IFC and partners promote modern livestock technologies in Mongolia to boost productivity
EconomyUlaanbaatar/MONTSAME/ On March 21, IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, in collaboration with FAO, Mercy Corps, and AmCham Mongolia, launched an initiative to promote modern livestock technologies in Mongolia, thereby boosting the sector’s productivity and competitiveness. The initiative will create a first-of-its-kind platform to bring together beef and dairy business leaders, industry experts, and policymakers, who will share their expertise to bolster the country’s livestock sector.
Livestock has long been a priority sector for Mongolia because of
its contribution to inclusive economic growth and export diversification. The adoption of modern technologies will allow
herders and farmers reach much higher yields. Artificial insemination, for
example, allows local dairy farms to supply high-quality milk all year round, ensuring
constant cash flow through longer contracts with processors. Cattle farms have
also used such technology for better breed purposes, increasing meat output by three
times.
Jean-Pascal Nganou, Acting Country Manager for Mongolia, World
Bank said, “The livestock sector offers an opportunity for Mongolia’s economic
diversification. At the World Bank Group, we support the creation of a
conducive business environment to enable Mongolian farmers and herders to
achieve their full potential.”
An inaugural session on ‘Pioneers in Beef and Dairy Development in
Mongolia’ was hosted in Ulaanbaatar to mark this partnership.
“The
private sector is key to driving innovations on the ground. Sharing experiences
around these innovations can be a powerful source of change in support of
economic diversification and achievement of sustainable development goals in
Mongolia,” said Vinod Ahuja, FAO Representative in Mongolia.
Wendy Guyot, Country Director of Mercy Corps Mongolia observed, “The
private sector will drive market-led change in Mongolia’s livestock sector like
it has in other countries around the world. This initiative brings together
leading businessmen and women to share their knowledge and learning about beef
and dairy cattle in Mongolia. The aim is to build a livestock industry that is
responsive to growing domestic and export markets.”
Meanwhile, AmCham Mongolia advocates for opening up of export
opportunities of Mongolian agricultural products. “The Mongolia Third Neighbor
Trade Act is well on its way to be discussed by the U.S. Congress and we take
great pride in its advocacy since the beginning. The MTNTA would play a crucial
role in Mongolia’s overall economic development, increasing export-led
businesses as well as diversifying the nation's economy,” said Oybek Khalilov, President,
AmCham.
The World Bank Group has been providing policy advice and technical support to Mongolia to enhance investment policy, restore investor confidence, and build capacity through IFC’s Mongolia Investment Policy and Agriculture Promotion advisory project, since 2014. In April 2017, IFC completed a report with recommendations on how Mongolia’s agriculture sector can draw FDI to enter the global value chain.
Source: The World Bank Mongolia