LHASA, March 16  -- The sounds of roaring machines broke the tranquility of the plateau city of Shannan, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, as the annual spring farming ceremony was held there Wednesday.

 

Farmers wearing Tibetan costumes drove their tractors decorated as cattle to attend the ceremony on the farmland in the Mondronggang Community of Changzhug Township, Nedong District. On the trails left by the machines, barley seeds were sown into the soil.

 

"The ceremony symbolizes the beginning of a new year's farming. By holding the activity, we pray for a bumper harvest," said Basang, 64.

 

Basang's family has about 1.3 hectares of farmland, where he plans to grow barley, wheat and rape flowers.

 

Next to the farmland sits Yumbulagang, Tibet's first palace dating back more than 2,000 years. To provide grains for the Tibetan king living there, Tibet's first plot of farmland was plowed in the area back then.

 

Yangjen Zhoigar, Party chief of the Mondronggang Community, said they have realized 100-percent mechanized farming by introducing machines for sowing, harvesting and straw packaging.

 

The grain output in Tibet reached a new high of 1.07 million tonnes in 2021, topping 1 million tonnes for a seventh straight year, according to the regional agriculture and rural affairs department.

 

Two-thirds of the plateau region have turned to mechanized farming, and the labor force has been spared to work in cities or engage in tourism.

 

 

 

Produced by Xinhua Global Service