Government of China

Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Light Industry, National Centre for Animal Gene Bank, Mongolian University of Life Science, Mongolian Society for Range Management, Mongolian Greenhouse Farmers Association, Mongolian Chicken Farmers Association, Mongolian Beekeepers Association, KhilemOost LLC

The objective of the project was to support the implementation of the National Programme for Food Security (NPFS), the National Mongolian Livestock Programme and other agricultural policies aimed at enhancing agricultural production and food security and nutrition in Mongolia. 

The technology, technical capacity and production of small-scale agribusinesses were improved as a result of this support and more than 1 000 beneficiaries received direct or indirect support from the project, which has thus contributed to ensuring food security in the country. Achievements in the horticulture sector, in particular, were recognized by the Government, with the head of the Mongolian Greenhouse Farmers Association receiving the nomination for Model Farmer for World Food Day 2016 for her commitment to the development of greenhouses, vegetable production and diet diversification.

Agriculture

• 170 local government officials and fodder crop producers were trained in the cultivation technology of annual and perennial fodder crops, silage-making and pasture management through four training events 
• 168 open field farmers and greenhouse farmers trained in the cultivation of vegetables, construction of solar greenhouses (Chinese design) and integrated pest management in greenhouses. 
• A new variety of cucumber (holland-971) and tomato (taivandagina, five colours), and various varieties of fruit and berries, including grape (Jin Yan) and strawberry (Khun Yan), were tested in greenhouses at Tumensuikh and Senjit Oyu LLCs.  The production of cucumber increased by 55 percent when compared with the previous year (from 4.2 to 6.6 kg/m2). 
• Sudan grass (8 ha) and oat and barley (200 ha) were experimentally cultivated and a total of 12.3 tonnes/ha green mass of barley and oats was harvested. The trial was conducted under non-irrigated, harsh climatic conditions, demonstrating that the crops can be grown using modern technology.  
• 11 varieties of corn tested and 135 tonnes of corn harvested.  

Livestock

• 129 participants trained in technology of cattle artificial insemination and sheep embryo transfer
• 1 988 dairy heifers and 594 dams artificially inseminated. The trial conception rate was between 6 and 7 percent higher than the current rate of artificial insemination in Mongolia.
• 4 358 does of buck semen stored in gene bank

Beekeeping

• 290 beekeeping farmers and local officials trained in the spring and summer management of bee farming, queen bee rearing and artificial insemination.
• Technologies and practices for queen bee rearing and the management and maintenance of bee colonies were introduced. A total of 200 heads of high-quality queen bee was reared using the introduced technology and distributed to MBA members, resulting in an increase of 50 percent in honey productivity (from 20 to 35 kg) per colony. The number of bee colonies increased by 4.5 times (from 35 to 130); 50 kg of bee wax and 1 000 g of royal jelly were harvested in Khalkh Goliin Khishig LLC.

Poultry

• A total of 10 000 chicks was raised at TSAT LLC, with survival rate of 99.7 percent, and egg production was improved. 
• Specialists at TSAT LLC were trained in methodologies of analysis and control of 20 types of chicken diseases. The capacity built through the training was expected to have a positive impact on the company’s disease control management. 
• To improve the management of chick and adult chicken farming, technological guideline on egg-laying hens based on current egg production practices were developed; the printed guidelines were distributed to farmers

Aquaculture

• 14 students were trained in breeding of clean water fish
• Technical assistance in the design of an artificial pond was provided to the sturgeon fish farm Khilem Oost LLC. Theoretical and practical lectures and field visits on fish breeding were organized for students of SASB. 

Standards

• A draft of a standard for passive solar greenhouses suited to conditions in Mongolia was formulated and submitted for approval as a national standard. Standard draft is based on a Chinese design and is intended to be applied for local small-scale vegetable farmers in urban and rural areas. 
• Guidelines produced and distributed on “Diseases in Sturgeon Fish” and “Egg Laying Hens”.