Mrs. Oyunchimeg, head of the Bayanzag Camel Herder Cooperative in Umnugobi Aimag. The Bayanzag group used the LGM to access a loan for camel milk processing and sales expansion. Photo by: Mercy Corps

Project Location

RASP is being implemented in Arhangai, Bayanhongor, Dornogovi, Dundgovi, Gobi-Altai, Gobi-Sumber, Khovd, Umnugovi, Uvurhangai, Sukhbaatar, Uvs and Zavhan aimags in central and southern Mongolia where both opportunities and significant challenges exist for agribusiness advancement and development.

Project Goal

Increased sales revenue of expanded and diversified rural agribusinesses through environmentally sound practices.

Project Objective

Support the establishment and growth of rural enterprises and increase the value of sales of marketable animal products and crops through developing a more market-oriented agricultural production and marketing system.

Project Focus

Expand and strengthen value chains from agricultural and livestock producers to processors and consumers; create new market opportunities for local producers; increase the visibility and availability of safer food products; improve the supporting environment for agribusiness development; strengthen the veterinary sector; and identify, test and disseminate methodologies for improved natural resource management.

Major Accomplishments To Date

• 7,045 rural agricultural producers and value added agribusinesses provided with training and technical assistance to increase their competitiveness in collaboration with 29 rural business development service providers;
• 54 regional and national trade fairs and other market linkage activities implemented, attracting over 4,000 exhibitors and generating over $2,15 million in direct sales;
• Loan Guarantee Mechanism has, in collaboration with local commercial banks, facilitated disbursement of 1,928 loans to rural SMEs (40% start-up businesses and 55% first time borrowers) worth $5,04 million by providing $1,98 million in additional cash collateral;
• Supported the participatory development of 39 aimag and soum local economic development plans (LED) in 12 aimags and facilitated 8 national investor forums raising over $2,73 million in public and private funds for LED plans implementation;
• Delivered a continuing education training program to 1,875 veterinarians and food safety practitioners to improve local veterinary diagnostic and food safety assurance capacity;
• Established veterinarian students scholarship program, benefiting up to 40 students annually to further the development of veterinarian services;
• Conducted 8 public education campaigns on food safety, prevention of zoonotic diseases, appropriate use of veterinarian medicines and accessing finance for business development. The campaigns reached over 460,000 herders, veterinarians, businesspersons, children, government officials and consumers;
• Implemented 28 Young Businessperson Training programs attended 486 rural young enterpreneurs. 417, or 85.8% of the participants developed busineness plans to start-up and/or expand their businesses and applied to commercial banks for loans.

Implemented by

Mercy Corps.
24 Peace Avenue, Bayanzurkh District
Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
Phone: +976-11-461145, Fax: 461048
Email: postmaster@mercycorps.org.mn
Website: www.mercycorps.org.mn

Funding

USDA
March 2009 – February 2011