Ulaanbaatar
Herders to restore pasture degradation
Society
Uvurkhangai /MONTSAME/ A project “Green gold and animal health” has been started in Uvurkhangai aimag with the funding of the Swiss Development Agency. ‘Association of pasture users groups of Mongolia’ NGO is to implement the project in Zuunbayan-Ulaan, Uyanga, Bat-Ulzii and Bodg soums in 2017-2020. Prior to it, a pasture management project to develop herders’ institutions was implemented in western 7 aimags and the Government and the Ministry of Food and Agriculture advised to promulgate its successful practices to other aimags, said director of ‘Association of pasture users groups of Mongolia’NGO N.Gankhuyag.
Within the project, a pasture management working group will be established in each selected soum to conduct monitoring on pastureland and to set up pasture using groups. Pasture using groups, which is composed of 30-50 families each will be trained to define pasture land state, use and degradation of pasture. Moreover, a sharing fund will be established by the groups, with 50 per cent finance from the project funding.
The NGO plans to cooperate with herders to increase value of wool and cashmere of yak and baby camel through processing the raw materials and supply it to national producers, as Zuunbayan-Ulaan, Uyanga, Bat-Ulzii soums have a significant amount of yaks and Bodg soum has camels. Combed camel wool price reaches MNT10000, while in the market 1kg of unprocessed camel wool costs MNT3000. The project implementer also sets a goal to export babe camel wool, as quality of baby camel wool can be improved to the level of cashmere fiber through combing.
“- A survey showed that pasture lands of northern soums have been affected by degradation the most. The number of animals has grown up, causing overgrazing of 3-4 times. Pastureland degradation has impacts on herders’ livelihood. It is estimated that one herder family gets loss of MNT2.6-3.6 million annually due to pasture degradation. Therefore due attention to pasture is necessary” said Mr. N.Gankhuyag.
“- A survey showed that pasture lands of northern soums have been affected by degradation the most. The number of animals has grown up, causing overgrazing of 3-4 times. Pastureland degradation has impacts on herders’ livelihood. It is estimated that one herder family gets loss of MNT2.6-3.6 million annually due to pasture degradation. Therefore due attention to pasture is necessary” said Mr. N.Gankhuyag.
As a result of the project, herders will be able to define the cause and state of degradation and how to restore it. A new system will be established that additional finance source, generated through supply of value added products will be spent on pastureland and successful model of the four soums will be introduced to other soums.
B.Ooluun
