Canada and the University of Saskatchewan Support Rural Development Training in Mongolia

Posted December 05, 2003


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - December 4, 2003 2003-12-01 OTHER

Canada and the University of Saskatchewan
Support Rural Development Training in Mongolia

The University of Saskatchewan welcomed confirmation of $2.8 million from
the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) for its rural
development training initiative in Mongolia. The announcement was made by
Ralph Goodale, Minister of Public Works and M.P. for Wascana, on behalf of
Susan Whelan, Minister for International Cooperation.

The funding, which will be delivered over six years will support the project
"Training for Rural Development." This will be integrated into the teaching,
research and outreach programs at the University of Saskatchewan's College
of Agriculture. The U of S has had a Memorandum of Understanding with
Mongolia State University of Agriculture (MSUA) since January 2002.

Research-based educational programs are important mechanisms to enhance the
quality of life in rural Mongolia. This project will aid in the sustainable
development of Mongolia's rural economy and support the long-term goals of
improved food security, living conditions and increased incomes for rural
households.

Faculty, staff and students will work with MSUA to address the problems of
sustainable rural development in Mongolia and will contribute to a
strengthening of the national extension service of the Ministry of Food and
Agriculture (MFA).

The expertise of the U of S in education and research involving dryland
agriculture and leadership in the development of sustainable farming
practices will complement the MSUA and MFA. As well, the involvement of the
U of S in Mongolia has evolved in partnership with Agriteam Canada Ltd. The
extensive Mongolian experience of Agriteam in collaboration with the U of S,
will provide the right combination of talents and institutional abilities to
ensure viability and long-term sustainability of the project.

"We share many common interests and similarities with Mongolia as well as a
special kinship that has developed between the College of Agriculture and
our Mongolian partners," said Ernie Barber, Dean of Agriculture (U of S).
"While promoting sustainable rural development in Mongolia, the project will
provide opportunities for contributions to international scholarship and
research by our students, faculty, and staff."

"The project will make an enormous contribution for the improvement of the
skills and capacity of the university and its staff for research-based
extension and technology transfer," said Norov Altansukh, President, MSUA.
"The goals of the project to improve productivity of both crop and livestock
sectors through improved technologies are in agreement with the strategies
of the Government to rehabilitate and ensure the future sustainability of
agricultural sector as a whole."

Funding for this initiative was provided for in the February 2003 federal
budget and is therefore built into the existing fiscal framework.

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For more information, please contact:

Rob Norris
Coordinator - Communications and Program Development
University of Saskatchewan International
Tel: (306) 966-2428/(306) 241-9339
Email: norris@duke.usask.ca