Development
will focus firstly on strengthening agriculture, which is described as
"the foundation of the economy", but much of the growth is expected to
come into the industrial sector.
Governments at various levels should unswervingly give first priority
to agriculture in economic work. The government plans to continue to increase
investment in agriculture, to encourage "water conservancy" - irrigation
and dam construction by farmers - to improve technical skills, and to
introduce high yield seed. There are fewer than usual references to the
pastoral economy, but the number of animals owned by herders will be controlled
and the slaughter rate increased, according to the TAR authorities, who
regard excessive herd size as the main cause of economic sluggishness
and of grassland degradation on the Tibetan plateau.