Project helps bring produce to rural area in Xizang

LHASA — In the remote pastoral areas of Shanza county in Southwest China's Xizang autonomous region, fresh fruits and vegetables have become a common sight for Wu Wa — a stark contrast from Wu's childhood, when apples were once a rare treat and green vegetables were hardly ever seen on the dining table.

Spanning over 25,000 square kilometers, the county is nestled in the heart of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and stands at an average altitude of about 4,700 meters.

Nearly 90 percent of Shanza's 23,000 people are engaged in animal husbandry.

The harsh combination of a cold climate, barren land and high altitude posed significant challenges for the cultivation of fruits and vegetables in the area, so the locals had to rely on meat and dairy products as the main components of their diet.

In 2019, the regional department of commerce launched a pilot project for fruit and vegetable distribution in Shanza. With an investment of nearly 3 million yuan ($422,000), a fresh produce storage facility was built, 16 produce stands were set up across the county and refrigeration equipment and transport vehicles were purchased.

As part of the initiative, fresh produce and essential items were packaged and transported to the county from the regional capital Lhasa, nearly 600 kilometers away, and sometimes even from Xining, the capital of neighboring Qinghai province. The goods were then distributed to vendors in towns and villages.

"We can now enjoy fresh items such as dragon fruit, kiwi fruit and cherries, and we can always have vegetables with our meals," Wu said.