On October 24, the Tibetan city of Shigatse hosted an investment promotion conference focused on barley, organized by the Shigatse Municipal Government. During this event, a processing investment agreement valued at 11 million yuan (approximately $1.5 million) was signed, alongside five corporate collaboration agreements with a total sales figure of 50 million yuan (around $7 million).
Shigatse has a rich history of barley cultivation, deeply intertwined with the local culture and tradition. The region boasts over 900,000 acres dedicated to barley farming, producing around 400,000 tons, which constitutes about 50% of Tibet’s and approximately 30% of China’s total barley output. This has established Shigatse as a vital barley production hub, earning it the title of “Tibet’s Granary” and “The Hometown of Barley in the World.”
Recently, Shigatse has made significant plans for the development of the barley industry. The local government emphasized their commitment to balancing the increase in production with quality improvement. They aim to support enterprises in developing high-value, deep-processing barley products and fostering long-term, stable supply chains between barley processing companies and major retailers. The initiative aims to ensure that “The Hometown of Barley in the World” truly reaches a global audience.
Wang Fanghong, the Deputy Secretary and Mayor of Shigatse, shared insights on the region’s agricultural advancements. In recent years, significant improvements have been made in agricultural infrastructure, including an expansion and enhancement of irrigation systems covering 600,000 acres. The city has invested 3.5 billion yuan to establish 1.35 million acres of high-standard farmland, creating a distinctive barley industry cluster.
Furthermore, a robust breeding system for barley has been developed, featuring a three-tiered propagation framework involving parent seed fields and first- and second-generation seed fields, alongside the establishment of Tibet’s largest barley seed breeding base covering 67,000 acres. The coverage of high-quality barley seeds in the city has surpassed 95%, with Shigatse supplying over 500,000 jin (approximately 250 tons) of barley seeds annually to markets within and beyond Tibet.
The city has also set up a big data center for the barley industry, offering digital services that facilitate critical aspects such as seed propagation, traceability, agricultural machinery management, and disaster prevention. The Sangzhuzi District has successfully established a national innovation application base for digital barley planting. Additionally, connections have been made with major groups like Beidahuang and Sinochem to develop a 577-acre standardized barley demonstration base and a 100-acre MAP demonstration farm, ensuring a concentrated and large-scale approach to organic barley cultivation.
