UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ULAANBAATAR 000282
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP/EX, A/OPR/ALS, A/HR/OE/CM
STATE PASS PEACE CORPS, USTR, OPIC AND EXIMBANK
USDA FOR N. SAKHLEH
BEIJING FOR AGCOUNS AND FCS
USAID FOR DEIDRA WINSTON
BANGKOK AND MANILA FOR USAID
TREASURY FOR T.T. YANG
COMMERCE FOR ZGCROSS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAGR, PGOV, SOCI, EAID, ETRD, ECON, PREL, MG
SUBJECT: NGO Reports 1/3 of Mongolia's Urban Households Lack Access
to Sufficient Food
REF: A) ULAANBAATAR 0115, B) ULAANBAATAR 0177, C) ULAANBAATAR 0205
1. SUMMARY: A recent Mercy Corps study has found that one third of
Mongolia's urban households are "food insecure," meaning they do not
have access to enough sufficient, safe and nutritious food to meet
their dietary needs. Poverty and unemployment are key contributing
factors. Residents of provincial urban areas are less food-secure
than their rural counterparts. Food secure households are more
likely to use a protected water source, give loans and own more
land. Mongolia is import-dependent (mostly from Russia and China)
for such staples as flour, vegetables, processed foods and dairy
products. Domestically produced dairy, meat and vegetable supplies
are heavily affected by season, with availability highest from late
summer to early winter, and lowest during the spring. Mongolia's
low level of dietary diversity is similar to that of Mali, and much
lower than in Vietnam or Bangladesh. Areas for possible improvement
cited by Mercy Corps include engagement with local food markets and
promoting food security in low income, urban households. END
SUMMARY.
2. A recent study by the NGO Mercy Corps has found clear evidence of
food insecurity among residents of Mongolia's provincial cities.
Overall, one third of surveyed households are food-insecure; one
quarter of all those surveyed were found to be moderately or
severely food-insecure). Poverty and unemployment are the largest
contributing factors, with low job security and single-mother
families also playing a role. Those who have the least secure
access to healthy food usually come from large households, live in
ger districts, and rely heavily on income from government transfers
to meet household needs. Other mitigating factors include
education, livestock ownership, and larger income transfers.
(Reftels provide recent background on agricultural plans,
small-scale food protests, and the impact of inflation on food
prices.)
FEMALE-HEADED HOUSEHOLDS AT GREATEST RISK
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3. Households categorized as food-insecure are also more likely to
be female-headed; to have taken out a loan in the past year; to have
reported a recent illness in the household with an inability to
afford medical care; to be dependent on income transfers as a large
portion of household income; and, unsurprisingly, to have
malnourished children. Food-secure households were more likely to
use a protected water source, give loans, have a larger proportion
of income coming from employment, and own more land.
IN PROVINCIAL CITIES, LESS ACCESS TO SUFFICIENT FOOD
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4. Citing the strong linkages between food security and the
long-term success of economic development initiatives, Mercy Corps'
study was intended to frame the issue in the Mongolian context. In
most developing countries, food insecurity is usually found in
rural, subsistence agricultural areas. But in the case of Mongolia,
residents of provincial urban areas were found to have the least
access to "sufficient, safe and nutritious food to meet their
dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life."
Their rural compatriots could rely on a large supply of herder
livestock (nearly 40 million livestock were recorded in Mongolia
ULAANBAATA 00000282 002 OF 002
last year). However, rural households were more vulnerable to
natural disasters (including drought and harsh winters) than their
countrymen in provincial cities. . 60% of Mongolia's population now
resides in urban centers, and the percentage is growing.
MORE MEAT, LESS FRUIT AND VEGETABLES
-------------------------------------
5. Market surveys reveal that meat products were the most available,
while fish, fruits and vegetables were scarcer. Of the five main
food sectors -- meat, dairy, fruit and vegetables, flour/cereals and
other processed foods -- most businesses concentrated on meat sales,
due to a large supply of livestock. Primary sources of flour,
vegetables, processed foods (e.g. salt, sugar) and dairy (during the
winter) were either directly imported from Russia and China or
brought in from Ulaanbaatar. All rice is imported from abroad.
Mongolia's food processing industry is underdeveloped, and
relatively little food production was found by the NGO's survey.
CHEESEBURGER IN PARADISE? DEPENDS ON THE SEASON
--------------------------------------------- --
6. The dairy, meat and fruit/vegetable sector are heavily affected
by seasonal changes; availability is highest from late summer to
early winter, and lowest during the spring, when both food and
employment are scarce. The main causes of the fluctuations in
supply are due to highly seasonal production patterns, limited
food-storage (refrigeration) facilities, and poor transport
infrastructure. Collectively, this leaves Mongolian households
facing a major period of food insecurity from March through May)
each year. A similar but less severe period begins in August and
peaks in October/November.
POOR DIETARY DIVERSITY
----------------------
7. On average, households in the survey had eaten from about seven
of the 12 food groups during the previous 24 hours, most commonly
cereals, meat, miscellaneous (including tea and condiments) and
oils/fats. The least commonly reported food groups were eggs, beans
and fish. Eleven percent of the survey population had eaten from
less than five food groups, indicating poor dietary diversity.
According to the report, Mongolia's level of dietary diversity is
similar to that found in Mali and much lower than in Vietnam or
Bangladesh.
A WAY FORWARD
-------------
8. Areas for possible improvement cited by Mercy Corps include
engagement with local food markets and promoting food security in
low income, urban households. The report recommends initiatives for
vocational training, job creation, infrastructure development, and
local food production for local consumption.
Minton