The Tibet Autonomous Region in southwest China recorded a bumper grain harvest for the 16th consecutive year this year, statistics from the regional agriculture and animal husbandry bureau show.

Despite a reduction of 8,666 hectares in the acreage of crops, the region's grain output has topped 970,000 tons so far this year, equaling the total output for last year.

Meanwhile, the region produced 175,000 tons of meat, 250,000 tons of milk and 318,000 tons of vegetables, representing increases of 2 percent, 3 percent and 35.6 percent on a yearly basis.

Zhou Chunlai, director of the regional agriculture and animal husbandry bureau, attributed the bumper harvest to the region's efforts to cultivate high-quality wheat and highland barley, and its efforts to increase the acreage of special cash crops such as grapes, flowers, traditional Chinese and Tibetan medicinal plants, Chinese prickly ash and walnuts.

An increase in the acreage of vegetable cultivation also contributed significantly to the good development of local agriculture, Zhou said.

Tibet had also made marked achievements in the industrialization of agricultural operations, with output value having topping 100 million yuan (12.09 million US dollars).

The region had so far this year invested 80 million yuan (9.67 million US dollars) in the construction of infrastructure facilities serving agricultural production, the development of animal husbandry and projects which help nomadic herdsmen to settle down.

The region also invested heavily in promoting the use of science and technology in farming, and in improving the living standards of farmers and herdsmen, Zhou said.