On March, 7, Dorje Tsedrup, deputy of the 11th National People's Congress and mayor of Lhasa said Lhasa will not rein in  "agricultural mechanization" but continue to seek "agricultural modernization', which is a far cry from the previous notion at the panel discussion during the ongoing fourth Session of the 11th NPC.

Lhasa has built an Agriculture Modernization Model Zone in Lhundrup County, Dorje Tsedrup said.

Tibet's agriculture was stereotyped as extremely backward. However, extensive use of modern agriculture machinery has freed local farmers from heavy farm work with greater efficiency. More time is now available for farmers to take up jobs for profit earning in off farming seasons.

Dorje Tsedrup said that study groups have been sent out to Hebei, Henan and Jiangsu Provinces to bring back more experience on agricultural development.

Lhasa is reported to invest 500 million yuan more in the Lhundrup Agriculture Modernization Model Zone."The success of the first agricultural modernization zone" in Tibet is of an epoch-making significance, just like Tibet's railways and airports.”

The mayor also expressed his hope to get more support and help from the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Water Resources and the Ministry of Science and Technology in the next five-year plan period.