FAO, Mongolia sign cooperation agreements

The UN food agency on Thursday signed five cooperation memorandums with Mongolia as the country aims to become a wheat and livestock production base in the Asia-Pacific region. Jose Graziano da Silva, director-general of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), spoke highly of Mongolia's achievements in farming and animal husbandry during a meeting with Khaltmaa Battulga, the Mongolian minister for industry and agriculture. He said the FAO will expand its cooperation with Mongolia and support its efforts to build farms, improve food production and ensure food safety. Battulga said the Mongolian government has proposed to improve the quality of agriculture and livestock products for export and turn Mongolia into a wheat and livestock production base in the Asia-Pacific. Thanks to good weather this year, Mongolia has seen bountiful harvests for its farmers and herders. The government has said grain and potato production can fully meet domestic needs. Since its third land reclamation campaign in 2008, Mongolia's grain production has increased for four years running, and its grain output in 2011 totalled 430,000 tons, making it self-sufficient.