The Mongolian Agribusiness Support Program (MASP) is an agribusiness development project designed and managed by CHF International with financing from the United States Department of Agriculture. The MASP program began in April 2009 and will continue until at least March 2011. The project received funding of approximately 3.5 billion Mongolian Tugrugs (~US$2.4 million).

Location

MASP implementation focuses on agribusinesses that serve the three main urban markets: Ulaanbaatar, Darkhan, and Erdenet, as well as Ulgii, Selenge, Suhkbaatar, and Choibalsan. MASP agribusiness clients operate mainly in the peri-urban areas, along the inter-city transit corridors and in the fertile Selenge valley.

Goal

To enhance market-driven, sustainable agribusiness development in Mongolia

Objectives

• A sustainable, quality source of agribusiness services for the Mongolian agriculture sector
• A stronger network of value chain linkages (horizontal and vertical) based on market-oriented, mutually beneficial principles

Focus

• Business Development through the provision of business development services (BDS) such as training, technical assistance and consulting services to existing and prospective agricultural micro-enterprises, cooperatives, and associations.
• Capacity Building of partner BDS provider(s) in areas of sustainable BDS management (operational, financial, marketing, technical skill development and consulting services).
• Market Development and Expansion to build up linkages between suppliers, producers, and processors as well as to strengthen and enhance marketing techniques for small medium enterprises (SMEs).
• Value Chain Development through technical assistance to the pork industry and related businesses.

Clients

• Agribusinesses – input providers, producers, processors (micro, SME, industry leaders)
• Agribusiness Groups/Cooperatives/Associations – Informal transaction groups, formal cooperative, and industry associations
• Business Development Service Providers – Providers of business development services

Activities

• Business Development
• Training and technical assistance for agribusinesses designed to increase yields, diversify crops, and enable value-added processing (for example, vegetable, dairy, pig, and chicken production and processing methods).
• Management training in strategic business topics - finance, marketing, and operations management, market and management analyses and longer-term planning.
• Facilitation of small business loans for agribusiness improvement and expansion.
• Capacity Building
• Developing management systems and governance structures for partner BDS provider(s) – financial systems, management structures, board of directors, etc.
• Training and coaching in key areas of organizational development (marketing, technical skill development, product development).
• Market Development and Expansion
  (Dairy sector and other sectors exhibiting unmet demand)
• Linking SMEs with unmet value chain demand by facilitating engagements between suppliers, producers, and processors.
• Training and consulting in marketing techniques for SMEs.
• Value Chain Development
  (Pork sector)
• Improving understanding of market demand dynamics through industry-wide market surveys (buyer preferences at the consumer, retailer, market and processor levels).
• Improving pork product development based on market demand feedback.
• Improving pork production know-how along six main pork business variables - breed, feed, shelter, veterinary services, management, slaughter - through Mongolia-specific training modules.
• Practical demonstrations of key pork variables through lead firm/lead farmer driven activities.
• Building pork industry association capacity through training and systems development (information and organizational management).

Funding Period

April 1, 2009 – March 31, 2011 (24 months)

Funded By

• United States Department of Agriculture