VEGI - Inclusive and sustainable vegetable production and marketing

Progetto concluso

This exit phase further promotes vegetable production and nutrition in Mongolia, focusing on the most demanded crops with domestically-produced seeds suitable to agro-climatic conditions. It adds an organisational development’s support to the Mongolian Farmers Association for Rural Development and to the Vegetable Seed Reserve Unit to strengthen the sustainability of these critical institutions, based on SDC similar experiences in Africa.

Paese/Regione Tema Periodo Budget
Mongolia
Agricoltura e sicurezza alimentare
Servizi agricoli & mercato
Politica agricola
01.08.2020 - 31.10.2023
CHF  2’035’500
Contesto

-    Poverty rate in Mongolia: 28.4% reported in 2018, but up to 50% expected in 2020 due to the COVID-19 crisis.

-    Agriculture sector in Mongolia = 2nd biggest economic pillar (after mining), dominated by livestock. Slight increase in overall agricultural production for last few years. Contributed 1.1% in GDP growth in 2019.

-    Climate Change both an opportunity and a risk in Mongolia. Vegetable production is a solid complement and alternative to some livestock-based economies, but still in an early stage of development (including at its institutional/organisational level).

-    Vegetable production covering only 39% of demand, mainly due to climatic conditions with short growing season and arid weather, as well as big imports from China.

Obiettivi Livelihood in Mongolia is improved through inclusive, gender responsive and sustainable growth of the vegetable sector.
Gruppi target

Outcomes 1 and 2: Smallholder farmers and their cooperatives;

Outcome 3: Farmer organisations (MFARD, extension centres) and mechanism: Vegetable Seed Reserve Unit (VSRU, formerly: Seed Reserve Fund SRF);

Outcome 4: MOFALI and national parliament.

Effetti a medio termine

1.    Livelihood of rural and peri-urban small holder farmers and women headed households is improved through increased vegetable production to fulfil domestic consumption demand.

2.    The marketing of domestic vegetables (including those from small-scale farmers and women headed households) is well organised, profitable, in line with market trends and consumers’ preferences, with primary and secondary cooperatives in lead.

3.    The organisational development, governance structure and financial management of farmer organisations (including Vegetable Seed Service units) is strengthened.

4.    Sustainable and inclusive growth of the vegetable sector is fostered by improved policy/legal and institutional framework.

Risultati

Risultati principali attesi:  

1.1    Vegetable seeds suitable to agro-climatic conditions in Mongolia are tested, approved and vegetables produced;

2.1    Supply chain of vegetables from farmer’s gate to markets is operational and driven by farmer cooperatives; 

3.1    MFARD has a long-term vision and is managed according to good governance principles; 

4.1    Plant Protection and Food security Laws are revised in collaboration with the relevant department of the Ministry.


Risultati fasi precedenti:  

-    79 varieties of 39 vegetable crops released nationwide from 1968 to 2019, of which 49% (= 39) are the products of trials by VEGI phase 1 and its predecessor the Potato Programme.

-    Thanks to introduction of early and late maturing varieties adapted to agro-climatic conditions and to accustomed storage facilities, vegetable varieties are available for almost 10 continuous months instead of only 6 months at the beginning of phase 1.

-    Domestic production of root vegetables suitable for winter storage (potato, carrot, turnip, beetroot) reached 100% of the domestic demand.

-    Onion and garlic imports from China fell by 39% (= 10’581 tonnes) and cabbage by 4.3% (= 1’566 tonnes) as of 12.2019 compared to 12.2018.

-    Income of farmers supported by VEGI increased by 83%, to MNT 3.3 million (= CHF 1’244).

-    Model street/household approach reached 330 households from 21 streets who planted vegetable on 5 ha and harvested 8 tons of vegetables in 2019.

-    Draft law on plant variety and seed submitted to the Parliament.


Direzione/Ufficio responsabile DSC
Credito Cooperazione allo sviluppo
Partner del progetto Partner contrattuale
ONG internazionale o straniera
Economia privata
Instituzione statale straniera
Organizzazione delle Nazioni Unite (ONU)
  • Central State of South East
  • Organizzazione delle Nazioni Unite per l'alimentazione e l'agricoltura
  • Settore privato straniero Sud/Est
  • Settore privato svizzero


Altri partner

Outcome 1 and 2: Mandate to the Mongolian Farmers Association for Rural Development (MFARD);

Outcome 3: Mandate(s) to Coaching entities;

Outcome 4: Contribution to the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO).

Coordinamento con altri progetti e attori

ADB (irrigation and production)

EU (value chain)

FAO

ADRA (organic)

JICA (NAEC)

KOICA (seedlings)

SDC funded Education for Sustainable Development project (ESD)

Budget Fase in corso Budget Svizzera CHF    2’035’500 Budget svizzero attualmente già speso CHF    1’874’937
Fasi del progetto

Fase 2 01.08.2020 - 31.10.2023   (Completed)

Fase 1 01.03.2016 - 31.07.2020   (Completed)