[ad_1]
19 Chinese experts and technicians were sent to Mongolia for three years to share knowledge and experience in improving national food security, building resilience and adapting to climate change. The project introduced intensive farming and livestock production technologies that can quickly take effect under extreme climate conditions. This increased food supply and improved people’s access to food. It also prompted Mongolian consumers to change their dietary preferences and choose healthier and more nutritious foods. In addition, the project promoted exchanges and economic and trade cooperation between the two sides in the field of agriculture.
No one feels the effects of climate change more than farmers. In Mongolia, where the growing season lasts only 90 days, weather conditions have become increasingly unpredictable, affecting crop production and, in turn, dietary diversity and nutrition. Malnutrition rates are high and diets are extremely unbalanced.
In response, six Chinese experts and 13 technicians were sent to 29 housing units in Mongolia to teach local farmers and agricultural extension workers about animal husbandry, crop production, food safety and trade, and capacity development. These experts are mainly from China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, and share similarities in language, culture, and agro-ecological conditions with the regions they assist. Over the past three years, they have introduced 11 new technologies, 42 new varieties of feed crops and 80 agricultural machinery and equipment were promoted, 67 training courses were held, and 4,700 people were trained.
See the results
The project is implemented by the South-South Cooperation and China Cooperation Organization, with the main purpose of implementing the National Food Security Program (NPFS). The NPFS aims to increase agricultural production and ensure national and household food security through improved water control, intensification and diversification of production (such as greenhouse crops and livestock production), and promotion of better food storage, food safety and marketing. Thanks to this initiative, achievements have been made in the following areas:
- Animal Husbandry – Experts from the South-South Cooperation Centre introduced 42 new varieties of fodder crops and early-maturing maize. These were planted successfully and are considered by the Mongolian government as part of a strategy to increase the resilience of pastoralists. Experts and technicians also provided technical support in livestock production and artificial insemination.
- Poultry Farming – SSC experts and technicians provided technical support to increase egg supply through strengthening intensive breeding production and established the first chicken farm veterinary laboratory in Mongolia.
- Crop Production – SSC experts and technicians installed seven irrigation systems, demonstrating irrigation and water management techniques on 4,000 hectares of land. It developed small greenhouses, extending the growing season by about two months, and introduced 32 new vegetable varieties and more than a dozen varieties of trees and flowers for large-scale cultivation. It also successfully introduced technology for designing and building winter solar greenhouses to extend the growing season and support crop diversification (vegetables and berries).
- Food Safety and Trade – Experts and technicians from the National Standards Committee established a Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points Working Group, completed a report on the establishment of a commodity exchange in Mongolia, and proposed seven amendments to Mongolia’s Agricultural and Sideline Products Market Law.
- Technology extension—— Experts and technicians from the South-South Cooperation Center assisted the Mongolian Agricultural Technology Extension Center in improving its system and provided technical consulting services to more than 30 companies.
- Capacity Development – 13 training courses were held, with more than 400 trainees trained.
The way forward
The project has effectively disseminated knowledge that can be adopted at the local level, supporting national and household food security and agricultural intensification and diversification in Mongolia. Scaling up will require more partnerships and increased investment in agriculture. With sufficient resources, the introduced technologies and varieties could be implemented on a larger scale.
Based on these initial results, the government agreed to proceed to the next phase, which will involve scaling up the key technologies introduced in Phase 1. Focus areas have been identified and 12 new experts are ready to start work.
[ad_2]
Source link
