P.Gankhuyag, Analyst at the Animal Husbandry Policy Implementation department of Ministry of Food and Agriculture gives insight on summer conditions and winter preparations.
-How is the summer condition nationwide?
-This year is very different from previous years as there were droughts in some areas and after Naadam extensive rain showers passed through the country. In overall, the summer condition is at 40 percent normal.
15 percent is average and over 40 percent has droughts. Droughts have affected north of Sukhbaatar aimag, Khentii aimag as a whole, some soums of Tuv, Selenge and Dornogobi aimags. Most of the hay-fields are affected by drought, which raises serious concern for the animal husbandry for the winter and coming spring seasons.
-Recent rain showers should have improved the situation?
-Although extensive rain showers passed nationwide, it won't affect the hay-fields that much. It is almost impossible to reserve the hay this year. Government of Mongolia approved resolution No42 on July 7th of 2015 on Winter Preparations in the Agricultural Sector.
In 2015 Mongolia has planted grain on 387 thousand hectares. 313 thousand hectares or 80 percent of its is affected by the drought.
According to which, Ministry is working on escalating the meat export process in preparation for the winter. Mongolia has negotations made with China and Russia on meat exports and horse exports to China.
Financial support is planned to support domestic meat processing manufactures to adhere to internaitonal standards.
-How about the management on pastureland issues as the drought hits?
-Directions on hay reserves has been given on every level including soums, aimags and nationwide. Due to droughts it may require additional funds as well.
There is high possibility that the grain amount to be less than expected, therefore additional funds needed for reserve. In 2015 Mongolia has planted grain on 387 thousand hectares.
313 thousand hectares or 80 percent of its is affected by the drought. Heat affected the grain growing process and the late rain showers won't help them grow now. There is high possibility of losing the majority of the crops, leading to the need to make reserves.
-How many aimags were affected by drought?
-Khuvsgul, Bulgan, Tuv and Khentii aimags have the most droughts and those aimags are leading with their number of cattle. There is high risk of zud during winter months if the droughts are to continue. It is highly recommended to conduct meat processing in those regions.
The process needs funding an we are working on submitting the issue for cabinet discussions. Moreover, it is important to conduct hay preparations on the fields at other aimags where precipitations were at high level, as major hay-fields were affected by drought.
Currently hay reserves can be prepared at Dornod and Sukhbaatar aimags. Regulations are being made for the hay reserves to be prepared from these regions for Khentii, Tuv, Bulgan and Selenge aimag herders and entities.
The reserves to be allocated for the aimags affected by drought, which totals the territory of 600 thousand hectares. In western region the situation is much better and they are to prepare their reserves through their own resources.
-How many cattle is there currently in Mongolia?
-This spring Mongolia received the highest number of off-springs which is 18 million. According to the National Statistics Office there are 66.2 million cattle currently as of 1H of 2015. Mongolia uses 9-10 million cattle for thte domestic consumption.
With this in mind there will be 56 million cattle. There is possibility to reduce the number by 5-10 million for the meat processing and exports. The main obstacle is the health and food safety standards. We aim to make the western region the meat processing region.
Эрдэмтдийн тогтоосноор Монгол Улсын хэмжээнд хонин толгойд шилжүүлснээр 70 сая малын бэлчээрийн даацтай. Өнөөдрийн 66 сая малыг хонин толгойд шилжүүлбэл 87 сая болчихоод байгаа юм.
Due to mouth and foot disease spread in Bayan-Ulgii aimag in 2013 the negotiations with Chinese side have been terminated. There are many aimags that were disease free for 5-10 years and there are many aimags with many cattle among them as well. We aim to prepare meat from those aimags.
We also conduct negotiations and preparations with Chinese side on exporting meat. Before Naadam festival officials from Chinese side visited Mongolia and have agreed on some conditions. Therefore, in near future we are to export meat from disease free regions. There is plenty of opportunities to export meat to Russia.
-There are obstacles with meat exporting mainly dependent on adhering to international health and safety standards. How much development has been done in this regard?
-It is true that Mongolian meat processors are far from internation standards. Attestations should be conducted in near future. We are working towards increasing the number of authorised meat processors. 5-6 companies have received their licenses.
-How many meat processors are currently holding their licenses?
-There are enough compared to nationwide level. It is important to advance their operations to adhere to international standards.
-Pastureland available in Mongolia is not enough for the total cattle?
-According to the research evaluation the total pastureland available has capacity of 70 million cattle trasnferred into sheep count, while there are 87 million cattle transferred into sheep count.
The capacity load is exceeding by 10 million. In Khentii, Tuv and Bulgan aimags the capacity overload has increased by 3-5 times due to drought.
-Herders do winter migration for better pastureland. Are there possibilities to do that in the coming winter?
-Winter migration is one of the pressing issues in the coming winter. The usual location for winter migration is crossing of Tuv, Bulgan and Uvurkhangai aimags and Dornogobi aimag.
Current harsh summer condition is not allowing the planning of the winter migration in those areas. Therefore, areas in Dornod, Gobi-Altai and Bayankhongor are planned for possible winter migration, otherwise it is advised for herders to do winter migration within their habitat.
P.Gankhuyag, Analyst at the Animal Husbandry Policy Implementation department of Ministry of Food and Agriculture gives insight on summer conditions and winter preparations.
-How is the summer condition nationwide?
-This year is very different from previous years as there were droughts in some areas and after Naadam extensive rain showers passed through the country. In overall, the summer condition is at 40 percent normal.
15 percent is average and over 40 percent has droughts. Droughts have affected north of Sukhbaatar aimag, Khentii aimag as a whole, some soums of Tuv, Selenge and Dornogobi aimags. Most of the hay-fields are affected by drought, which raises serious concern for the animal husbandry for the winter and coming spring seasons.
-Recent rain showers should have improved the situation?
-Although extensive rain showers passed nationwide, it won't affect the hay-fields that much. It is almost impossible to reserve the hay this year. Government of Mongolia approved resolution No42 on July 7th of 2015 on Winter Preparations in the Agricultural Sector.
In 2015 Mongolia has planted grain on 387 thousand hectares. 313 thousand hectares or 80 percent of its is affected by the drought.
According to which, Ministry is working on escalating the meat export process in preparation for the winter. Mongolia has negotations made with China and Russia on meat exports and horse exports to China.
Financial support is planned to support domestic meat processing manufactures to adhere to internaitonal standards.
-How about the management on pastureland issues as the drought hits?
-Directions on hay reserves has been given on every level including soums, aimags and nationwide. Due to droughts it may require additional funds as well.
There is high possibility that the grain amount to be less than expected, therefore additional funds needed for reserve. In 2015 Mongolia has planted grain on 387 thousand hectares.
313 thousand hectares or 80 percent of its is affected by the drought. Heat affected the grain growing process and the late rain showers won't help them grow now. There is high possibility of losing the majority of the crops, leading to the need to make reserves.
-How many aimags were affected by drought?
-Khuvsgul, Bulgan, Tuv and Khentii aimags have the most droughts and those aimags are leading with their number of cattle. There is high risk of zud during winter months if the droughts are to continue. It is highly recommended to conduct meat processing in those regions.
The process needs funding an we are working on submitting the issue for cabinet discussions. Moreover, it is important to conduct hay preparations on the fields at other aimags where precipitations were at high level, as major hay-fields were affected by drought.
Currently hay reserves can be prepared at Dornod and Sukhbaatar aimags. Regulations are being made for the hay reserves to be prepared from these regions for Khentii, Tuv, Bulgan and Selenge aimag herders and entities.
The reserves to be allocated for the aimags affected by drought, which totals the territory of 600 thousand hectares. In western region the situation is much better and they are to prepare their reserves through their own resources.
-How many cattle is there currently in Mongolia?
-This spring Mongolia received the highest number of off-springs which is 18 million. According to the National Statistics Office there are 66.2 million cattle currently as of 1H of 2015. Mongolia uses 9-10 million cattle for thte domestic consumption.
With this in mind there will be 56 million cattle. There is possibility to reduce the number by 5-10 million for the meat processing and exports. The main obstacle is the health and food safety standards. We aim to make the western region the meat processing region.
Эрдэмтдийн тогтоосноор Монгол Улсын хэмжээнд хонин толгойд шилжүүлснээр 70 сая малын бэлчээрийн даацтай. Өнөөдрийн 66 сая малыг хонин толгойд шилжүүлбэл 87 сая болчихоод байгаа юм.
Due to mouth and foot disease spread in Bayan-Ulgii aimag in 2013 the negotiations with Chinese side have been terminated. There are many aimags that were disease free for 5-10 years and there are many aimags with many cattle among them as well. We aim to prepare meat from those aimags.
We also conduct negotiations and preparations with Chinese side on exporting meat. Before Naadam festival officials from Chinese side visited Mongolia and have agreed on some conditions. Therefore, in near future we are to export meat from disease free regions. There is plenty of opportunities to export meat to Russia.
-There are obstacles with meat exporting mainly dependent on adhering to international health and safety standards. How much development has been done in this regard?
-It is true that Mongolian meat processors are far from internation standards. Attestations should be conducted in near future. We are working towards increasing the number of authorised meat processors. 5-6 companies have received their licenses.
-How many meat processors are currently holding their licenses?
-There are enough compared to nationwide level. It is important to advance their operations to adhere to international standards.
-Pastureland available in Mongolia is not enough for the total cattle?
-According to the research evaluation the total pastureland available has capacity of 70 million cattle trasnferred into sheep count, while there are 87 million cattle transferred into sheep count.
The capacity load is exceeding by 10 million. In Khentii, Tuv and Bulgan aimags the capacity overload has increased by 3-5 times due to drought.
-Herders do winter migration for better pastureland. Are there possibilities to do that in the coming winter?
-Winter migration is one of the pressing issues in the coming winter. The usual location for winter migration is crossing of Tuv, Bulgan and Uvurkhangai aimags and Dornogobi aimag.
Current harsh summer condition is not allowing the planning of the winter migration in those areas. Therefore, areas in Dornod, Gobi-Altai and Bayankhongor are planned for possible winter migration, otherwise it is advised for herders to do winter migration within their habitat.