MONGOLIA* (2 June)
Livestock in Mongolia play a fundamental role in the nutritional status of the majority of the population. Substantial losses have been forecast for the 2004/05 winter as a result of a dry summer in 2004 and heavy snows and much below-normal temperature from January to March. In Khentii aimag, the ground was covered by 30-40 cm on average and 70-80 in some areas which rendered access to pasture for livestock impossible. Snow depth in Bayan-Ulgii aimag was 15-20 cm in steppe and reached 40-50 cm in mountainous areas with temperature reaching minus 34-38o C in daytime and minus 38-40o C at night.
Wheat is virtually the only cereal grown in the country. Production in 2004 declined by some 20 percent compared to the previous year to 135 400 tonnes, reflecting the dry summer weather in the major wheat growing regions. Planting of the 2005 wheat crop is about to start and harvesting will take place in September. The output of this crop is critically dependent on the rainfall situation in the coming several months and is, provisionally, forecast at 140 000 tonnes. This covers only about 35 percent of domestic wheat utilization, leaving an estimated import requirement for 2005/06 of 255 000 tonnes. Imports of 13 000 tonnes of rice are also foreseen. Given that the country has a serious balance of payment problem, commercial imports will only cover part of this requirement and food aid will be necessary to meet the deficit.