of 80,000 RMB (USD 10,526) per kilogram. Conflicts between Tibetan nomads and newcomers to the region have been known to occur when non-residents attempt to partake in caterpillar fungus harvesting. End Note). Nomadic Resettlement Policy -------------- ¶5. (SBU) According to the director, the production level in the largely nomadic county is relatively low, so the government is forming villages of nomads and encouraging them to look for labor work. He lamented that, although the government provides skills training for the nomads, the "results have not been good." He emphasized that nomadic families are being resettled in concentrated population centers where they now have access to electricity, water, and transportation infrastructure, and that they like their new houses and communities. Of Hongyuan County's 30,000 nomads, 20,000 have already been resettled. The Aba Foreign Affairs Office (FAO) official accompanying our group offered to take us to see one of the new villages en route to our next stop. Nomads "Happy" With New Homes -------------- ¶6. (SBU) Hongyuan officials drove us to a new village of approximately 40 homes in a relatively remote section of the county. They introduced us to a man they said was the head of the village and invited us to visit his home. (Ref. B). The house was constructed with rectangular cement blocks and was painted white. It did not have any characteristic Tibetan decoration or design. The former nomad showed us the main sitting room of his home that had a traditional yak dung-burning stove for heat, electricity, a television, and a small picture CHENGDU 00000140 002.2 OF 002 of the Dalai Lama. ¶7. (SBU) During the course of the visit, officials repeatedly emphasized that resettled nomads built their own homes using government subsidies to cover eighty percent of the cost of the dwellings. When asked if he was satisfied with his new home and lifestyle in the presence of local officials, the former nomad replied that he was "very happy." (Note: In a conversation out of earshot of the officials, Congenoff learned that the houses in the village were all built by construction workers from inland China, rather than by the nomads themselves. End Note). West Yak Corporation Markets Yak Milk -------------- ¶8. (SBU) Liao Yong, a Han Chinese from Chengdu is the manager of the West Yak Corporation's Aba Prefecture headquarters in Hongyuan County. During a tour of the milk-processing factory, he said the corporation has invested 30 million RMB (USD 3.9 million) in the business in order to contribute to the development of the local economy (Ref. B). The corporation processes yak milk it purchases from approximately 80 percent of the 20,000 nomads in the county. Liao said the company pays 1.3 RMB (USD 0.17) for each pound of milk. The final product, a half-pound UHT box of yak milk retails for 12 RMB (USD 1.58) in inland China. The company markets the product as a much more nutritious drink than cow's milk. In response to a question from Congenoff about the total number of Tibetan employees, Liao responded that most of the company's employees were "locals." (Note: In a side conversation during the factory tour, Congenoff learned that of 200 employees, forty are Tibetan. Of those, four are receiving technical training and the others collect milk. One of the four Tibetans is the Deputy Manager of the factory. End Note). Comment -------------- ¶9. (SBU) Our local hosts seemed very eager to describe the benefits of the nomadic resettlement policy and to present "happy" nomads living in settlements with electricity and running water. There was little opportunity to speak to local Tibetans privately or to solicit more candid views on changes in their traditional lifestyle. In conversations on this issue in other prefectures, we have learned that there are varying opinions on the benefits of nomadic resettlement, and that some resettled Tibetans struggle to acquire skills that will allow them to transition to more modern means of production (Reftels C and D). BOUGHNER