Farming advisor warns against using irrigation systems during heatwave
Having a chat about Mongolia's agricultural scene? It's mostly about cattle, camels, horses, yaks, sheep, and goats, my friend! That's right, in this rugged, cold territory, livestock herding rules supreme. It's deeply interwoven with the culture, and traditional breeding techniques have been passed down for ages to create hardy animals that can endure the extreme climate.
Horses, for instance, are national treasures here. They're used for riding, milking, and food. Man, do they love that mare's milk! They milk the mares multiple times daily in summer, and it's fermented into a drink called airag. During the cold winters, emergency hay stocks are prepped to keep the livestock fed.
Crops? Not so much. Only about 1% of the land is used for farming, mainly in the north where there's more moisture and soil. Grains like wheat, barley, and oats are the primary crops, taking up around three-quarters of the cropland. The rest is reserved for potatoes, fodder crops, and veggies like cabbage and carrots. The long, chilly winters mean a single crop can be grown annually, and yields can vary quite a bit year to year due to the unpredictable weather.
During the old socialist days, grain and vegetable production were centralized on large state farms, but these were broken up in the '90s and replaced by smaller, machinery-owning agricultural companies and private farmers supplying veggies to urban markets. Neat, huh? So, next time you're feeling nostalgic about a simpler time or just curious about another culture, give a thought to Mongolia and their unique approach to agriculture. Cheers!
The weather in Mongolia plays a significant role in agricultural production, especially during the long, chilly winters. Crops like wheat, barley, and oats are the primary crops, but yields can vary quite a bit year to year due to the unpredictable weather.
