Domestic harvest for potatoes and vegetables set a record

Within the framework of the National Campaign "Food Supply and Security" initiated by the President of Mongolia "Harvest Festival 2023" ceremony was held at the Corporate Hotel and Convention Center on December 6, 2023. Farmers and national top food producers summed up their achievements discussed future goals and awarded the best, MONTSAME reports.

Mongolia
Photo credit: Montsame

At the ceremony, the President of Mongolia Khurelsukh Ukhnaa thanked the farmers and food producers and wished them success in the future. President U. Khurelsukh noted the growth of production, domestic supply, and export of staple food items as a result of state-private sector collaboration under the "Food Supply and Security" Campaign. He highlighted that a loan of MNT 675 billion given to 1,857 enterprises and citizens, and customs duty relief and exemptions provided to 428 types of equipment needed for 19 types of food and agricultural products were a crucial stimulus for intensive development of the "Food Revolution" initiative.

Further, President U. Khurelsukh stressed the importance of consolidating achievements focusing on climate change, soil degradation, seed quality, quality, and standards of raw materials for food production. In this context, Mr. U. Khurelsukh emphasized the significance of supporting private sector investment and cooperation as well as finding optimal and affordable use of economic incentives such as budgets, funds, loans, financing, taxes, and insurance.

"Developing nomadic and intensive animal husbandry, optimizing full use of livestock products, and increasing the income and livelihood of herders are vital goals of the "Food Revolution" initiative. It is expected to make progress in preparing the succession of shepherds, protecting animal health, improving animal breeds, showing cooperation at work, increasing feed production, and improving pasture management. Especially in 2024, special attention should be paid to the production of vaccines and biological products, and fulfilling the goal of making Mongolia an animal disease-free region. State and private sector must cooperate in reducing the risk of desertification and dust storms, supporting green development, establishing food and agricultural clusters and complexes, an integrated system for the preparation and supply of raw materials, setting up transport and logistics networks, supporting small and medium enterprises, introducing new technologies and develop a workforce development program. In the future, we should strive to meet domestic demand for 19 staple food items, and unite to work together with the state, the government, and the people to become a food exporting country," said President U. Khurelsukh.

The Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Light Industry has declared 2023 the "Year of Agricultural Revival." As part of the "Food Supply and Security," National Campaign, the "Agricultural Revival 2023" conference was held before the spring sowing season signifying implementation of the "Food Revolution" initiative of the President of Mongolia.

As part of State Great Khural's Resolution No. 36 of 2022, 10 commercial banks provided MNT 89.7 billion to agricultural producers and MNT 24.3 billion to vegetable growers, a total of MNT 114 billion of soft loan, which allowed spring sowing, ploughing, plant protection, and harvesting at the right time.

In 2023 Mongolia's domestic yield met the demand for potatoes at 100 percent and for vegetables at 85.0 percent setting a record for vegetable harvesting for the first time in history. Minister of Food, Agriculture and Light Industry Kh. Bolorchuluun emphasized the need to increase the workforce, stabilize prices, and increase sales to increase historical success.

He noted that measures to limit the import of vegetables and wheat, intensification of seed production, and planting elite seeds had a positive effect on the quality of the harvest. As a result of the intensification of seed production, wheat production increased by 32 thousand tons compared to last year, and the country's average yield per hectare reached 15 tons. This is the highest result in the last five years

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