We are unable to produce the vegetables we consume on our own and continue to rely on “our neighbors” (imports), causing time and money to keep flowing out of the country. The bitter truth is that although Mongolia harvested a total of 11,661 tonnes of produce, it remains labeled not as a producer and cultivator nation, but as an importer and consumer country. In fact, with our vast and fertile land, there should be no obstacle to developing production, crop farming, and agriculture. Yet, progress has been limited.

Over the past three years, the total area of summer and winter greenhouses utilized domestically has been only four to 10 hectares, and harvested yields have increased by merely 1,000 to 2,000 tonnes. Meanwhile, imports of vegetables, fruits, and berries have steadily risen. Between 2023 and 2025 alone, Mongolia purchased more than 16,700 tonnes of tomatoes and cucumbers, spending 4.4 million USD, according to the report of the Customs General Administration. If leafy greens, specialty vegetables, mushrooms, and fruits are included, the total figure would be considerably higher. We sought clarification from relevant authorities on how to address this issue, reduce dependence on imported vegetables, and promote the construction of four-season greenhouses.

According to the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Light Industry, more than 7,700 enterprises and individuals nationwide are currently engaged in protected cultivation, or greenhouse farming. Last year, cultivation was carried out on 119.4 hectares of summer greenhouses and 40.3 hectares of winter greenhouses, yielding 14,500 tonnes of produce. This includes cucumbers, tomatoes, and all other crops suitable for greenhouse cultivation. Each year, the share and variety of vegetables, fruits, and berries in domestic food consumption continue to grow. However, domestic production remains insufficient, and output has not increased significantly. Various factors contribute to this situation.

One major challenge is the high cost of constructing winter greenhouses. Building a 1,000-square-meter winter greenhouse requires no less than 1 billion MNT. Representatives of the “Altan Tsatsral” cooperative, which has been operating for 25 years in Baruun-Urt soum of Sukhbaatar Province, explained: “Greenhouse farming as a comprehensive sector is barely developing in Mongolia. Our cooperative operates 1,200 square meters of summer greenhouses where we grow cucumbers, tomatoes, and strawberries, and we cultivate potatoes and vegetables on 12 hectares of open field. We do not have a winter greenhouse because the construction cost is high and the technology is complex.” 

The representatives then continued, “We estimate that building a 1,000-square-meter winter greenhouse requires 1 billion to 1.2 billion MNT. Moreover, it takes four to five years to begin recovering the investment in greenhouse farming, while concessional loans are usually issued for only three years. Even obtaining a short-term loan requires substantial collateral. Due to these issues, household and small- to medium-sized producers are unable to develop winter greenhouse operations. Neighboring provinces also lack winter greenhouses. We meet our demand for vegetables and fruits from Ulaanbaatar and from border cities in China.”

Meanwhile, a household farmer from Bayanzurkh District Ch.Munkhbat said “We have a 50-square-meter greenhouse insulated at the base and covered with double layers, which we use all year-round. We harvest crops in all four seasons, growing cucumbers, tomatoes, and lettuce. From November to March, vegetable prices are high and demand is strong. During this period, we harvest 1.5 to 2.5 tonnes of each product and earn 30 to 35 million MNT in revenue. However, we pay 1.5 to 1.7 million MNT per month for electricity. After deducting electricity and other expenses, we make a profit of 20 to 25 million MNT over five months.” 

It was further highlighted, “In summer, electricity consumption is lower, but vegetable prices fall, resulting in smaller profits. I hope policies will be implemented to support domestic farmers and protect the market, such as setting quotas or restrictions on imported vegetables during the summer. This would help stabilize greenhouse operations. Currently, price fluctuations between winter and summer are significant. Nevertheless, because we grow environmentally friendly produce, we have steady customers. Many restaurants, in particular, receive lettuce deliveries twice a week. In my opinion, every household in ger districts could install a 10 to 40 square meter greenhouse in their yard to meet their own needs and sell surplus products. Even after deducting all expenses, they would still make a profit. This would also help reduce dependence on imports.”

ONLY 90–100 DAYS TO PLANT AND HARVEST VEGETABLES

This was stated by Kh.Altantsatsral, head of the “Munkh Nogoon Amidral” NGO. For more than 10 years, the organization has been engaged in crop farming and greenhouse operations. It runs a 4,200-square-meter winter greenhouse in the 13th khoroo of Khan-Uul District, in the Shuvuun Fabrique area. The NGO also provides consulting services for household and greenhouse farming and operates a “Labor Camp” program, where participants receive five to seven days of practical training while staying on-site.

Kh.Altantsatsral explained, “Our country has a cold climate and harsh weather conditions, which make crop farming difficult. Day and night temperatures fluctuate by around 20 degrees, and we only have 90 to 100 days to plant and harvest vegetables. Therefore, state policy and support are essential for developing crop farming and greenhouse agriculture. The government should provide long-term loans and support every household in growing vegetables in their yards and summer plots. Loans need to be issued for at least 10 years to produce meaningful results. With shorter-term loans, farmers may fail to make a profit and eventually go bankrupt. Many citizens are interested in joining the ‘Labor Camp’ and starting their own agricultural businesses. However, due to limited capital, insufficient experience, and weak development and cultivation practices, they are unable to apply what they have learned. If we could reduce the volume of imported vegetables and fruits and grow them ourselves, the health indicators of Mongolians would also improve. There is much more to say.”

Meanwhile, Ts.Naranchimeg, a resident of Chingeltei District, shared her experience by saying “Operating a winter greenhouse is truly difficult. Since we could not afford to build a glass greenhouse, we constructed one using layered plastic sheeting. In 2022, we hired professionals and invested a significant amount of money to build a 30-square-meter greenhouse. However, after just two years, the greenhouse covering tore apart and the supporting beams bent. It consumed a lot of electricity, yet it still did not heat properly in winter, and the vegetables froze and failed to grow. Perhaps the technology was flawed from the start, but we effectively lost over 30 million MNT.” 

“When building a greenhouse, it is crucial to work with a highly competent team and, if possible, seek advice from specialists from our southern neighbor. I inquired with our district’s Food and Agriculture Office about obtaining a loan to revive and expand our household production, but without success. People continue importing vegetables because they lack the capital and technical expertise to construct proper greenhouses. Unless it is a large-scale glass greenhouse with hydroponic technology, operating a winter greenhouse in a country with such cold weather, unreliable electricity supply, and high costs is extremely challenging,” said Ts.Naranchimeg. 

We also inquired how the sector ministry is supporting greenhouse farming. In 2025, the Small and Medium Enterprise Development Fund granted 1.3 billion MNT in concessional loans to nine greenhouse projects that were selected for funding. Additionally, under a project implemented by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) with funding from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), two advanced-technology greenhouses, each covering 1,000 square meters, were commissioned in Tuv and Darkhan-Uul provinces. Furthermore, under the government’s resolution on providing electricity discounts to winter greenhouse operations, 79 enterprises and individuals received a total of 325 million MNT in electricity subsidies last year.

To implement the “Atar-IV” campaign, a financing agreement was signed with a commercial bank to provide working capital loans to crop producers based on bank funding sources. As a result, 5 billion MNT in loans is planned for greenhouse and mushroom producers in 2026–2027, according to the Department for Coordination of Crop Production Policy Implementation of the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Light Industry.

FLOWER IMPORTS INCREASING

In addition to vegetables, fruits, and berries, ornamental and potted flowers are also cultivated in greenhouses. Demand for such flowers continues to grow steadily. In January 2026 alone, 970,000 live flowers were imported, which is three times higher than the figure recorded three years ago. Over the past five years, annual spending on flower imports has increased by one to 1.5 million USD each year. Most imported flowers come from China, Russia, and South Korea. In Mongolia, roses, tulips, carnations, and lilies lead in sales.

Regarding flower demand and supply, G.Amarmend, a resident of Songinokhairkhan District, said, “We cultivate ornamental and potted flowers in our two 50-square-meter winter greenhouses. We have contracts with shops to supply roses and carnations. Although we face challenges such as labor shortages and difficulties in organizing deliveries and protecting flowers from the cold, we operate with reasonable profitability. Even if households do not grow vegetables in their yards, cultivating flowers could become a ‘lovely business’. We are focusing on increasing the variety of ornamental flowers grown in Mongolia and becoming a stable supplier. Since there are relatively few individuals and enterprises engaged in flower cultivation and sales, it is fair to say this is a new and profitable business. Our goal is to expand our greenhouse facilities, improve technology, and increase flower production.”

Overall, these examples show that by developing greenhouse farming, expanding winter greenhouse capacity, and diversifying products, Mongolia could reduce import dependence, increase household and business incomes, and create jobs. Although the government provides support within its means, that support and financing often fail to reach a broad audience, and loan amounts and durations remain insufficient for businesses to scale up. Additionally, measures such as setting quotas or limiting imports during the summer and autumn seasons to protect domestic producers and stabilize their market operations could also be implemented.