LOCAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DESK STUDY

Number of heads of livestock of Mongolia increased by 14.4 million between 1990 and 2007 and
the western region accounted for 3.8 million of this figure or 26.4% which shows that it is an
important region for animal husbandry.
2.5.2 Comparative assessment of the western region’s crop production development
The western region doesn’t have a major position in the crop production compared to animal
husbandry as it is not favorable to engage in the production in terms of weather. But there is a
tradition that Khovd and Uvs aimags developed irrigated crop farming. The western region
accounted for just 2.9% of the total crop harvest nationwide in 2007 and this percentage decreased
almost twice the 5.6% of 1990.
Table-16 shows that only 16% of the crops harvested in 1990 was produced nationwide in 2007 as
the country underwent transition to market economy from 1990 with aids stopped and crop
production failing.
Table-17. Harvested crops, its percentage in the national total by regions
1990 1995 2000 2007 2007
Regions
% of
% of
% of
% of %
Tons
Tons
Tons
Tons
total
total
total
total 1990
Western 40,567.4 5.6 9,741.6 3.7 4,540.7 3.2 3,325.5 2.9 8.2
Uvs 20,200.4 2.8 8,411.4 3.2 2,479.6 1.7 2,157.7 1.9 10.7
Khovd 1,606.8 0.2 855.1 0.3 1,440.7 1.0 485.4 0.4 30.2
Bayan-Ulgii 538.8 0.1 20.6 0.0 13.4 0.0 6.4 0.0 1.2
Zavkhan 17,339.7 2.4 40.0 0.0 5.0 0.0
Govi-Altai 881.7 0.1 414.5 0.2 602.0 0.4 676.0 0.6 76.7
Khangai 193,440.1 26.9 56,319.8 21.5 33,506.7 23.6 26,369.6 23.0 13.6
Central 380,757.2 53.0 179,261.2 68.6 99,932.7 70.3 82,519.6 71.9 21.7
Eastern 103,569.9 14.4 16,105.0 6.2 4,086.0 2.9 2,563.5 2.2 2.5
TOTAL 718,334.6 100.0 261,427.6 100.0 142,066.1 100.0 114,778.2 100.0 16.0
Source: Statistical Yearbook of Mongolia, 1992, 2000, 2006, Statistical Bulletin, NSO, 2007
So this percentage is even lower for the western region and it harvested only 8.2% of the cereals in
1990 which showed that its crop production was in much decline. On the other hand, it is time to
think about reviving cereal production in the western region taking into account substantial increase
in the price of wheat in the world market in recent years.
But the amount of potatoes harvested by the region in 2007 is up by 16.7% than the level of 1990
and for vegetables, it is even twice as more.
Table-18. Harvested potatoes, its percentage in the national total by regions
1990 1995 2000 2007 2007
Regions
%
%
%
% %
Tons
Tons
Tons
Tons
total
total
total
total 1990
Western 15,870.9 12.1 5,346.4 10.3 11,318.8 19.2 18,514.1 16.2 116.7
Uvs 3,391.4 2.6 655.8 1.3 1,715.4 2.9 1,960.4 1.7 57.8
Khovd 2,951.2 2.3 2,571.6 4.9 4,934.2 8.4 9,429.0 8.2 319.5
Bayan-Ulgii 4,972.7 3.8 413.0 0.8 1,901.8 3.2 3,294.3 2.9 66.2
Zavkhan 3,405.3 2.6 1,218.6 2.3 1,549.7 2.6 2,440.1 2.1 71.7
Govi-Altai 1,150.3 0.9 487.4 0.9 1,217.7 2.1 1,390.3 1.2 120.9
Khangai 20,291.9 15.5 8,132.9 15.6 9,581.4 16.3 20,624.8 18.0 101.6
Central 87,732.6 66.9 27,814.9 53.5 26,156.8 44.4 65,419.2 57.1 74.6
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