Tibet in southwest China is carrying out a scheme to improve the nutrition of 240,000 students in its agricultural and pastoral areas, local authorities said Wednesday.

The scheme was launched in March in schools of 74 counties, cities and districts across the plateau region, said Lu Mingxiu, director of the Education, Scientific and Cultural Section of Department of Finance of Tibet autonomous region.

Pupils and junior school students in the agricultural and pastoral areas will be supplied with fruit, milk, eggs and other snacks every day, Lu added.

"Considering the traditional custom of Tibetan people, the school also prepares Tsamba (a unique Tibetan staple food made of highland barley flour) and yak butter tea for the students," said Tashi Norbu, a teacher of Hor Township Central Primary School.

Norbu said his school has provided apples, milk and dessert for the pupils after each meal since March to help improve the physical fitness of the students.

In Lhundrup county, the central primary school of Qangga, food supply for each meal is shown on the whiteboard in the canteen every day, Ngawang Gyaltsen, according to a cook of the canteen.

Every student in the school should be given 150 grams of meat, 500 grams of vegetables and 80 milliliters of milk every day, said Gyaltsen, adding that the quality of meals is much better than before.

Tibet remains among the poorest regions in China as a result of its adverse environment and poor infrastructure.