A medical worker takes a swab sample from a resident for nucleic acid test at a community testing site for COVID-19 in Lahsa, Tibet autonomous region, Aug 9, 2022. [Photo/ThePaper]

As the COVID-19 epidemic prevention situation in most parts of the Tibet autonomous region continues to improve, and with more places gradually getting back to normal, so too are cooperatives in the region's Lhari county resuming production.

At a rural cooperative in the village of Nyingdrungang in the county's Nyiwo township, workers have produced 10 metric tons of tsamba — roasted highland barley used to make porridge, in recent weeks. It was for the first purchasing order the cooperative has received from the government since early August.

After the cooperative received the order from the township government two weeks ago, it immediately bought fresh barley from local farmers and produced the tsamba in about 10 days.

Lhari county has developed cooperatives as part of its rural vitalization and agricultural development drive. The cooperatives enable residents to earn income by buying up local produce.

All of Nyiwo township's residents have been provided with tsamba and sugar by the government as a subsidy during the recent COVID-19 and subsequent lockdown.

"I want to say thanks to the Party and government on behalf of my villagers, for providing necessities for our residents," said Nyima, Party secretary of Dreshung village in the township.

Pema Ngodrub, who is responsible for the cooperative in Nyingdrungang, said he is pleased that production has resumed.

"I was inspired by the section addressing rural vitalization in the report when watching the live broadcast of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China on Oct 16. It encourages me to work toward making the cooperative more prosperous in the future," he said.

The cooperative is key to the livelihood of villagers in the area, with many selling their farm produce.

Tashi Tsetso, who lives in Nyingdrungang village, sells her oilseed rape to the cooperative.

"It's good and convenient that I can sell my oilseed rape to the cooperative nearby. The harvest was good this year and I got a fair price," she said.

Tibet has made solid progress in curbing its most recent COVID-19 outbreak. It reported one locally transmitted confirmed COVID-19 case and seven asymptomatic carriers on Tuesday, the regional health authority said. The region currently has no high or medium-risk areas.

By PALDEN NYIMA and DAQIONG in Lhasa