DOES EXPORT SUPPORT HOUSEHOLD INCOME IN MONGOLIA?
DOES EXPORT SUPPORT HOUSEHOLD INCOME IN MONGOLIA?

Summary/Abstract: Livestock production is a traditional activity in Mongolia that accounted for 10 percent of the national economy in 2019. During the last decade, the number of livestock has doubled; however, this has not improved the poverty levels of herder households which are still high. Higher numbers of livestock have meant higher levels of income for the herders. The objective of this study was to investigate the impact that meat export had on herder households’ livelihood. Meat is the second most important cash income source for herder households and is one of the major export items of the livestock sector. The results of the study show that current meat export does not adequately support herder households’ income levels. This is explained by the lower export price of meat and the limited direct involvement of herders during the meat export. In conclusion, the government should promote herder’s involvement in meat export through rural cooperatives or other arrangements, in order to bring more benefit from the meat trade to the livelihood of herder households.

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