INISTER OF AGRICULTURE REPORTS

MUlaanbaatar /MONTSAME/ Grain sowing started on May 4, whereas the planting of potatoes and vegetables is expected to begin on May 10 and will continue until June 10, said R.Burmaa MP, the Minister of Food and Agriculture at the “Hour of Minister” weekly meeting on Thursday. This year, the country plans to sow grain on 328.6 thousand hectares area (wheat on 300 thousand hectares), potatoes--on 13.9 thousand hectares, vegetables--on 8.7 thousand hectares, oil plants--on 33 thousand hectares, fodder plants--on 16 thousand hectares, and fruits--on 1,000 hectares, said the Minister. For the planting works, 2,880 tractors, 2,170 seed drills, 4,680 units of soil processing and 326 drills of vegetables and potatoes have been prepared. In addition, 132 tractors will be supplied for the works in May 15. These tractors are given with a soft-loan of the China’s government, said Burmaa. By a census of livestock population of end of 2014, the number of livestock reached 52 million heads, increasing by 6.8 million heads against end of 2013. At a national level, 70% of the dams or 15.2 million heads of livestock have given births, receiving 14.9 million baby animals in the lambing year of 2015, said Burmaa. The Minister also reported that the Ministry is taking measures for discussing drafts of the state policy on food and agriculture and program on sustainable development of land farming at the government and parliament.