FINAL REPORT

Cereals Potatoes Vegetables Fodder Crops
900
800
700
Harvest (1.000 t)
600
500
400
300
200
100
0
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
20 00
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
Year
Source: NSOM (2004), NSOM (2006)
Figure2:Harvest of Cereals,Vegetables, Potatoes and Fodder Crops in Mongolia (1989-2005)
The most significant decline was observed in the production of cereals. Whereas in 1989 the
total national harvest was 839,000 t, in 2005 it amounted to only 76,000 t. In 2005, Mongolia
imported 97,500 t of wheat and 103,900 t of flour (NSOM 2006:234). Farmers complained
that imported and donated flour was sold for prices below their production costs (UB Post 41/
438 ofOct.14, 2004:4). Although the harvest of vegetables and potatoes did decline as well at
the beginning of the transition period, the decline was less strong compared with cereals. In
2005 the harvest of vegetables (64,000 t) for the first time was higher than the harvest in 1989
(60,000 t). 7 Potatoes are still under their 1989 harvest, with 83,000 t in 2005 compared to
156,000 t in 1989.
According to the “Economic Growth Support and Poverty Reduction Strategy” of the
Mongolian Government, national production of cultivation agriculture in 2001 covered
between 34% and 46% of the domesticdemand (see Tab.1)
7 In 2004 the total harvest of vegetables comprised 49,200 t of which: 13,800 t cabbages, 12,800 t carrots, 11,800
t turnips, 2,000 t cucumbers and 1,700 t onions (http://gate1.pmis.gov.mn/mofa/eng/?leftid=61 of July 30,2006).
17