The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has awarded Mongolian President Tsakhia Elbegdorj a gold medal for the country’s achievements in promoting food production on 4th October. The director general of the FAO, Jose Graziano da Silva, expressed satisfaction with Mongolia’s achievements in agriculture and congratulated Mongolia on becoming a food exporter. He said that the FAO would continue providing technical assistance to Mongolia’s agriculture sector.

Elbegdorj said Mongolia was planning to export wheat to foreign countries within the framework of the United Nations’ humanitarian assistance and has decided to send food aid to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.

Mongolia’s wheat output in 2005 stood at 75,000 tons, with most of its flour and rice imported from China and Russia.

Since its third land reclamation campaign in 2008, Mongolia’s food production has increased for four consecutive years, and its grain output in 2011 reached 430,000 tons, making it self-sufficient.

The FAO has been an active supporter of Mongolia’s agricultural sector in the past few years, providing 1.3 million U.S. dollars in relief in 2009 and 2010 after the country suffered from heavy snow and livestock losses.

The UN agency also helped Mongolia fight foot-and-mouth disease and establish a quality control system for its meat factories.