©FAO Mongolia

SUPPORT E-AGRICULTURE STRATEGY IMPLEMENTATION OF MONGOLIA

April 2023

SDGs:

Country: Mongolia

Project Code: TCP/MON/3803

FAO Contribution: USD 151 000

Duration: 1 December 2020-31 January 2023

Contact Info: FAO Representation in Mongolia

[email protected]
SUPPORT E-AGRICULTURE STRATEGY IMPLEMENTATION OF MONGOLIA TCP/MON/3803

Implementing Partner It can provide individuals whose livelihoods rely on

Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Light Industry (MOFALI). agriculture with access to relevant information that can
help them make the best decisions and use the resources
Beneficiaries available. Digital solutions are a real driving force in
Actors of the agriculture sector. changing minds and developing transition paths that can
Country Programming Framework (CPF) Outputs accelerate the shift to more sustainable food systems.
FAO and the International Telecommunication
CPF Priority Area 4: Enable more inclusive and efficient
Union (ITU) provided joint support under a previous
agricultural and food systems.
Technical Cooperation Programme Facility (TCPF) project
CPF Outcome 2: Sustainable improvements of crop and
(TCP/MON/3704/C2, “Support to development of
livestock productivity.
Mongolian National E-Agriculture strategy” [2019-2021]),
Output 2.3: Develop a national e-agriculture strategy and
to support the development of a national e-agriculture
pilot select ICT solutions for enhanced monitoring and
strategy, in collaboration with the Ministry of Food,
management of food systems.
Agriculture and Light Industry (MOFALI), the
Communication and Information Technology Authority
of Mongolia (CITA), and private-sector partners
such as banks, insurance service providers and
telecommunication companies. The strategy was
endorsed in April 2020 by the MOFALI.
©FAO Mongolia This national e-agriculture strategy builds on national
agricultural policies and directly contributes to addressing
BACKGROUND household food security, nutrition, and poverty
The food and agricultural sector in Mongolia is confronted challenges. After its approval, the MOFALI prioritized its
with many challenges posed by the impact of climate execution, forming a technical working group and an
change, increased frequency of natural disasters, loss of e-agriculture steering committee to oversee its
biodiversity, erosion of the natural resource base, implementation. The MOFALI also formed a new ICT
increasing food price volatility, inefficient supply chains Division, in accordance with the Government's general
and other challenges. The last few years have tested the push for digitalization, to further foster digital innovations
resilience and exposed the vulnerabilities in the global in agriculture. Beyond agriculture, Mongolia plans to
agrifood systems. As the effects of the external shocks and adopt a broad range of initiatives under the "E-Mongolia"
climate change on food systems become more apparent, national programme to make public service delivery more
the case for investment in sustainable food systems has accessible and transparent.
never been greater. There are 48 different and disconnected information
In the years to come, science, technology and innovation systems, applications, and more than 30 websites
will be critical to driving the transformation of food supporting the agriculture sector. These systems require
systems towards sustainability. In that context, digital audits as well as integration into a comprehensive
solutions can be a real driving force to change information and technology (IT) system. In that context,
perspectives, enable social licensing, design market the Government of Mongolia requested FAO to support
incentives, build trust and develop transition pathways the newly established MOFALI’s ICT Division in
that can accelerate the transition towards more implementing the e-agriculture strategy and integrating
sustainable agrifood systems. the various existing IT systems of the agriculture sector
Despite the fact that Mongolia is self-sufficient in meat, that are already in place.
wheat, and potatoes, agricultural and livestock
productivity remain poor, limiting Mongolia's capacity to
meet rising domestic demand. The adoption of e-
agriculture solutions in Mongolia has the ability to drive
agriculture sector growth and raise incomes among the
rural poor by increasing agricultural production efficiency
and improving livelihoods. E-agriculture is the design,
development, and application of novel information and
communication technologies (ICTs), particularly digital
©FAO Mongolia
technologies, in the rural sector.

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SUPPORT E-AGRICULTURE STRATEGY IMPLEMENTATION OF MONGOLIA TCP/MON/3803

IMPACT Finally, a resource mobilization strategy that includes a

capacity-development plan for the newly constituted
The project contributed to efforts to ensure the
ICT division was developed.
implementation of digital solutions for the agriculture
The project has enhanced the relationship between
sector, as well as to improve the opportunities for
FAO and the MOFALI, particularly with its IT and
economic growth of the food sector. Implemented
Statistics Division. Ultimately, the implementation of the
activities contributed to the operationalization and
e-agriculture strategy will increase the availability,
diffusion of sustainable technologies, thereby contributing
accuracy, and accessibility of actionable information for
to Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 17, which is
stakeholders, provide digital applications and services
geared towards the implementation of initiatives to
to farmers, herders, and other stakeholders, and improve
promote sustainable development. By ensuring the
decision-making through policies, information systems,
circulation of key information to the actors of the
and solutions.
agriculture sector for enhanced food provision capacities,
this project also contributes to SDG 2, which aims to end IMPLEMENTATION OF WORK PLAN AND BUDGET
hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition;
The vegetable registration grower system's development
as well as to SDG 9, which aims to build resilient
and live deployment were delayed after the MOFALI
infrastructure, promote sustainable industrialization and
requested that particular system components be
foster innovation.
modified. As a result, the project was extended at no cost
ACHIEVEMENT OF RESULTS for an additional two months, allowing for its completion.
All activities were completed within the revised time
Thanks to the project, the national capacities to develop,
frame and allocated budget.
and operationalize the national e-agriculture strategy
(2020–2025) have been strengthened and an action plan FOLLOW-UP FOR GOVERNMENT ATTENTION
with 22 key actions and deliverables for future
To assure the sustainability of this project, both MOFALI
implementations has been formulated. This was achieved
staff and end-user technology skills should be
through the establishment of a digital agriculture team
strengthened. Furthermore, while MOFALI users presently
and the update identification of key expected results
use the smart dashboard, it requires further development
areas. The e-agriculture strategy action plan was officially
to allow farmers, herders, and other stakeholders to
endorsed in 2022 and two showcase digital agriculture
access it and the information it offers.
solutions were identified, developed and implemented
The MOFALI has budgeted a USD 5 million plan for the
to scale up the solutions further at national level.
development and implementation of digital agriculture
As a first digital agriculture solution, an agriculture sector
interventions, as well as for staff capacity building.
dashboard was designed. It operates as a data
However, this proposal has yet to be approved by the
visualization and business intelligence platform, allowing
MOFALI's new leadership, and funding commitments
the MOFALI to visualize weekly, monthly and annual data,
have yet to be secured.
as well as offer real-time information to decision-makers.
It enables data quality enhancement, information SUSTAINABILITY
discrepancy reduction, real-time information analysis,
1. Capacity development
data and information sustainability, and decision-making
improvement. Currently, the Smart Dashboard displays The project assisted the MOFALI in giving in-person user
70 graphics for livestock, agriculture, statistics, and training to around 8 000 farmers in to implement the
businesses. vegetable grower registration system.
As an extension of the pre-existing plant origin and
agrochemical registration system, a vegetable grower
registration system was also designed. This system intends
to modernize the national vegetable production subsidies
programme and incorporates numerous features and
modules for automated data exchange. The system has
been implemented across the country and has successfully
registered over 20 000 individual and enterprise farmers.
Substantial steps were also undertaken to integrate
©FAO Mongolia
Mongolia's various distinct digital systems.

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SUPPORT E-AGRICULTURE STRATEGY IMPLEMENTATION OF MONGOLIA TCP/MON/3803

2. Technological sustainability DOCUMENTS AND OUTREACH PRODUCTS

The two digital solutions developed as part of the project  FAO/Davaadorj, D., Batbaldan, T. Digital agriculture
are affordable and require little maintenance. The action plan. 49 pp.
technology stack employed to structure the two digital  FAO/Davaadorj, D. Digital agriculture in action. 17 pp.
agriculture solutions is widely used in system
development, and one of the introduced digital solutions
employs licenced software, TABLEAU, which will assure
the smart dashboard's sustainability. A component of
the digital agriculture action plan offers resources for
©FAO Mongolia
future IT-related project management.

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SUPPORT E-AGRICULTURE STRATEGY IMPLEMENTATION OF MONGOLIA TCP/MON/3803

ACHIEVEMENT OF RESULTS - LOGICAL FRAMEWORK

Expected Increased productivity and competitiveness of agriculture sector and improved livelihoods of
Impact beneficiaries
Productivity and market competitiveness of specific agriculture product value chains enhanced by
using digital agriculture
Indicator Number of digital solutions piloted in the agriculture sector.
Baseline 1

Outcome End Target 3

FAO worked closely with the MOFALI, in particular the IT and Statistics Division, to
Comments
formulate a digital agriculture action plan based on the priority areas identified in
and follow-up
the national e-agriculture strategy, as well as goals and objectives defined by the
action to be
MOFALI. Two showcase digital solutions were identified and successfully
taken
developed: a smart dashboard and a vegetable grower registration system.

Digital agriculture team established, key results areas identified, and a digital agriculture
implementation action plan developed
Output 1
Indicators Target Achieved
Development of one digital agriculture action plan. 1 Yes
Baseline
A digital agriculture action plan was successfully developed. It is based on and supports the
implementation of the national e-agriculture strategy, as well as the MOFALI’s objectives and goals.
The plan specifies 22 deliverables and actions to be carried out over a two-year period that
ultimately will:
− establish a sustainable and effective institutional mechanism to facilitate e-agriculture;
− create universal access to information and services using high-quality and secure information
Comments
and communication technologies and devices;
− increase the availability, accuracy and accessibility of actionable information for stakeholders;
− empower farmers, herders, and other stakeholders with digital applications and services;
− improve decision-making through policies, information systems, and solutions; and
− enhance individual and institutional capacity of stakeholders to harness digital technologies for
agriculture.
Identify/appoint a multi-disciplinary digital agriculture team that includes representatives from key
players: the government, beneficiaries, and the private sector (technology developers and service
providers)
Achieved Yes
Activity 1.1
A digital agriculture team was formed by bringing together FAO national
consultants, MOFALI’s Director of IT and Statistics Division and Digital Medic LLC, a
Comments
Mongolian information technology and systems development company that has
been working closely with the MOFALI and FAO in recent years.
Identify and appoint national and international consultants to support programme formulation
Achieved Yes
Activity 1.2 One system analyst, one system administrator, two system developers, one
Comments national consultant and one international consultant were hired to form the
project team.
Organize an inception workshop to inform stakeholders on the context and methodology to be
applied to develop the action plan. Prepare the inception workshop report
Achieved Yes
An eight-day design workshop took place from 7 to 15 September 2021 at the
Activity 1.3 MOFALI. Eight departments, six divisions, and eight agencies attended. The scope
of the action plan was agreed on and two possible digital solutions were identified
Comments for development. Discussions during the workshop revealed the urgent need for an
agriculture sector dashboard that could support decision-making and enable data
processing and visualization. A design sketch and general architecture of the
dashboard were produced using a design sprint method.

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E-agriculture action plan endorsed and two showcase digital agriculture solutions identified,
developed, and implemented to scale up the solutions further at national level
Output 2
Indicators Target Achieved
At least two e-agriculture solutions/services designed and implemented. 2 Yes
Baseline N/A
Through workshops and continuous discussions with the MOFALI, two showcase solutions were
identified based on the priority areas identified in the national e-agriculture strategy and the
Comments MOFALI’s goals and objectives. They are also aligned with the President of Mongolia’s food security
initiative. The two digital agriculture solutions include an analytic dashboard - smart dashboard - and
database for vegetable growers – the vegetable grower registration system.
Organize national e-agriculture steering committee meeting for endorsement of digital agriculture
action plan and agree on the results/applications to be piloted under the project
Achieved Partially
Activity 2.1 Due to the fact that the national e-agriculture steering committee was not
re-established officially, FAO organized a high-level meeting with MOFALI in
Comments
March 2022 to provide insight on FAO’s digital agenda, discuss the scope of the
digital agriculture action plan, and present the two identified digital solutions.
Local stakeholder meetings for agreeing on implementation modalities for selected applications, and
to addressing local needs more comprehensively
Achieved Yes
During an eight-day design workshop, a design sketch for the smart dashboard
Activity 2.2
system was produced thanks to inputs provided by 120 participants including
Comments MOFALI specialists and province agriculture department representatives.
In order to implement a vegetable grower registration system, the project
supported MOFALI in providing in-person user training to over 8 000 farmers.
Digital agriculture solutions developed and implemented, and moreover to replicate solutions at
national level as well as to focus more on involving end beneficiaries such as farmers, households,
residents, youth, and entrepreneurs etc.
Achieved Yes
− The smart dashboard is an information system utilizing a powerful data
analytics and business intelligence tool that aims at aggregating, analysing and
visualizing data produced by various data sources. It allows for the
improvement of data quality, the reduction of information discrepancies, the
real-time analysis of information, the sustainability of data and information,
and the improvement of decision-making. The system is currently used by
MOFALI users and needs further development to allow farmers, herders, and
Activity 2.3
other stakeholders to access information.
− The vegetable grower registration system is an extension of the plant origin
Comments
and agrochemical registration system that aimed at automating the national
subsidies programme for vegetable production. The system includes several
features and modules such as automated land registration through land parcel
identification, automated individual registration through national
identification number, vegetable yield calculation, subsidy request processing
and integration with multiple other national information systems to allow for
automated data exchange such as E-Barimt. The system was deployed
countrywide and has successfully registered over 20 000 individual and
enterprise farmers.

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SUPPORT E-AGRICULTURE STRATEGY IMPLEMENTATION OF MONGOLIA TCP/MON/3803

A resource mobilization strategy developed for implementation of e-agriculture strategy including

preparing the capacity development plan for newly established ICT division taking into consideration
of digital agriculture requirements
Output 3
Indicators Target Achieved
A strategy document and package of policy responses prepared and
1 Partially
endorsed.
Baseline
The digital agriculture action plan seeks to enhance the synergies among information systems, which
were developed in isolation, for further integration. This requires additional development of already
Comments
existing information system and capacity building of MOFALI staff. As part of this effort MOFALI
has created a plan to mobilize USD 5 million, however, funding opportunities are yet to be identified.
Preparation of dissemination and visibility materials based on project achievements
Achieved Yes
Activity 3.1 The digital agriculture action plan and the digital agriculture in action report were
Comments disseminated among key industry stakeholders such as government officials, donor
organizations, and international organizations.
Preparation of a resource mobilization strategy document in consultation with MOFALI and other
stakeholders
Achieved Partially
Activity 3.2 Based on the digital agriculture action plan and its priority goals and objectives, the
MOFALI has budgeted a USD 5 million plan for digital agriculture interventions and
Comments
activities. However, this plan has yet to be endorsed by the new leadership of
MOFALI.
A donor/investor workshop on digital agriculture organized under the leadership of MOFALI and
the steering committee members
Achieved No
Activity 3.3
Although the organization of a donor/investor workshop on digital agriculture was
Comments planned, it was postponed due to a change in the leadership structure of the
MOFALI in early September 2022.

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