Dzud expected in most areas of territory
The National Agency for Meteorology and Environmental Monitoring (NAMEM) has compiled a variety of ground observation and satellite data related to drought, dzud, and pastures and produced a dzud risk map. During the development of the risk map of summer, drought of last summer, 2023-2024 winter-spring pasture capacity, pasture yield, number of livestock, deviation compared to the average air temperature and precipitation, this year’s snow cover, thickness, and November air temperature and precipitation were taken into account and used information such as status.
This autumn snow fell in early November, and more than 50 percent of the area has snow, and the snow cover is five to 20 cm thick in most areas, and more than that in some areas. According to the dzud risk map, more than 50 percent of the entire area of Mongolia is at a high risk of dzud. Of these, nine percent are at a very high risk, and 45 percent are at a high risk. Also, 36 percent of the entire area is at a moderate risk of the dzud and about 10 percent is at low risk.
The risk of dzud is high in Gobi and western provinces, which have been drier this summer. Although the summer condition was good this year, the first snowfall of fall was more dangerous in the central and eastern provinces, which has started to make winter and spring conditions difficult in most areas. Thus, in areas with a high risk of dzud, lack of livestock fattening, pasture grasses covered by snow, the surface of the snow is compacted and hardened, extremely cold in snowy areas, poor opportunities for fodder preparation, and lack of markets to sell livestock are increasing the possibility of dzud.
Moreover, a meeting of the working group was held on November 17 in connection with winter preparations. In the coming days, the weather will warm up and the snow will start to melt, but it will be extremely cold from November 22, so there is a risk of ice forming on the surface of the ground. NAMEM has warned that there will be more snow than average for many years, and 48.5 percent of the entire area has excess capacity of pastures, which increases the risk in December. Due to the possibility of severe winter, Deputy Prime Minister S.Amarsaikhan instructed the Ministry of Environment and Tourism (MET) to give information to herdsmen and citizens and to survey families and households that need to migrate to provinces and soums. Also, MET was instructed to organize it in cooperation with the localities according to a specific schedule and regulation.
The Deputy Prime Minister noted, “Exchange activities should be carried out in localities in a regional manner, and farmers should be provided with the opportunity to buy and sell their livestock and meat at market prices without intermediaries, to quickly organize livestock and meat preparation work. Also, it is important to pay attention to the hygiene quality, meet the standards, and follow the technical regulations when organizing the Winter Food meat trade event in the capital city.”
In the food and agriculture sector, winter preparations are at 85 percent, and grass and fodder stock preparation and withdrawal are at 78 percent.