From Grain Rain to Beginning of Summer and then to Grain Buds, the past month or so is the golden period for spring ploughing and sowing in Xigaze City.

Due to high altitude and low temperatures, spring plowing and sowing activities in Xizang are delayed by over a month compared to other regions. Since April and May, temperatures across the plateau have been steadily rising, snow and ice have been gradually melting, and the soil boasts good aeration, making it highly suitable for sowing crops.

In Xigaze, known as the "Granary of Xizang," scenes of agricultural bustle are unfolding sequentially from east to west. On the verdant fields, farmers are diligently advancing the construction of high-standard farmland, actively promoting the cultivation and dissemination of improved crop varieties, and giving priority to mechanized farming operations, toiling away to sow the hopes for the year ahead.

Building high-quality farmland: Good fields yield good crops

At the end of March, at the construction site of high-standard farmland in Longxia Village, Rongma Towns, Xaitongmoin County, large excavators and other machinery were shuttling back and forth, with workers busily constructing irrigation channels, drainage ditches, and other facilities. This year, Xaitongmoin County plans to newly build 1 km² of high-standard farmland and renovate and upgrade 2.53 km², laying a solid foundation for stable and increased grain production.

Good fields are essential for growing good crops. The construction of high-standard farmland involves comprehensively using modern agricultural technologies to maximize farmland productivity and achieve sustainable agricultural development. It is a key measure to consolidate and improve grain production capacity and ensure national food security.

As a major grain-producing city in Xizang, Xigaze City has regarded the construction of high-standard farmland as the "ballast stone" for promoting the development of various undertakings since 2019. As of November 2024, a total of 3.3 billion yuan has been invested, and 896.67 km² of high-standard farmland have been completed. Compared with traditional farmland, the average productivity of high-standard farmland is increased, effectively transforming "grain fields" into "high-quality fields."

Promoting improved seed varieties: Ensuring good harvests with superior "chips"

The promotion of improved highland barley varieties has also driven highland barley production to reach new historical highs. Varieties such as "Himalaya 22," "Himalaya 23," "Zangqing 2000," and "Zangqing 3000" have become the "main force" in this year's spring plowing and sowing after years of meticulous selection and breeding by the Xizang Autonomous Region Academy of Agricultural Sciences.

In Zhaxigang Town, Dinggye County, more than 1.53 km² of new highland barley varieties have been promoted for planting this year. Dorje, a farmer in Zhaxigang Village with 0.0447 km² of farmland, planted 0.0167 km² of "Himalaya 23" last year, earning nearly 10,000 yuan more. This year, he has planted 0.028 km² of "Zangqing 2000." Wangchug, another villager, planted 0.0173 km² of "Zangqing 2000" for the first time this year.

According to statistical data, as of now, the planting area of highland barley in Xigaze City has reached 625.27 km² this year, with 581.13 km² (over 95% coverage) planted with improved varieties.

Implementing good agricultural practices: New machinery empowers new agriculture

On an open field in Seding Village, Dongkar Town, Samzhubze District, Qungda, the village Party branch secretary, was operating a large rotary-seeding integrated machinein the field.

"In the past, when agricultural mechanization was not high, young people would go out to work during the slack agricultural season but had to return for sowing or harvesting during the busy season. Now, sowing and harvesting are entirely dependent on the cooperative. The elderly couple can handle it themselves, and young people can work outside with peace of mind, without affecting their income," Qungda said.

The Seding Village Agricultural Machinery Cooperative was established in 2019 with an initial investment of over 300,000 yuan to purchase two plowing-seeding machines. Nowit has four plowing-seeding machines, five combine harvesters, one forage baler, and one seed coating machine. In addition to providing agricultural machinery services, the cooperative also covers seed selection, coating processing, and seed sales. In 2024, its income reached 600,000 yuan, with 500,000 yuan distributed to villagers as dividends, amounting to 2,000 yuan per household.

"The comprehensive mechanization level of grain sowing and harvesting has increased to over 74.5%," said the head of the Xigaze City Agriculture and Rural Affairs Bureau. With the further application and promotion of new machinery and technologies such as no-tillage fertilization integrated machines and large combine harvesters, crops like highland barley and wheat have basically achieved full-process mechanization for sowing and harvesting, significantly improving operational efficiency and effectiveness.

Reporter: Ma Xiaoyan, Tenzin Gawa

Transltor: Zhi Xinghua

Review: Dong Xiuli