In order to keep a stable grain output of over 1 million tonnes this year, Xizang have actively seized the opportunity of the farming season. As of March 17, Xizang has completed a spring sowing area of 11,400 mu (1 mu= 667 square meters, the same below), according to the Xizang Autonomous Region Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs.

This year, Xizang plans to have a spring sowing area of 3.681 million mu, including 2.2504 million mu of highland barley, 0.4079 million mu of vegetables, 0.2894 million mu of oil crops, 0.3304 million mu of forage grass, and 0.084 million mu of other crops. Currently, Xizang has prepared 30.99 million kilograms of highland barley seeds, accounting for 79.5% of the plan; 4.6833 million tons of farm manure have been accumulated, accounting for 85.15% in total; and 20,200 tons offertilizers have been transported, accounting for 39.3% of the procurement plan.

Recently, various regions in Xizang have intensified preparations for farming, and held competitions in many places. Bianba County of Qamdo City organized villagers to compete on the use of modern agricultural machinery and tools. In Chayu County of Nyingchi, the annual spring plowing ceremony was held, where villagers followed traditional customs, sang melodious harvest songs, and plowed the fields and sowed seeds. The spring plowing ceremony in Lunzhob County of Lhasa was lively and bustling. Villagers dressed in festive attire gathered in the fields, sowing seeds and praying for favorable weather and a bountiful harvest. In the fields of Longzi County, Shannan City, the crowds were bustling as tractors decorated beautifully, turning over the first furrow of new soil with their plows. In Lazi County of Xigaze City, the "First Plow of Spring" ceremony was launched, and villagers danced traditional Duixie joyfully. Over 40 tractors,  adorned with "decorative attire", plowed through the barley fields, composing a melodious music.

Reporter: Li Meiying

Translator: Peng Qing, Zhi Xinghua

Review: Hu Rongguo, Dong Xiuli