A combination of harsh climate, tradition, and government restrictions prevented most Mongolians from gardening until their peaceful revolution of the mid-90s. Since independence, imported produce has been scarce, as remote Mongolia has had difficulty finding reliable trade partners. In addition, recent years have brought Mongolia exceptionally severe winters resulting in extensive loss of livestock, their traditional agricultural mainstay. Mongolians have seen a 15% decline in herds since 2000

In response, small-scale agricultural projects have been encouraged to provide a more adequate and balanced diet. This careful and intensive management of small plots maximizes the use of Mongolia’s limited arable land (less than 1% of the country’s total area). The gardens cost little – neither the heavy machinery nor the massive fertilization required by the mechanized farms of the Soviet era, which were both expensive to operate and unpopular.

In contrast, these communal gardens become quite self-sufficient following an educational initiative. Surplus produce provides significant economic incentive and gardens provide employment and empowerment to many who have been marginalized by recent hardships. These varied benefits, which go well beyond providing the only fresh produce many communities now see all year, have gained these programs widespread grassroots popularity.

Blog Disclaimer: The contents of this blog are solely my own. They do not reflect the views or opinions of any of the wonderful organizations I am working with in Mongolia.