Successful 'K-Rice Cultivation' in Mongolia After 40 Years... "Laying the Groundwork for Exporting K-Rice Cultivation Infrastructure"

The Korea Program on International Agriculture (KOPIA) Mongolia Center, operated by the Rural Development Administration, announced on September 29 that it has achieved a remarkable milestone by successfully cultivating rice in Mongolia for the first time in over 40 years.

The overseas agricultural technology development project establishes KOPIA centers in developing countries and dispatches agricultural technology experts as directors to develop and disseminate country-specific agricultural technologies.

A representative from the Korea-Mongolia Center is showing 'Jinbuolbyae' rice ready for harvest. (Photo by Rural Development Administration)

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Jambaltseren, Vice Minister of Food, Agriculture and Light Industry of Mongolia, stated, "Mongolia is promoting the 'National Food Supply and Security Campaign' with the goal of achieving 100% self-sufficiency in 19 key items, including rice. The successful rice cultivation by the KOPIA Mongolia Center holds significant meaning at the national level."

Although meat and wheat are staple foods in Mongolia, recent dietary changes have led to a rapid increase in rice consumption. Last year, Mongolia imported 49,536 tons of rice (worth approximately 46 billion won), relying entirely on imports. Since the 1980s, Mongolia has attempted to cultivate rice several times through the introduction of foreign technologies and local trials, but failed due to a lack of experts and insufficient cultivation techniques.

In response, the Mongolian government requested rice cultivation trials from Korea in 2023, recognizing Korea's experience in successfully growing rice in desert environments and its world-class rice cultivation technology, to achieve rice self-sufficiency and strengthen food security.

Following the Mongolian government's request, the KOPIA Mongolia Center first conducted an "Environmental Analysis of Mongolian Regions" in 2023 and a "Selection Test for Rice Varieties Suitable for Mongolia" in 2024. In January of this year, the center established a 3,500-square-meter rice test field in Bulgan County, Khovd Province, and officially launched the "Development Project for Rice Cultivation Technology Adapted to Mongolia."

According to the Rural Development Administration, Mongolia's environment and infrastructure for rice cultivation are extremely poor compared to Korea. The growing season is very short due to low temperatures, and the soil is highly alkaline (high pH), making it unsuitable for rice. To address these challenges, the KOPIA Mongolia Center selected three Korean varieties (Jinbuolbyae, Jinbubyeo, and Asemi) and one Chinese variety that can be planted late and harvested early. Considering the cold climate, the nursery period was extended to 40 days by sowing rice seeds in seedling trays inside greenhouses, and transplanting was carried out in June when the weather became warmer. The alkaline soil was gradually converted to weakly acidic or neutral by applying acid-forming nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) fertilizers, making it more suitable for rice growth.

With the successful completion of the rice cultivation trial, the KOPIA Mongolia Center plans to establish standardized cultivation techniques tailored to Mongolia's environment. Based on the research results, the center intends to publish and distribute a "Rice Cultivation Technology Manual Adapted to Mongolia."

The Rural Development Administration expects that the success of this rice cultivation trial will serve as a foundation for exporting Korea's rice-related infrastructure industries. Currently, Mongolia's infrastructure for rice cultivation is extremely underdeveloped. During the trial, most agricultural materials had to be imported from Korea, and the absence of herbicides in Mongolia meant that weeds had to be removed by hand.

As rice cultivation and production become more widespread in Mongolia, it is anticipated that there will be new opportunities to export infrastructure such as reservoirs, irrigation canals, and rice mills, as well as agricultural machinery and materials (crop protection agents, fertilizers, seeds, etc.).

Kim Hwangyong, Director General of Technology Cooperation at the Rural Development Administration, stated, "We will actively support full-scale rice cultivation and production in Mongolia through the KOPIA Mongolia Center. Through these efforts, we aim to contribute to the development of Mongolian agriculture with our technology, while also doing our utmost to promote the export of various Korean agricultural inputs."

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