Priority Sector: Agriculture
Timeframe: Dec 2014- May 2016
Estimated Budget: 67,000 USD
Sources of Funding: UNDP-ROK Trust Fund
Project Status: Completed
Project Framework
Background
The Greater Tumen Region (GTR) has shown enormous potential for agricultural development due to its vast cultivable lands with favourable soil and extensive grazing areas that support animal husbandry. The area, however, also currently experiences obstacles and limitations in agricultural development as a result of the following problems: 1) extended winter season that shortens harvesting periods; 2) increasing climatic fluctuations that affect both crop and livestock sector 3) long distance between cultivable lands and consumer markets; and 4) high cost of introducing mechanized agricultural equipment that would solve labour shortage and time efficiency issues.
Recognizing the importance of the regional agriculture collaboration, the Republic of Korea (ROK) proposed to establish an agricultural cooperation channel within GTI at the 14th Consultative Commission Meeting in Ulaanbaatar in October 2013. Participating members discussed the possibility of institutionalizing this cooperation channel within the GTI Framework in order to address increasing demands in the GTR’s agriculture sector. The decision was made to continue exploring ways of supporting this new potential partnership.
At the 14th GTI CC Meeting, GTI member governments discussed the possibility of institutionalising regional agricultural cooperation within the GTI Framework in order to address increasing demands in the GTR’s agriculture sector. The 15th GTI CC meeting has stressed out the importance of the regional agriculture collaboration in the region and supported, in principle, the establishment of the GTI Agriculture Committee. The Meeting also stressed the importance of the study project for the advancement of agricultural cooperation in NEA. In this connection, the Republic of Korea (ROK) financially supported Study Project for Agricultural Cooperation in NEA as a way to initiative the process of establishing an agriculture cooperation channel.
Goal
The overall goal of the project is to promote close cooperation in the Agriculture sector “to overcome geographical limitations of the GTR’s agricultural environment, and to fully utilize the potential strength of the GTR’s agriculture industry” and thus “enhance the region’s food security and help expanding the labour market in this sector by inducing the influx of agricultural workers to the region.
Objective (s)
- Identify demands for regional cooperation in the agricultural sector; promote multi-level cooperation dialogues and projects among governments and stakeholders in the region to increase mutual benefits and efficiency in cultivating, processing, distributing agricultural products and related services in the region.
- Enhance technical innovation including mechanization of equipment and financial capacity in order to increase both the quality and quantity of agricultural products, and to develop competitive specialized agricultural industries in the GTR.
Outputs and Key Activities
- Complete detailed Project TOR and identify consultants
- Team leader to submit the Report outline and methodology for approval by GTI and the team to start the study based on approved Outline and methodology
- Host the interim seminar
- Finalize research outcomes and submit policy recommendations
- Present the report and TORs for Agricultural Board
- Publish final report
- Host the inaugural Agricultural Board Meeting and international seminar
Outputs Produced and Key Activities
Study Report on Agricultural Cooperation in NEA
GTI Secretariat, in close collaboration with the team leader of the national consultants consisting of experts from China, Mongolia, Republic of Korea (the team leader) and Russia had prepared and the Report outline and agreed on the methodology for carrying out the desk study. Following the agreed outline and methodology, the consultants have developed individual country reports on the Agricultural potentials in the North East Asia, reflecting the challenges and perspectives from each Member States Perspective. Based on these national reports, a regional report was prepared by the team leader.
Each Individual reports and the regional report have reviewed the current status of the production and trade in Agriculture in the region and assessed the importance of agricultural cooperation in NEA and GTR and highlighted the way forwards and recommendations toward agricultural cooperation in TGR.
The study project has highlighted that the region has an enormous internal potential for addressing food security through sustainable agriculture sector development that links up the abundant natural resources, labour force and advanced technologies available in the GTR. At the same time, the study report identified several barriers that impede agriculture cooperation in the region both at bilateral level and at regional level. Such barrier include but not limited to institutional and regulatory barriers in Sanitary and Phyto-Sanitary standards, customs procedures, unstable policy and lack of commitment for regional collaboration, limited access to affordable financial resources for agricultural investments and domestic protection policies like agricultural products import tariff, green trade barrier and other market restrictions for agricultural products.
During the report preparation process, GTI Secretariat and national consultants have regularly communicated, exchanging constructive comments and feedbacks to improve the national and regional reports quality.
Interim seminar of the Study Project for Agricultural Cooperation in NEA
The Interim Workshop of the project was concluded on 19 June 2015 in Beijing, P.R. China to share the initial findings of the draft of the Study Project, which provides a foundation for the GTI agricultural cooperation. The key players, including the Agricultural Ministries of each member country of GTI, also shared their national agricultural strategies and policies while identifying potential areas for collaboration among each other. Moreover, partner organizations of GTI, including UNDP, FAO and GIZ, were invited to provide a better understanding of agricultural development project within the region.
The findings of the report fully highlighted the need for the development of Agriculture Committee as an inter-governmental cooperation mechanism and GTI Secretariat and consultants agreed to develop TORs (Terms of Reference) and work plan of the proposed Committee based on the findings of the report.
The Preparatory Meeting for GTI Agriculture Committee
The Preparatory Meeting for GTI Agriculture Committee was organized by the GTI Secretariat on 15th October 2015 in Beijing, P.R. China with the participation of delegates from the Ministry of Agriculture of the People’s Republic of China, Ministry of Food and Agriculture of Mongolia, Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs of the Republic of Korea and Ministry of Agriculture of the Russian Federation.
At the meeting, the team leader of the Study Project shared the final findings of the study on GTR’s potential for agricultural development and potential areas of agricultural cooperation with the key stakeholders. At the meeting participants provided their comments to finalize the draft TOR of the proposed Agriculture Committee, its work plan and discussed the annotated agenda for the Inaugural Meeting of Agriculture Committee.
Overall Assessment
The Study project provided a solid assessment of the Agriculture Sector in the region and revealed potential areas for collaboration and existing bottlenecks that impede collaboration in the region. Based on the findings of the report a TORs, short and mid-term workplan of the Agriculture Committee is drafted and agreed by all Members States. The report also expected to serve as a good reference material and tool to increase awareness among representatives of the Ministry of Agriculture of each Member States and other interested stakeholders.
From the operational point of view, the quick and positive responses from the Ministry of Finance and Strategy of ROK, has enabled smooth implementation of the project.
Follow up Actions including Lessons Learned
Project Proposal for Development of GTI Agriculture Strategic Action Plan
There is a need to support the newly established Agriculture Committee to develop own Strategic Action Plan to enable them become operational. A simple and concise strategy with clearly identified goals, indicators, and timeframe will enable the Agriculture Committee mobilize its members and stakeholders smoothly and channel its limited capacity most effectively. The key outcome of the intervention would be a) increased capacity of the newly nominated GTI Agriculture Committee members and expert group members through “learning by doing” and b) GTI Agriculture strategy and Action plan for 2016-2025 approved by CC.