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MongoliaMain producing and exporting countries

Authors: 超级管理员 | Edit: tianfuyou

This reporting period from April to July covers the main crop growing season in Mongolia, which focuses primarily on spring wheat. Mongolia has a short growing period of 120-140 days due to its high latitude location. With only 2.9% of cropland under irrigation, crop growth is highly dependent on rainfall during the April to August wet season. Compared to the 15-year average, accumulated precipitation was 255 mm, 8% below average. Average temperatures were 9.4°C, 1.0°C lower than average. Solar radiation was 1338 MJ/m2, 2% below average. These conditions resulted in a potential biomass 8% below average.

According to the spatial distribution of NDVI profiles, at the beginning of the growing season (June), only 25.7% of the area had slightly above average vegetation conditions. By July, over 69.1% of the area had vegetation conditions slightly above average, consistent with the trend shown in the NDVI time series graph. The VCIx distribution map shows that only the east of Selenge-Onon region had poor crop conditions, while other regions were above 0.8. The national average VCIx was 0.91, indicating overall good vegetation conditions across the country. The CALF was 99%, equal to the 5-year average. The results show that after entering the peak growing season, Mongolia exhibited relatively good crop growth conditions. The CPI for Mongolia was 0.95, also indicating near-normal crop production prospects overall this season.

Overall, the cereal production prospects in Mongolia are near normal.


Regional analysis

Based on cropping systems, climatic zones, and topographic conditions, Mongolia can be divided into five agro-ecological zones (AEZ): Altai (135), Gobi Desert (136), Hangai Khuvsgul Region (137), Selenge-Onon Region (138) and Central and Eastern Steppe (139). Altai and Gobi Desert have no cultivated land, so we are mainly concerned with the three regions of Hangai Khuvsgul Region, Selenge-Onon Region and Central and Eastern Steppe.

Hangai Khuvsgul region: 

In the Hangai Khuvsgul region in northwest Mongolia, accumulated precipitation was close to the 15-year average, while average temperatures were 1.2°C cooler than average, and solar radiation was 5% below average. The NDVI time series graph shows that before July, the vegetation condition was below the 5-year average; in July, it was equal to the average level. The regional VCIx was 0.91, and CALF was 99%, indicating generally normal crop prospects.

Selenge-Onon region: 

The Selenge-Onon region in north-central Mongolia produces around 60% of Mongolia's wheat. Accumulated precipitation, average temperatures and solar radiation were all slightly below average. This resulted in near-normal biomass accumulation. However, the VCIx was 0.92, CALF was 99%, and CPI was 0.97, reflecting generally normal crop conditions in the main wheat zone.

Central and Eastern Steppe Region: 

In the Central and Eastern Steppe region, accumulated precipitation was 25% below average, while average temperatures were near-normal. This resulted in biomass accumulation that was 17% below average. The VCIx was 0.86 and the CPI was 0.92, indicating somewhat unfavorable crop conditions.



Figure 3.31 Mongolia’s crop condition, April - July 2023

(a) Phenology of major crops



(b) Crop condition development graph based on NDVI                     

(c) Maximum VCI

(d) Spatial NDVI patterns compared to 5YA                                       (e) NDVI profiles


(f) Rainfall profiles                                       (g) Temperature profiles

(h) Crop condition development graph based on NDVI (Hangai Khuvsgul Region (left) and Selenge-Onon Region (right))

(i) Crop condition development graph based on NDVI (Central and Eastern Steppe)


Table 3.54 Mongolia’s agroclimatic indicators by sub-national regions, current season’s values, and departure from 15YA, April - July 2023

Region

RAIN

TEMP

RADPAR

BIOMSS

Current (mm)

Departure (%)

Current (°C)

Departure (°C)

Current (MJ/m2)

Departure

 (%)

Current (gDM/m2)

Departure   (%)

Hangai Khuvsgul Region

309

2

6.8

-1.2

1325

-5

665

0

Selenge-Onon Region

255

-9

10.0

-1.0

1335

-2

662

-9

Central and Eastern Steppe Region

167

-25

13.2

-0.4

1347

0

577

-17

Altai Region

207

-49

8.0

0.0

1405

4

551

-10

Gobi Desert Region

108

-43

10.0

-1.4

1476

2

426

-24



Table 3.55 Mongolia’s agronomic indicators by sub-national regions, current season’s values, and departure from 5YA, April - July 2023

Region

Cropped arable land fraction

Maximum VCI

Current (%)

Departure (%)

Current

Hangai Khuvsgul Region

100

0

0.91

Selenge-Onon Region

100

0

0.92

Central and Eastern Steppe Region

100

1

0.86

Altai Region

77

-2

0.80

Gobi Desert Region

72

-2

0.77