STORY: Fresh fruits, vegetables delivered to remote villages in SW China's Xizang
SHOOTING TIME: Jan. 2-6, 2024
DATELINE: Jan. 8, 2024
LENGTH: 00:01:54
LOCATION: LHASA, China
CATEGORY: SOCIETY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the sales stores for fruit and vegetable distribution
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): DONDRUP, Staff with Xainza Supply and Marketing Cooperative
3. various of the sales stores for fruit and vegetable distribution
4. SOUNDBITE 2 (Tibetan): SHERAB GYATSO, Owner of a direct sales store

STORYLINE:

The Xainza County in Nagqu City, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, is situated at an average elevation of 4,700 meters.

Covering an area of over 25,000 square kilometers, the county has a population of only 23,000 people, among which more than 20,000 are herders.

Traditionally, local herders' diet relies on meat and tea, lacking fruits and vegetables, due to the region's high altitude and remoteness.

To address this, the local authorities initiated a pilot project in 2019, ensuring the delivery of fresh and affordable fruits and vegetables to the remote townships in Xainza County.

The county has established a fresh storage reserve, revamped 16 direct sales stores and introduced refrigeration units and transport vehicles.

SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): DONDRUP, Staff with Xainza Supply and Marketing Cooperative
"The fresh vegetables could be delivered from Lhasa to Xainza in one day in the peak season, including a rich variety of fruits and vegetables. In the off season, fresh vegetables are delivered every two days. People here can enjoy fresh fruits and vegetables."

Xainza County now hosts 44 direct sales stores for fruit and vegetable distribution, covering 69 percent of administrative villages.

SOUNDBITE 2 (Tibetan): SHERAB GYATSO, Owner of a direct sales store
"In the past, there were few places to buy vegetables, which was very inconvenient. But now it has changed as now the county's supply and marketing cooperative delivers fresh fruits and vegetables to us, which is very convenient. The prices are the same as in the county."

In 2023, this pilot project brought 217.9 tonnes of fresh fruits and vegetables into Xainza residents' homes, constituting 30 percent of the county's total fruit and vegetable consumption.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Lhasa, China.
(XHTV)