Some 123 million yuan (about US$14.82 million) has been spent on the construction of infrastructure facilities for farming and animal husbandry in southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region.
The funds, provided by the central government, are being used to cover the region's largest agricultural and animal husbandry program, whose total budget will reach 329 million yuan (about US$39.6 million) by the end of 2005.
The program, code-named "117 Key Program" involves the establishment of 10 barley production bases, the improvement of natural grasslands in 12 counties and the establishment of breeding centers in 20 counties and seven cities.
It also contains a resettling project for nomadic herdsmen in 19 counties.
Currently, 3,464 livestock-breeders from nine counties have putdown roots, and 319 solar wells have been built for both people and livestock.
The grasslands and fodder plantations under construction have expanded to 350,000 mu (about 23,333 hectares) and 49,000 mu (about 5,904 hectares), respectively, and the barley production center covers a land area of 43,500 mu (about 5,241 hectares).
(Xinhua News Agency April 8, 2003)
