In early March, while the chill of spring still lingers over the land of Xigazein China’s Xizang, the temperature in vegetable greenhouses is as high as in summer. Agricultural technicians, large-scale growers, and science specialists gathered around Lv Hongjun, a specialist on tomatos, attentively listening to the key points in managing the cultivation of new vegetable varieties.  

On March 26, the Xigaze National Agricultural Science and Technology Park Management Committee’s Shandong-Xizang Plateau Seed Research Institute held a vegetable cultivation training session in Baicai Townshipof Xigaze, providing technical guidance on the promotion of new vegetable varieties. The expert team from the Vegetable Research Institute of Shandong Academy of Agricultural Science gave detailed explanations on various technical aspects and visited the greenhouses to address technical issues encountered during cultivation.  

Established on October 12, 2024, the Shandong-Xizang Plateau Seed Research Institute is the first of its kind in the region. One of its primary tasks is to introduce, screen, and cultivate new varieties suitable for the plateau environment, develop key techniques for seed production, and establish high-yield, efficient cultivation methods. It also aims to integrate ecological and simplified cultivation systems for new fruit and vegetable varieties while providing extensive technical training for professionals and farmers.  

"Since its establishment, our six-month research has identified challenges local farmers face in selecting vegetable varieties, managing cultivation, and improving yields," said Zhang Lifeng, deputy secretary of the Party Committee of the Vegetable Research Institute at Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences and operational director of the Shandong-Xizang Plateau Seed Research Institute.  

Zhang Lifeng noted that the institute will focus on breeding new varieties suited to the plateau, selecting 8 to 10 high-quality vegetable varieties adapted to Xizang’s ecological conditions, and gradually achieving localization. It will also develop a series of vegetable production protocols, promote simplified and cost-effective high-yield cultivation models, and support the construction of seedbeds in Bainang and virus-free potato propagation bases in Namling to advance seed localization.  

"We provided farmers with selected vegetable seedlings suitable for plateau cultivation free of charge earlier. This training specifically addresses the problems they encountered during cultivation," Zhang added.  

Penpa Dunzhuk, a greenhouse grower in Chongdui Village, invited experts to his greenhouse to solve persistent pest issues. As one of Bainang’s earliest vegetable growers, with his first greenhouse built in 2001, Penpa Dunzhuk has over two decades of experience and became the village’s science and technology commissioner in 2006. "Now, I handle everything from planting to harvesting, but some pest problems still stump me. Having experts here is a great help," he said. With five greenhouses, his family earns over 30,000 yuan annually from vegetable farming.  

Since 1998, with long-term support from Shandong’s assist-Xizang team, Baicai Township has developed vegetable farming as a key industry. In 2011, Pengcang Village of Baicai became Bainang’s first "10,000-yuan income village" by focusing on vegetable cultivation. Today, the township boasts 664 functional greenhouses, 12 main production bases, five vegetable farming cooperatives, 13 agricultural technicians, 26 technical instructors, and 722 skilled growers—essentially ensuring every household has a skilled grower and every village has a technical guide.

"Our goal is to build the largest green vegetable base in the region," said Teng Bin, Party Secretary of Baicai Township. "Vegetable farming is already a pillar industry here, and the promotion of new varieties and technologies will help our facility-based vegetable sector reach new heights."

Reporter: Ma Xiaoyan  

Translator: Peng Qing, Liu Fang

Review: Hu Rongguo, Dong Xiuli, Pan Lu