Barley Yields Rise in Rural Lhasa, Villagers Say

Dragon Media News Desk

Farmers are harvesting barley in Nampar village in Gurum township, Lhasa, in China’s Xizang Autonomous Region. According to the account provided, villagers say improvements to farmland, irrigation and access for agricultural machinery have helped raise yields. They also report favourable weather and healthy crops this year.

Village resident Khedrup said farmers grow wheat, beans, rapeseed and potatoes alongside barley. Another resident, Tsewang Dondrup, said an upgraded farmland project launched in 2023 improved irrigation channels and allowed larger machines to reach the fields.

The account puts barley yields before the project at 400 to 500 Chinese jin per mu and current yields at 700 to 800 jin per mu. As one jin is half a kilogram, those figures represent an increase from about 200 to 250 kilograms to 350 to 400 kilograms per mu. The figures are attributed to the local account and have not been independently verified.

Lhakchung, deputy head of a work team stationed in the village, said farmers receive subsidies for measures including soil fertility protection, fodder cultivation and improved seeds. He said the team was helping with the harvest and planned to arrange training on pest prevention and farming methods.

Barley has long been a staple crop for communities across Xizang. The experience reported in Nampar village shows how irrigation, machinery access and seed selection can support production. Sustaining those gains will also require attention to soil health, farming costs and the continuity of support for farmers.