Herders awarded for best practices

Herder receiving award from M. Enkhbold and
Akbar Usmani

Within the scope of the ‘Cash-for-Work’ initiative undertaken by the National Emergency Agency of Mongolia and UNDP Mongolia, awards were given to 54 herders who passed last winter’s dzud disaster with little loss due to careful preparation and hard efforts. On June 10, Deputy Prime Minister M. Enkhbold and UNDP Resident Representative a.i Akbar Usmani met with 12 of these herders at the State House and presented them awards.
The herders have between 250 and 1600 animals and passed the harsh winter with the survival of over 90 percent of their livestock.

The best herders were selected from every soum of Khovd, Dundgobi, Ovorkhangai and Tov aimags where the ‘Cash-for-Work’ initiative has been realized. It is intended to introduce their experience and methods to others so they could maintain their animals.
In line with the initiative, over 2.6 million livestock carcasses were removed in these aimags. It means about 35 percent of the estimated 7.8 million livestock carcasses were removed throughout the country and roughly 20,000 herders received cash up to Tgs300,000, (about USD1.4 million) for their removal works.
It was reported by M. Enkhbold, Deputy Prime Minister and head of the State emergency Commission, Akbar Usmani, UNDP Resident Representative a.i, and B. Batsaikhan, Deputy CEO of Khaan Bank.
Even though herders who lost animals volunteered for this activity, UNDP Mongolia implemented the project for the purpose to help them to get income, reduce health risks and prevent soil and water pollution. Along with being provided cash for work, the 51 soums involved in the project received decontamination equipment and tools.
source: The Mongol Messenger