STORY: Vlog: How small crop develops into big industry in China's Tibet
DATELINE: June 20, 2023
LENGTH: 00:04:04
LOCATION: LHASA, China
CATEGORY: ECONOMY

SHOTLIST:
1. STANDUP 1 (English): ZHU CONG, Xinhua correspondent
2. various of highland barley
3. STANDUP 2 (English): ZHU CONG, Xinhua correspondent
4. various of Qizheng Highland Barley
5. SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): TSERING YANGZOM, Director of Innovation Office, Qizheng Highland Barley
6. various of Qizheng Highland Barley
7. SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): TSERING YANGZOM, Director of Innovation Office, Qizheng Highland Barley
8. STANDUP 3 (English): ZHU CONG, Xinhua correspondent
9. SOUNDBITE 3 (Chinese): PASANG DROLMA, Project director, Qizheng Highland Barley
10. various of highland barley

STORYLINE:
 
STANDUP 1 (English): ZHU CONG, Xinhua correspondent
"Hello, this is Zhu Cong with Xinhua News Agency, reporting from Lhasa, capital city of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region.
For some 3,500 years, highland barley has been planted on the Tibetan plateau. It has long remained the crop with the largest planting area and the biggest share of the total grain output of Tibet.
And today I'm in a flagship store of a leading brand focusing on highland barley products. Here we can see a large variety of highland barley products. We can see here, noodles, cereals, cookies and instant foods. So how a small crop develops into a big industry? In today's vlog, follow us to have a look."

According to the regional department of agriculture and rural affairs, Tibet expanded the planting area of highland barley to 2.2 million mu (146,667 hectares) this year, which is expected to have a yield of 840,000 tonnes.

Now, highland barley can be processed into dietary supplements, as people increasingly look to adopt healthier lifestyles. Highland barley flour, tea, and cookies are becoming more and more popular.

STANDUP 2 (English): ZHU CONG, Xinhua correspondent
"Now we're arriving at the production line (of Qizheng Highland Barley). Here the highland barley will be processed into various products and enter into the market across the country."

This company has an annual processing capacity of 60,000 tonnes of highland barley.

SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): TSERING YANGZOM, Director of Innovation Office, Qizheng Highland Barley
"Our company has 9 production lines of processed highland barley products, including rice, flour, and instant foods, cereals, tea, and so on."

Highland barley is a naturally low-GI (glycemic index) grain.

Studies have shown that low GI diets help people lose body fat and reduce the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.

SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): TSERING YANGZOM, Director of Innovation Office, Qizheng Highland Barley
"Our products have received relevant certifications, such as the protected designation of origin, organic certification at home and abroad, green food certification, and low GI certification, which proves that highland barley has the effect of lowering sugar and fat."

STANDUP 3 (English): ZHU CONG, Xinhua correspondent
"To promote the highland barley, the company has established a highland barley museum. Here we can learn all about the crop, including its history, cultivation, research and processing."

SOUNDBITE 3 (Chinese): PASANG DROLMA, Project director, Qizheng Highland Barley
"We choose the highland barley varieties from Tibet's main varieties, combined with the nutritional value needs of our products. After testing and comparing, we choose the varieties suitable for us from the current main varieties and then plant them (in the planting bases). With the continuous promotion and expansion of the market, the number of our annual orders keeps growing."

In the past five years, the company has cooperated with local governments, establishing highland barley planting bases and signing purchasing contracts with farmers. Over 2,400 households have benefited from the project.

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