Ulaanbaatar
Reindeer herders wants to import reindeers from Russia
SocietyUlaanbaatar /MONTSAME/ President’s advisor on Living Environment and Green Development Policy O.Chuluunbileg hosted a meeting with citizens of Tsagaannuur soum, Khuvsgul aimag, most of whom are reindeer herders.
There are about 250 reindeer herders in the locality, today. Mongolian president Ts.Elbegdorj issued a decree on allowing benefits for the members of the reindeer herding community three years ago. Monthly 130,000 MNT benefit is helping the national minority to cover their health care expenses and some pocket money for their children who study in soum centers, although the benefit amount is below the minimum wage.
University students from reindeer herding family also enjoy tuition fee discount, owing to the presidential decree.
However, other business opportunities for reindeer herders are limited in commercializing the reindeer products, including hides and milk. This is due to the lack of registration of reindeer herders, who roam the taiga. For the same reason, they are unable to receive postal packages sent to them by tourists, who visit them in the summer.
The herders are suggesting that the reindeer population need to be increased with breeds from our neighbor in the north. Such an attempt failed previously when the reindeer herding community opted for Turkey for more reindeers and the animals’ health were in critical condition after they arrived in Mongolia due to poor transportation.
Mongolia and Russia have an agreement on exchanging reindeer herds on graziery, dated back to 1980, informed a clan chief Ganbat.
