A total of 200,000 multi-functional buckets have been handed out to 100,000 herders in Garze and Ngawa Tibetan autonomous prefectures in southwest China's Sichuan Province.

The buckets were developed by experts of the Institute of Architectural Engineering of the General Logistics Department of the People's Liberation Army.

 
This file photo shows the Hongyuan Grassland in Ngawa Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, northwest Sichuan Province. (Xinhua Photo)

As natural conditions are harsh on Sichuan's plateau, herders have to change their residences from time to time, making it hard for them to carry and store water. In view of this, "plastic cloth" buckets were developed on the basis of pails for military field operations.

Chen Hongshu, chief engineer of the institute, said that the bucket is made of environment-friendly hot-melt polyurethane and its coated fabrics, which are heat-and-cold resistant and innocuous.

In terms of volume, 15-liter and 25-liter buckets are available. When a bucket is folded, the diameter of the two types is less than 35 cm.

To ensure product quality, the institute chose best materials and manufacturers, and sent specially-assigned personnel to oversee the whole production process. As a result, 200,000 buckets were turned out in two months.