Reference Date: 10-July-2024

Area planted to 2024 wheat crop estimated at below‑average level

Planting of the 2024 wheat crop, to be harvested in September, finalized last May and the area planted is estimated below the average for the second consecutive year, as many farmers prefer to grow more remunerative crops, particularly vegetables. Precipitation amounts were generally favourable between April and June 2024, supporting crop establishment and early development. Remote sensing data from mid‑June 2024 indicated favourable vegetation conditions across most cropping areas (ASI map).

Average wheat production obtained in 2023

The 2023 wheat output is officially estimated at an average level of 443 000 tonnes as excellent yields, supported by adequate supply of irrigation water and widespread use of high‑yielding seed varieties, offset below‑average sowings. Production of vegetables is officially estimated at a record of 183 000 tonnes.

Wheat imports in 2023/24 forecast well above average

Cereal imports consist mostly of wheat plus small quantities of rice. In the 2023/24 marketing year (October/September), wheat imports are forecast at a well above‑average level of 130 000 tonnes, reflecting anticipated large imports by the private sector after the government removed the import duties on wheat from 1 May 2024, aiming at improving market supply and controlling high domestic prices. For the 2024 calendar year, imports of rice, which is not produced domestically, are forecast at an above‑average level of 50 000 tonnes, reflecting increasing domestic consumption.

Prices of wheat flour at record levels in May 2024

Retail prices of wheat flour, a key staple food, were at record highs between July 2023 and May 2024, after the sharp increases from mid‑2022 to mid‑2023 due to the high cost of production and transport and the significant depreciation of the national currency that made imports more expensive. The national currency remained relatively stable against the United States dollar from April 2023 to May 2024.

Retail prices of mutton and beef meat, also important staple foods, increased since January 2024, reflecting seasonal trends and elevated cost of animal feed. Concerns about the negative effects of the Dzud (see below) on domestic production contributed to price increases. Overall, in May 2024, mutton and beef meat prices were higher than the already elevated levels a year earlier.

Livelihoods of herders severely affected by winter weather extremes in 2023/24

Winter weather extremes, locally known as Dzud, affected most of the country between November 2023 and April 2024, leading to significant livestock losses by starvation and cold. Official estimates indicate that about 7.9 million heads of livestock perished due to the 2023/24 Dzud, with the highest losses occurring in Sukhbaatar, Khentii, Arkhangai, Tuv and Dornogovi provinces (locally known as aimags) located in the eastern and central parts of the country. The death toll accounts for 12.3 percent of the national herd, significantly exceeding the average mortality rate recorded during the same period in the previous five years and is the highest level since 2010. The loss of livestock has a direct negative effect on the income of a large number of people in the country as over a quarter of the total population is engaged in livestock‑rearing activities. Reduced income and high prices of staple foods are expected to erode the purchasing power of most vulnerable herder households, constraining their access to food. For more information, see GIEWS Update .

Disclaimer: The designations employed and the presentation of material in this information product do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of FAO concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.

This brief was prepared using the following data/tools:
FAO/GIEWS Country Cereal Balance Sheet (CCBS) https://www.fao.org/giews/data-tools/en/ .

FAO/GIEWS Food Price Monitoring and Analysis (FPMA) Tool https://fpma.fao.org/ .

FAO/GIEWS Earth Observation for Crop Monitoring https://www.fao.org/giews/earthobservation/ .

Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) https://www.ipcinfo.org/ .