Women in rural Mongolia face constant challenges due to the country’s harsh environment. They must navigate extreme weather to protect their herds and sustain agriculture livelihood to support their families. As temperatures fluctuate and winters grow harsher, the challenge to adapt has become a fight to survive.

In the country’s east, where the temperature dropped as low as -40°C last winter, women have found innovative ways to persevere, drawing strength from their generations-old herding traditions.

Traditional Herbs to Survive Winter
Herder Munkhdelger Od draws on her knowledge of pastures and herbs to keep her dairy business running year-round despite Mongolia’s brutal winters. She began with four cows in 2007 and, through dedication and traditional herding, expanded to 80 cattle, including 30 cows. However, the devastating 2023 dzud—a winter disaster that caused mass livestock deaths—wiped out most of her herd, leaving just 20 cattle and only one cow.