In regard to develop intensive dairy farming, the current situation of the industry, milk production, benefits and processing the representatives of milk suppliers such as herders, producers and farmers have organized a joint forum on “Restoration of Dairy Industry and Investment”.
During the forum herders, producers and farmers highlighted the need for tripling milk consumption of Mongolians, exchanged views on industry development and challenges, including many issues, such as to meet the domestic demand for dairy products of the entire population, to improve the milk efficiency and productivity from livestock and reduce the cost, to process milk and make dried milk from pure Mongolian cow’s milk.
D.Khishigjargal, a herder, said:
-In order to increase milk supply, herders need highly efficient and productive cattle. Cattle are currently raised in the farms have high costs and low incomes. For this reason, we need government support to have profitable breed of cattle. Cultivation land for green fodder needs to be addressed. Milk production is also low because cattle cannot be fed with high quality feed. If we increase the milk yield and production, we can increase the supply. A household that supplies 300-400 liters of milk per day is going to spoil almost a ton of milk during holidays on Saturdays and Sundays. It is good to hear that APU Dairy is proposing to build a dry milk factory. Spoiling milk for 2-3 days means wasting a lot of money. Herders’ incomes will increase if they are able to avoid this loss.
G.Bayarmagnai, CEO of APU Dairy LLC, said:
-There are many opportunities in the dairy industry. Mongolia has 4 million cattle. New Zealand, the leader in the world milk market, has only 2 million cattle and they supply more than 30 percent of the world milk market. Therefore, we have more opportunities than them. I hope that the herders who came here will meet, talk and share their good experiences. We are talking about how to get more vitamins rather than high returns from the dairy market and how to increase profits.
About earning money by delivering milk to the dried milk factory. We use very little of the whole benefits of our cattle. We are milking a certain percentage of our cows. Other cattle are not used. If we have farms with dairy cows or improved milk production, we will be able to live happily in our community. We can get milk from herders. We deliver good milk to consumers using a reliable technology. We are investing in cattle farming. Pay them milk price on time and provide other support. If we have a network connecting 21 provinces then we have an opportunity to triple milk consumption of Mongolians. Let’s have people with healthy teeth, no osteoporosis and good immunity. We need government support. The government is supporting and investing in the meat, vegetable and agriculture industries. But not enough in the dairy industry. We need to combine our voices on the need to invest because there is a demand.
– Ya.Enkhee, CEO of Silkroad Magic LLC, said:
-We operate in Bayandelger soum of Central province. We have been cooperating with APU Dairy for 4 years. Providing a loan with 3 percent interest to farmers would be a very profitable investment. We need low interest loans. If farmers are given low-interest loans for their equipment, they will be able to continue their operations. In the summer if produced a lot of milk, then there are no entrepreneurs to collect milk from herders. If we are able to store milk under lenient terms, we can collect milk from herders without spoiling it. That’s what we want.
B.Batbaatar, Coordinator of the Asian Dairy Partnership and Executive Director of the Secretariat, said:
-We Mongolians have been consuming dairy products throughout our lives. We know the benefits of milk. In other countries, when we talk about milk, we are faced with the question of whether it is produced from animal or plant. But we immediately understand that we are talking about livestock milk. The milk and dairy industry needs to be developed at the export level. It is a global market worth of US$ 722 billion. It will grow by 7% per year until 2030. It is a sustainable business. According to World Bank it possible to raise capital in four industries in Mongolia. One of them is Milk and Dairy Processing industry in conjunction with intensive livestock farming. What foreign ambassadors in Mongolia say is that there is a need to use yak milk, camel milk and mare milk for export.