Darkhan Field Day with IPAS and Profs Johnson and Shirtliffe

Farmers, academia and government officials attended the field day events which included presentations from the IPAS, field visit to wheat field demonstrations of top varieties supported by KOPIA (Korea RDA), and IPAS field research on pulses. Dr. Steve Shirtliff and Dr. Eric Johnson from the University of Saskatchewan were special presenters facilitated by the Embassy of Canada and FAO.

The International Year of Pulses was officially launched by the Government of Mongolia in April 2016 with presences of Mr. N.Ariunbold, State Secretary of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Dr. Kevin Gallagher, Deputy Representative of Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in Mongolia and Dr. B.Bayarsukh, Director of the Institute of Plant and Agricultural Sciences and Chair of the Organizing Committee of International Year of Pulses and representatives of other international and local partners.

"The Year will create an opportunity to encourage connections throughout the food chain that would better utilize pulse-based proteins, further local production of pulses, better use crop rotations and address the challenges in the trade of pulses. If we can achieve to build up an active network within the chain, local pulse farmers can supply an existing demand of pulses which are the main ingredients for poultry and swine feed" Dr.Bayarsukh highlighted in his opening remark.

As the 68th General Assembly of the United Nations declared 2016 the International Year of Pulses (IYP), the Mongolian Government plans to heighten public awareness of the nutritional benefits of pulses as part of sustainable food production aimed towards food security and nutrition.

See also: https://www.facebook.com/IYPMongolia2016