Within the context of the national initiative “Food Supply and Security” launched by President U. Khurelsukh of Mongolia, the Parliament has officially endorsed Resolution No. 36, which outlines the collaborative efforts of over 30 government organizations in its implementation. As part of this endeavor, these government organizations collaborate to review and assess the outcomes of their respective undertakings. In line with this, the second meeting was convened.
Specifically, more than 30 government organizations, including Parliament, the Government, implementing agencies, and research institutes, have united under the guidance of the head of state to collectively pursue the ambitious aim of meeting the nation’s requirements for 19 distinct food products and transforming Mongolia into a regional exporter. The overarching mission entails ensuring that the people of Mongolia have access to wholesome, safe, and readily available food. Furthermore, this endeavor has garnered active involvement from not only government institutions but also international organizations, the private sector, and enterprises fostering fruitful collaborations and yielding significant achievements.
The primary advantage of the national movement “Food Supply and Security” lies in its assured budget and financial support. In contrast to previous instances where numerous projects and policies were formulated but languished due to insufficient funding, the current initiative has diligently addressed this concern. The availability of guaranteed resources has played a pivotal role in translating plans into action and generating positive outcomes.
A prime example of this phenomenon is exemplified by the high demand exhibited by producers and wealth generators for low-interest, long term loans. Within a span of over two months since the initiation of these loans, a substantial amount of 231.6 billion MNT has already been disbursed to eligible recipients. Furthermore, a decision has been reached to allocate approximately 140 billion MNT in additional loan provisions, with ongoing deliberations underway to potentially extend loans amounting to approximately 400 billion MNT.
Despite the decision to grant a total of 980 billion MNT loans, it was increased to 1.2 trillion MNT in order to make it accessible to producers in some industries.
During the meeting, several issues were raised and discussed to be resolved. Notable examples include concerns raised regarding the lack of accountability exhibited by certain experts within the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the provision of high-interest loans by certain commercial banks, sluggish progress in legal reforms, and other related issues.
Additionally, it was emphasized that in order to fulfill the nation’s food consumption needs, support for producers should prioritize meeting quality and standard requirements, while simultaneously striving to establish Mongolia as an exporting country. However, the existing shortage of human resources proficient in implementing proper practices within the food sector poses a significant challenge. Consequently, a potential solution under consideration involves the implementation of a short certification course aimed at training workers in both the food industry and catering sector. Furthermore, legal measures are being contemplated to prevent individuals who have not completed the Good Practice Training and obtained certification from engaging in employment within these industries.
Producers play a crucial role as the backbone of the food industry. In pursuit of a comprehensive “food revolution,” particular attention is being given by the Office of the President to bolstering the foundational aspects of this sector. Within one year, we engaged with over 100 manufacturers and more than 1000 wealth creators, actively listening to their perspectives. This collaborative effort culminated in the formulation of 24 decisions that are currently being implemented. To ensure the optimal effectiveness of the 114 measures undertaken within the framework of these 24 decisions and the Parliament’s 36th resolution, the commitment and performance of government institutions hold paramount significance. Consequently, it has been determined that the accountability of organizational management will be reinforced, holding them responsible for their non-participation in meetings, ineffective work, and lack of progress. Based on the report presented during the consultation meeting and the implementation progress report, it has been observed that 59.6 percent of the overall measures have been inadequately executed. Thus, the aforementioned decision has been made in light of the inactivity exhibited by certain government bodies.