Villagers collect straws in a highland barley field in Bianlin Township, Lhunzhub County of Lhasa, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, Sept. 21, 2022. (Xinhua/Chogo)

LHASA, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- The per capita disposable income of rural residents in southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region has maintained double-digit growth for 19 years, local authorities said on Friday.

In 2021, the per capita disposable income of rural residents in Tibet reached 16,935 yuan (about 2,385 U.S. dollars), 2.97 times the income recorded in 2012, according to Du Jie, director of the regional department of agriculture and rural affairs, at a press conference. The income growth rate has been the highest nationwide for seven consecutive years.

In the first half of this year, the per capita disposable income of the region's rural residents rose 11.1 percent year on year to hit 5,705 yuan, 5.3 percentage points higher than the national average.

"The living environment and quality of life of farmers and herders have been significantly improved over the past 10 years," Du said.