Herder demonstration training that Mongolian Society for Range Management and Green Gold Project organize annually was held this year in Ikh Tamir soum of Arkhangai aimag between 3-5 Sep. This is the 3rdyear that annual demo training is organized to create a platform for project beneficiaries to exchange experiences and learn from each other. This yearin cooperation with the State Central Extension Agency, it focused and tested “Herder to Herder” training modul. Leaders of Pasture User Groups (PUGs) and Leader of Soum Association of Pasture User Groups (APUGs) of Ikhtamir soum where Green Gold Project has been working in the 5thyear were the major trainers. Each of three selected PUGs and their leaders were assisted by the Green Gold Project staff to set up demo training site at the herder households.
Training topics were:
- Restoration of degrading pastures through rotational grazing and resting, green forage planting,
- Institutional and governance issues within and among PUGs and APUGs,
- Establishing herder business cooperatives to improve marketing of livestock products and making agreements with soum government over the management of PUG pastures.
Training was participated by 250 leaders of PUGs and APUGs of 66 soums.
This year event has tested several new approaches to improve the effectiveness of the training. Participants were divided into 4 aimag teams, and each of the team made presentations on a specific topic they have gained the most experience and best practices:
- Zavkhan aimag team made a presentation on Herder Disaster Risk Management and Resilience building,
- Khovd team made presentation on PUG based integrated pasture management at entire aimag level,
- Bayan-Olgy team shared from their experiences on the reconstruction of pasture infrastructures and
- A combined team of Arkhangai, Bayan-khongor, Gobi-Altai, Uvs, Dundgobi and Tuv aimags made presentation on Herder Income and Animal productivity improvement.
On the third day, Mongolian Society for Range Management hold its First Annual Meeting where the Constitution of the Society was discussed and approved by members. The Society was joined by 120 new members.
Ms. D, Bolormaa, APUG Leader from Altai soum of Bayan-Olgy aimag: I am so impressed what herders from IkhTamir soum have achieved working together”. I wish herders from my soum follow this example. I am taking home a lot to talk and share with my fellow herders almost for a whole year. I hardly travel out of my soum as it is located afar away, thus meeting so many people at the same time is very interesting. I really enjoyed cultural and sports event during the training”.