Agricultural technology enhances barley yields in Xizang's Nedong

Villagers in Nedong district of Lhokha are currently busy harvesting autumn highland barley, as the integration of agricultural technology has led to standardized cultivation and improved seed varieties.

Highland barley, or qingke, is the primary grain crop in the Xizang autonomous region and is deeply embedded in local culture, serving as the main ingredient for traditional foods like tsampa and barley wine.

highland barley, or qingke

Six years ago, Nedong district was designated as one of Xizang’s key demonstration zones for the barley industry technology system, pioneering modernized farming practices.

In Mondrongang village, 47-year-old villager Dawa Chozom sits chatting leisurely with her neighbors, waiting for machinery coordinated by the local village committee to harvest the crops on her 1.33 hectare of field. "Manual harvesting used to take about half a month, but with machines, it takes just seven to eight days," she said.

Dawa Chozom (left) and one of her neighbors

Under a village service program, farmers pay a subsidized rate of 30 yuan per mu for a comprehensive service that includes machinery, operators, sowing, and harvesting.

Phuntsok Dhondup, an official of the Mondrongang community, explained the comprehensive support provided to villagers. "We introduce high-yielding seeds directly to the fields and offer government-subsidized fertilizers at below-market prices," he said. "We also arrange expert-led training sessions so that villagers can learn to operate advanced equipment like drones and balers themselves."

Phuntsok Dhondup is handling the baler

Lhokha’s government has deployed multidisciplinary technical service groups to provide over 120 days of field support and conduct more than 310 training sessions.

Over the past two years, precision sowing and targeted fertilization have increased yields in the Naidong demonstration area by 6.8 percent, with new crop varieties increasing average farmer revenue by 258 ($35) yuan per mu in Lhokha.

Nedong's success reflects a broader technological shift across Xizang. According to data from the official website of the regional government, the region's grain mechanization rate reached 73.4 percent in 2025 and is projected to exceed 80 percent by 2030.

"Developing superior seeds addresses 'what to plant', while standardized cultivation technology solves 'how to grow well'," said Prof. Shengguan Cai, associate dean of the Department of Agronomy and Scientist of the China Agriculture Research System (Barley, Qingke).

He noted that only when new varieties are actually planted, supporting techniques actively used, and tangible income gains felt by villagers can scientific innovation truly be transformed into real productivity to secure plateau food safety.

文字 | 厉杰霞 郭雨荷

图片 | 郭雨荷

排版 | 厉杰霞