CSO Parallel Meeting to the 32nd APRC Opening address

CSO Parallel Meeting to the 32^nd APRC

Opening address by

Mr. BAYARTSAIKHAN Nadmid

President

National Association of Mongolian Agricultural Cooperatives

March 8-9, 2014, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

Good morning,

Distinguished delegates, representatives of Asia-Pacific Civil-Society Organizations. I am happy to join you here in Ulaanbaatar at this CSO Parallel Meeting to the 32^ndFOA-Asia Pacific Regional Conference. On behalf of Mongolia, The National Association of Mongolia Agricultural Cooperatives, and our cooperative members, I warmly welcome you to Mongolia and declare our deepest appreciation for the honor of hosting this meeting in International Year of Family Farming -2014

I do look forward to fruitful dialog throughout this session and hope that our discussions blossom into a beautiful realization of policy formation and implementation for the advancement of farmers, farmer’s advocacy, and our collective agricultural landscape and food security

I do believe that this meeting will play an important role in fostering experience exchange and strengthening our victories over increasing food price, hunger, unsustainable agriculture practices, climate change, oppressive trade regimes, and sectorial developmental issues.

Now I would like to introduce you all to the Nation of Mongolia, its agricultural environment, and NAMAC.

Mongolia is situated in a landlocked position between Russian and China and has a population of only 2.8 million, which has given it the title of the fourth most sparsely populated country on the Earth.

Following the collapse of The Soviet Union and Communist system Mongolia began its transition from the socialist, centrally planned era toward a democratically controlled market economy. With the drafting of our new constitution in 1991, Mongolia arrived at its period of democracy and privatization. By now, there has been a major transfer of assets from state ownership to private hands, and most industries have fully privatized. Now private companies are producing 80% of Gross Domestic Product of Mongolia 

In recent years, Mongolia has met with rare economic fortune due to its position a top some of the largest mineral reserves in the world. Mongolia has earned the title of the best performing economy globally following a 2011 growth rate of 17% and a 2012 growth rate 12%. In this year our prognosis is about 11-12% growth of Gross Domestic Product.

Agriculture is the sector with the most potential to enhance Mongolia’s developing economy. Mongolia agriculture composes over 80% of the rural economy and employs more than 60% of the rural population. It is thus recognized as the key to strategic rural development. In addition, the agricultural sector represents 18% of Mongolia’s Gross Domestic Product, of which 85% is derived from livestock husbandry. The Mongolia agricultural sector has four discrete subsectors including:

1.     Extensive livestock, which is the traditional semi-nomadic pastoral system

2.     Mechanized large-area crop production of cereals and fodder crops

3.     Intensive farming, producing potatoes and vegetable, with both mechanized and simple production methods

4.     And intensive livestock, with housed dairy cattle, pigs and poultry

…ABOUT NAMAC

 NAMAC’s mission is to realize a more sustainable and prosperous Mongolia by uplifting agriculture through member training and support and by promoting a favorable environment for cooperative development. NAMAC is headquartered in Ulaanbaatar, it has a branch association in each of Mongolia’s 21 provinces, and it supports over 500 primary cooperatives. Our cooperator are represented across nearly every segment of Mongolia’s agriculture value chain, including animal husbandry, crop farming, dairy production, felt production, beekeeping, and agriculturally derived consumer goods processing.

I hope that in the coming two days we will discuss critical issues that affect agricultural development in the region and come out with important inputs to deliver the official FAO Asia Pacific Regional Conference. It’s also will be a good opportunity for us to further strengthen our solidarity and cooperation, and make the CSOs engagement with FAO and its member states more constructive.

In closing, please accept my warm thanks to FAO, Government of Mongolia and fellow CSOs representatives for the support towards this meeting. And accept my warm thanks for the opportunity to host this conference and for the kind attention of all the honorable delegates, participates, and observers in attendance.

Best Wishes and Good luck in Mongolia 

Thank you