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How the 'roof of the world' embraces smart agriculture
CGTN
A view of the Ali prefecture in southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region. /CFP
A view of the Ali prefecture in southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region. /CFP

A view of the Ali prefecture in southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region. /CFP

The 2023 Forum on the Development of Xizang starts in Beijing on Tuesday as the Chinese autonomous region begins the adoption of smart agriculture through various pilot projects this year.

Dubbed the "roof of the world" due to its high altitudes, the adverse natural environment in Xizang has made agriculture development particularly challenging. Despite facing those challenges, the region has continued to explore novel ways to boost agricultural productivity.

Take Rikaze, the region's agriculture hub, as an example: It produces nearly half of the region's highland barley and has established a big-data platform for the highland barley industry this year. 

Prior to the spring ploughing season, digital sensors have been installed on agricultural machinery across the city, utilizing big data analysis in production.

To promote the digital transformation in agriculture and animal husbandry, Xizang has initiated pilot projects to build modern technology systems for highland barley cultivation and yak farming, among other industries.

Farmers using machinery to sow in Lhasa, Xizang Autonomous Region, southwest China, June 21, 2022. /CFP
Farmers using machinery to sow in Lhasa, Xizang Autonomous Region, southwest China, June 21, 2022. /CFP

Farmers using machinery to sow in Lhasa, Xizang Autonomous Region, southwest China, June 21, 2022. /CFP

It aims to develop smart technology in the agricultural and livestock industry, focus on growing enterprises driven by steady production and supply, and strive to maintain a stable annual grain output of over 1 million tonnes and a total output value of 7.5 billion yuan ($1.1 billion).

Xizang is also actively exploring ways to grow its digital economy. 

The regional government aims to launch 30 projects to digitize industries, construct digital workshops and intelligent factories, and establish cloud platforms for over 300 companies.

These initiatives are expected to lay a solid foundation for high-quality economic development on the plateau. 

In the first quarter of the year, Xizang achieved a regional GDP of 57.6 billion yuan, an increase of 8.2 percent year on year, ranking among the top regions in the country.

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