Mongolia: Food Security

Mongolia: a study on food security
Food security is “when all people at all times have access to sufficient, safe,
nutritious food to maintain a healthy and active life” as defined by the World Food
Summit of 1996. This definition has summarised the fact that the health of the
people depends on the availability, access and use of food. Without which would
mean that malnutrition especially in the vulnerable population would be high.
The following are the aspects that could be responsible for the country not being
able to feed its people:
Geography: Mongolia is a landlocked country and shares it borders China and Russia.
It spans over an area of 1,566,500 sq. km. The terrain is 90% pasture or desert, 1%
arable (1.8 million hectares) and 9% forested land. The main crop growing areas are
in the central-northern part of the country, which account for about 67% of the
cultivated land. Cereals occupy over 90% of the total cropped area and are the most
important crops. About 8% of the total arable area is devoted to fodder crops.
Potatoes and vegetables together account for 1.5 % of the area planted.
Water sources: Mongolia is the home of five river basins which are sources for the
lakes and rivers of the neighbouring countries. Rainfall is the major source for water
in these rivers. From November to May the rivers are frozen. Groundwater is the
source for the rivers in the Gobi desert. The dams on the rivers provide for the
irrigation of the lands.
Climate: The country experiences extremes of temperature, with the heat during the
summer in the Gobi desert reaching 400C and the extreme cold during winter season
reaching -400C. The winters are long and cold and last from October to April. The
country is fairly dry with precipitation of usually 14.9 inches during the rainy season.
The rivers are frozen during the winter months hence irrigation from them is not
possible. The severe winters, known as ‘dzuds’, cause death of millions of livestock
leading to huge economic losses.
Political issues: Mongolia has a turbulent political history. There were constant
conflicts between their neighbouring countries on the issues of occupancy. Though
the people of Mongolia gained independence from Manchu in 1921, they became a
democracy only in 1990s. Till then the system of socialist was mainly followed. All
the unrest has taken its toll and free trade system and globalization is finally putting
Mongolia back on its feet.
Population and growth rate: the population as of 2002 was 2 587 000 of which
children under 15 years consisted 33% and adults above 65 were 4%. The percentage
of people living in the urban area is 64%. The average population density is low, 2/sq
km. The annual average population growth rate is 2.4%
Economy: on the human development index Mongolia stands at 115 out of 182
countries. The country’s GDP per capita is $3,200 of which agriculture contributes
21.2%, industry 29.5%, services 49.3%.
The labor force consists of 1.06 million with an unemployment rate of 2.8% in 2008.
Population below poverty line is 36.1% (2004)
The economy of Mongolia heavily depended on USSR which when disintegrated in
1990-91, led to a recession period for Mongolia.
Mongolia now exports minerals, textiles, livestock and animal products. Its imports
consists machinery and equipment, fuels, food products. The imports are more than
the exports which is a problem as they are spending more than they are earning in
foreign trade.
Occupations: Semi-nomadic and nomadic herders make up approximately 30% of

Mongolia’s population. They make a living through herding horses, camels, goats,
cattle and sheep for milk, cashmere, meat and other livestock products. The rest of
them in the agriculture population grow vegetables, cereals and fruits. The industrial
workers consist of a population of miners and manufactures. Mongolia is rich in
minerals like coal, copper silver, iron and gold.
Health : health is an important aspect in the prevention of poverty and the

upliftment of the economy of the country. Mongolia spend 3.2% of GDP on health.
This is very low compared to the other developed countries. 1.5% of the health
expenditure is from external sources.
The situation as it is: According to the report on malnutrition Mongolia’s population

has a malnutrition level of 25- 35%. This can be due to a multitude of circumstances.
As of 2004, according to the WHO world health statistics 2008 report, the
percentage of children under five years of age stunted for age was 23.5 and those
underweight for age was 4.8. The country is a very sparsely populated place and yet
the food is not enough for its occupants. The causes are as given above. The political
instability of the country was a reason for not making solid plans to combat the
climatic hazards. The harsh winters result in loss of livestock as well as loss of
agriculture. This in turn leads to high prices of the main consumables i.e. meat and
cereals. Which in turn would lead to poverty and hunger. The population size doesn’t
pose a problem but the resources to feed them are scarce.
Steps taken by the govt

1. The 'Mongolia irrigation rehabilitation project' aims to form WUAs and train
farmers in the O&M of irrigation systems and irrigated crop production and
to develop irrigated crop production technologies adapted to the new
production systems, especially to smallholders, and to identify and promote
new irrigated crops adapted to Mongolian conditions.
2. The World Bank’s Index Based Livestock Insurance Project (IBLIP) provide
herders with insurance. The insurance protects herders from climate-related
losses to their livestock.
3. Dams are being constructed for hydroelectric power and irrigation.
4. Many program that help the herders and cultivators are being taken up
through external aid.
Steps that could be taken for ensuring food security:

Desertification: over grazing of grass has led to desertification. This can be
combatted by the fact that more land is irrigated and the ones that have turned into
barren land can be turned into grazing fields. The grass grown can be of the high
nutritive value like alfalfa. This will give rise to more area of fodder grass. Rotation of
crops will give rise to more food crops as well as sustain the herding population.
Water resources: Irrigation should be highly invested upon as this seems to be a

surefire way to recover both the lost land and in turn would give rise to increase
livestock and food. Water harvesting can be done to by digging of wells and ponds
for use in the winter time.
Livestock feed: the fodder for the livestock should be grown during the summer
season and safely stocked up for use during the winters. The cattle should be
allowed to graze on the snow for their water needs which will decrease the water
needed for the cattle.
The fodder grown should be high yield, nutritive and easy and fast to grow so that it
doesn’t take up much of the valuable time and arable space, the space could then be
used to grow cereals.
Health expenditure: health expenditure should be increased. Awareness of the

harmful effects of alcohol should be spread widely as CVD and liver cancer are
important cause of mortality. This puts a burden on the country’s economy.

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Mongolia: a study on food security

Occupations: Semi-nomadic and nomadic herders make up approximately 30% of

Health : health is an important aspect in the prevention of poverty and the

The situation as it is: According to the report on malnutrition Mongolia’s population

Steps taken by the govt

Steps that could be taken for ensuring food security:

Water resources: Irrigation should be highly invested upon as this seems to be a

Health expenditure: health expenditure should be increased. Awareness of the

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