Ulaanbaatar
Success in Irrigated Agriculture: Results from a Field Experiment
Society
Ulaanbaatar, August 19, 2025 /MONTSAME/. The Ministry of Food, Agriculture, and Light Industry, with funding from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Japan Fund for Poverty Reduction, is successfully implementing the Vegetable Production and Irrigated Agriculture Project in the Gobi region and Altai soum of Khovd aimag.
In the experimental field of the Boomin Am irrigation system in Altai soum, 2 to 4 varieties of each of the following fine vegetables – corn, peas, watermelon, melon, garlic, pepper, pumpkin, and earth apple have been successfully cultivated and harvested in abundance.
“Agro Alpha,” an agricultural consulting firm, provided expert guidance to a group of vegetable farmers in the soum, enabling them to cultivate various crops successfully despite severe weather conditions. Across a total area of 300 hectares, key infrastructure has been developed, including headworks, main canals, 3.7 kilometers of flood protection dams, reservoirs, and pumping station buildings. Additionally, five sprinkler irrigation machines have been installed. The team has also contributed to environmental and community improvements by planting 5,000 trees, constructing sidewalks, and installing waste bins.
The Vegetable Production and Irrigated Agriculture Project, funded by the Asian Development Bank and the Japan Fund for Poverty Reduction, is being implemented from 2020 to 2026 across 19 soums in 11 aimags, including Khovd, Gobi-Altai, Zavkhan, Bayan-Ulgii, Selenge, Tuv, Khentii, Darkhan-Uul, Uvs, and Dornod. As part of the project, 12 irrigation systems have been renovated and rehabilitated, enabling the cultivation of over 7,000 hectares of irrigated vegetables, fruits, grains, and fodder crops. Over 3,500 households have benefited from methodological training and advisory services in vegetable farming, according to the Ministry of Food, Agriculture, and Light Industry.
