In recent years, centering on the plateau animal husbandry, Seni District of Nagqu City, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region has focused on building a Poverty Alleviation Animal Husbandry Demonstration Base in Lhoma Town, promoted the supply-side structural reform of animal husbandry, transformed resource advantages into economic advantages, led the masses to increase their income and become rich, and promoted the poverty alleviation work in Nagqu City.

Focusing on resources advantages and developing diversified business

The deep processing of dairy products, as well as livestock breeding, artificial grass planting and cash crops planting are focused on. The total investment in the base that covers an area of 9,990 mu (about 666 hectares) reaches 73.9 million yuan (about 10.763 million U.S. dollars), and there are 390 yaks in stock.

The base mainly produces yoghurt, milk, butter, milk residue and other characteristic dairy products. Nagqu City is regarded as the main short-term sales market. It sells products through the companies and supplying milk to local primary and middle schools, and Lhasa City is regarded as long-term sales market. Up to now, 3 stores have been opened in Lhasa City, and the total sales volume has reached 3.678 million yuan (about 535,730 U.S. dollars) since 2018. It is estimated that the sales of dairy products, forage and cash crops will reach 7 million yuan (about 1.02 million U.S. dollars) in 2018.

At the same time, artificial grass and cash crops such as potatoes and radish are planted in the base to meet the needs of people in daily life. Part of the artificial grass is reserved for disaster prevention and resistance in the base, and the rest is sold to villages and towns, while cash crops are mainly sold to government agencies and the masses. In 2018, the area of artificial grass reaches 5,639 mu (about 376 hectares), and the output of hay reaches 502 tons, with a total output value of 2.08 million yuan (about 302,523 U.S. dollars), while the planting area of cash crops is 400 mu (about 27 hectares), with a total output value of 770,000 yuan (about 111,992 U.S. dollars).

Adhering to market concept and establishing operation mechanism

In the process of operation, the managers of the base adhere to the market-oriented operation mechanism, assign 2 cadres with high professional quality to guide the operation, and employ 6 experienced people to participate in the operation. The government purchases cows and calves, and gives them to the village-level economic cooperatives to breeding. All profits are owned by the village collectives. At the same time, the government purchases cows and calves, and they are fostered in the homes of poor households who are qualified and willing to breed. The foster care period is 3 to 5 years, and all profits generated during the period shall be owned by poor households. The operation mechanism of "the company is responsible for production and processing, product sales and brand creating; the economic cooperation organization is responsible for the operation of base and purchasing raw milk, and the poor people get income through labor and milk sales" has been established.

At present, 76 poverty-stricken villages and more than 16,000 people from 3,200 households (including over 3,800 people from 800 poor households) provide milk to the base.

Leading the masses to increase their income

Since the construction of the base, a total of 2.0456 million yuan (about 297,520 U.S. dollars) of compensation for land expropriation has been paid in advance, benefiting 69 people from 12 households. 19,800 yuan (about 2,884 U.S. dollars) has been paid in advance for grassland circulation, benefiting 147 people from 29 households. In addition, 2.017 million yuan (about 293,360 U.S. dollars) has been paid for purchasing raw milk, benefiting more than 13,000 people from 3,200 households.

Up to now, a total of 52 local people (including 35 poor people establishing card for archives and 8 graduates returning to the hometown) are engaged in grazing, quality inspection, sales, cashier, management and other work to achieve direct employment. Since 2018, over 990,000 yuan (about 143,990 U.S. dollars) of labor wages has been paid to 52 people, and the endowment insurance has also been paid for 17 employees who meet the social security requirements. 

It is expected that 105 jobs will be provided when all the plants of the base are built and put into use in August 2019. Meanwhile, the construction of milk source base will lead 670 poor people to get employed. At the end of the year, 493 poor people will receive dividends equal to 70% of their net profits.