Aghuls - Economy

Because the harshness of the mountain winters, stock breeding (primarily sheep and cattle) was of greater importance than agriculture in the traditional Aghul economy. As was the case with other Daghestanian mountaineers, the Aghuls grazed their sheep in high mountain pastures during the summer and, if possible, drove them to lowland pastures for the winter. Unfortunately for poorer Aghuls, these winter pastures were outside of Aghul territory and had to be rented from Lezgins, Tabasarans, or Azeris. Those peasants who could not afford to rent pastures had to stable their animals in the village, where the risk of running out of winter food stocks was always present. Agriculture, to the extent the Aghuls practiced it, was extremely labor-intensive, limited to the hardiest of grains (rye, barley, wheat), and imperiled by frequent hailstorms and frost. The yield was seldom sufficient for the needs of the Aghul communities, and they had to obtain additional grain through trade. The introduction of contemporary farming methods during the Soviet period has increased the yields and the variety of crops grown in Aghul territory.

In the past many Aghul men left their villages during the winter to seek work in the lowlands, principally in the urban centers of the region (Derbent, Baku, Kuba). In many Aghul villages only women, children, and the elderly remained throughout the year.

Because of the rugged topography of the Aghul territory, contact with neighboring ethnic groups was more restricted than would have been the case at lower elevations. The Aghuls were most frequently in contact with the Lezgins, apparently a long-standing relationship. In particular, the Aghuls made use of the bazaars in the large Lezgin village of Kasumkent. The Aghuls brought cheese, butter, wool, and woolen products, which they exchanged for grain and manufactured goods.

The apportioning of tasks according to gender is roughly the same as in other Daghestanian mountain communities. One distinctive feature is that men perform all tasks associated with sheepherding, not only pasturing and shearing but also milking and the preparation of dairy products from sheep's milk. Women are responsible for the care of the cattle, which remain in the vicinity of the village throughout the year.