Fresh Vegetables No More a Rarity to Lhasa PeopleZhaxi is a 52-year-old native of Lhasa, capital of the Tibet Autonomous Region. Instead of merely having beef and mutton as most of his Tibetan counterparts and elders had previously had in Lhasa, he is happy to relish himself every meal like a vegetarian on fresh vegetables served on his table every meal, even in winter days.A fact to be noted is that impalpable changes have taken place quietly on people's dining tables in Lhasa and those of other ethnic peoples living on the plateau: Green vegetables have been made an indispensable part of life on the plateau, no longer a rarity out of people's reach. Lhasa has become self-sufficient for more than 75 percent of its vegetable supply. In summer days, the figure has even been up to over 95 percent, nearly at a level of China's average for a per-capita vegetable consumption amount of o.45kg reached. Though winter has been in, yellow leaves are falling, one can still see vegetables growing in large vegetable plots. A brisk market scene of colorful, fresh and green vegetables, of tomato, pepper, carrots, cucumbers and lotus roots alongside eggs, fish and fruits, amongst others, is presented. Since beginning of the 90s, great attention has been paid by local governments at various levels to a city-wide "vegetable basket" project launched to meet people's increased demand for non-staple food production in Lhasa. Over ten vegetable producing bases have been established, along with fertilizer, seed and technical consultation provided. So far more than 30,000mu with over 50 vegetable species including some high-yielding varieties have been developed in Lhasa. To make most of the plateau's sunlight greenhouses have also been built and to boom Lhasa's vegetable market there are as many as 60 vegetable species with a total yield of 59,000 tons of vegetables produced to guarantee Lhasa' whole year vegetable demand. By PD Online staff Li Heng |
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