Pastoralism and Rangeland Management on the Tibetan Plateau in ...

1.2 Main practices <strong>and</strong> experiences
Review of the economic development process of Tibet’s agricultural <strong>and</strong> pastoral
areas has made it clear that such tremendous achievements are only possible
with following the guiding principle of socialism with Chinese characteristics.
They are only possible with the competent leadership of the central government
<strong>and</strong> selfless assistance of the Chinese people across the country. They are only
possible with the campaign of reform <strong>and</strong> opening up to the outside world.
And they are only possible with the concerted efforts <strong>and</strong> enthusiasm of the
leaders, entrepreneurs, farmers <strong>and</strong> pastoralists in TAR. Our main practices
<strong>and</strong> experiences are as follows:
1. Strengthening policy guidance <strong>and</strong> creating a favourable environment is an
important guarantee for rapid development in the agricultural <strong>and</strong> pastoral
sectors.
In 2001, the Fourth Working Conference on Tibet by the central government
clarified <strong>and</strong> improved the party’s policy for promoting agricultural <strong>and</strong> pastoral
economies in Tibet. A series of enabling policies were introduced, together
with the assurance of the long-term consistency of policies on cultivated l<strong>and</strong>,
rangel<strong>and</strong> <strong>and</strong> livestock. The central authorities have formulated the strategic
plan “to improve living <strong>and</strong> working conditions of farmers <strong>and</strong> herdsmen <strong>and</strong>
increase farmer income”. “This is the primary mission of economic <strong>and</strong> social
development of Tibet”. The work related to farmers, agriculture, <strong>and</strong> the rural
areas has been given strong support in the human, financial, <strong>and</strong> material
aspects. Since 2005, the earmarked funds for subsidizing agricultural goods,
crop varieties, food, fuel, livestock breeding <strong>and</strong> other special funds has reached
1.3 billion Yuan per year. With the guidance <strong>and</strong> stimulation of the various
preferential policies, farmers <strong>and</strong> herdsmen have demonstrated unprecedented
enthusiasm in the agricultural production activities, to get out of poverty <strong>and</strong>
become rich. Productivity in agricultural <strong>and</strong> pastoral areas has seen further
emancipation <strong>and</strong> development, laying a solid foundation for accelerated economic
development in agriculture <strong>and</strong> pastoralism.
2. Increasing capital investment <strong>and</strong> strengthening project management forms
the important foundation to realize rapid development in agriculture <strong>and</strong>
pastoralism.
Since 2001, the central government has made a total investment of more than ten
billion Yuan in Tibetan agriculture <strong>and</strong> pastoralism. It has implemented some
hefty development projects such as the pastoralist resettlement programme, the
rangel<strong>and</strong> restoration programme, the high-quality grain <strong>and</strong> oil production
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