Farmers in Mangkang County of Changdu City in southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region have risen out of poverty by processing highland barley, a crucial staple for locals. Mangkang has 63,000 mu (4,200 hectares) of the highland barley field, with an average annual yield of 15,750 tonnes. A local food processing company has hired more people from poor families to help them get out of poverty by producing highland barley related products.