Wednesday”s /March 10, 2010/ cabinet meeting approved a program to plant sea-buckthorn in 20,000 hectares of land, to prevent desertification, protect the soil and the environment and to provide people with nutrition. Other expected benefits include revenue from export and job creation.

The first stage of the program will prepare the legal environment for growers. At least five million saplings and seedlings will be planted every year. The Government will help in the harvesting, processing and marketing of the crop. This stage will be over in 2012

The second stage will cover the next four years. The area under sowing will reach 20,000 hectares. Processing units will come up in regions, and farmers will be encouraged to be independent.

One hectare can have 1,200-1,600 bushes and one bush will produce 7-10 kg of fruits. One ton of fruits will make 20-50 kg of oil, 600 liters of juice and other products.

 Mongolia grew fruits in 1,200 hectares in 2009. Some 80 per cent of them were sea-buckthorns.