Zhaxi 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, even in winter days.
A fact to be noted is that impalpable changes have taken place 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 the national average level for per-capita vegetable consumption of o.45kg per day.
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 the beginning of the 1990s, local governments at various levels have paid great attention to a city-wide “vegetable basket” project launched to meet people’s increased demand for non-staple food production in Lhasa.
Over ten vegetable production bases have been established, along with fertilizer, seed and technical consultation provided. So far more than 2,000 hectares with over 50 vegetable species including some high-yielding varieties have been developed in Lhasa.
(People’s Daily 11/23/2000)
