Mongolia has committed to increasing its cultivation area for fruits and berries to 20,000 hectares and aims to achieve a production target of 30,000 tons by 2030. To realize this goal, the Government has pledged to bolster private-sector initiatives and enhance investments through public-private partnerships.
An international scientific conference titled "Development of the sea buckthorn and other crops market in the Asian region" was organized in late October 2024, marking the 70th anniversary of Mongolia's science-based fruit and berry industry. During the conference, State Secretary of the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Light Industry, Jambaltseren Tumur-Uya, underscored the importance of national movements including "One Billion Trees," "Food Supply and Security," and "Healthy Mongolian." These initiatives, endorsed by Head of State Khurelsukh Ukhnaa, aim to mitigate the effects of global warming and climate change while ensuring food supply stability in Mongolia.
International scientists have identified that Mongolia has the potential to cultivate various fruits such as apples, plums, peaches, apricots, and pears. The State Secretary emphasized the need for ongoing efforts to develop crop varieties suited to the local climate and to adopt advanced cultivation and breeding technologies.
Between 2022 and 2024, Fruit and Berry Breeding Centers were established in 9 aimags, funded by MNT 2.5 billion (approximately USD 691,000) from the state budget. Additionally, the SME Development Fund allocated MNT 2.4 billion (approximately USD 663,000) in soft loans to 18 enterprises during 2023-2024.
Currently, Mongolia produces less than three percent of its fruit and berry demand domestically, importing the remainder. The Ministry of Food, Agriculture, and Light Industry highlights the critical need for accelerating the development of the fruit and berry sector to meet domestic demand with healthy, locally grown produce. This includes improving the legal framework, investment climate, and workforce development.
Source: MONTSAME