More than 80 percent of nearly 100 employees of the Xizang Qizheng Highland Barley Health Technology Co Ltd in Lhasa of the Xizang Autonomous Region are Tibetan residents. [Photo by Palden Nyima/chinadaily.com.cn]

The highland barley industry has thrived in the past years in Xizang, with extended process chains and a stronger capacity to improve the income of locals.

The Xizang Qizheng Highland Barley Health Technology Co Ltd, located in the city of Lhasa in the Xizang Autonomous Region, is a specialized company dedicated to the investment in the development of the Tibetan highland barley industry, focusing on the integrated cultivation, research and development, processing and marketing of highland barley.

More than 80 percent of nearly 100 employees of the Xizang Qizheng Highland Barley Health Technology Co Ltd in Lhasa of the Xizang Autonomous Region are Tibetan residents. [Photo by Palden Nyima/chinadaily.com.cn]

Established in 2007, the company currently has nearly 100 employees, and more than 80 percent of whom are Tibetan residents.

Wang Xuebing, deputy general manager of the company, said over the past decade, the company has worked to increase the added value of highland barley products through research and development.

More than 80 percent of nearly 100 employees of the Xizang Qizheng Highland Barley Health Technology Co Ltd in Lhasa of the Xizang Autonomous Region are Tibetan residents. [Photo by Palden Nyima/chinadaily.com.cn]

"In recent years, our company has collected an average of 1,000 metric tons of highland barley from the local farmers annually, with a price ranging from 5 yuan ($0.7) to 6 yuan per kilogram, slightly higher by around 0.5 yuan per kilogram compared to the market price," said Wang.

"Locals mainly grow highland barley for food consumption, so the company produces highland barley processed foods that cater to a wider consumer base, by allowing more people to taste the highland barley products, they aim to promote highland barley and raise awareness of Tibetan highland barley. This approach can potentially increase the price of highland barley, thereby boosting the income of the local residents," Wang added.

A scene of the highland barley plantation field and Tibetan farmers celebrating barley harvesting. [Photo by Palden Nyima/chinadaily.com.cn]

Highland barley is mainly grown in high-altitude regions such as Xizang, Qinghai, Sichuan, Yunnan and Gansu. Scientific research has shown that highland barley has rich nutritional value and outstanding medicinal and health benefits.

Its nutritional characteristics include high protein, high fiber, high vitamins, low sugar, low fat, abundant dietary fiber, and life-functional elements like beta-glucan, which can enhance immunity, regulate blood sugar, balance blood pressure, and more.

Zhang Zhongya, deputy research curator of the Xizang Cultural Museum at the China Tibetology Research Center stated that according to archaeological discoveries, the history of planting highland barley on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau can be traced back to around 3,500 years ago.

"Due to ongoing archaeological research in the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau, we believe that in the near future, the history of planting highland barley on the plateau may be pushed back even further, Zhang said.