BEIJING, Jan. 12 (UPI) -- China announced plans Friday to funnel $162 million into Tibet to make the impoverished region self-sufficient in grain by the end of the century and beef up agro-technology centers.

Yang Song, vice chairman of the regional government, said annual grain production must increase from 700 million kilograms in 1995 to 1 billion kilograms annually.

The infusion is in addition to $1.2 billion China is injecting to improve energy, transportation, health and education.

The aid plans are part of Beijing's effort to counter separatist sentiments among Tibetans by reducing the isolation and backwardness of the mountainous area.

Yang told the official Xinhua news agency in Tibet's capital of Lhasa the government will invest six times the amount spent during the 1991 through 1995 period.

Over the next five years, he said 40 percent of Tibetan farmers will attend agro-technology training courses and centers specializing in upgrading techniques will be expanded.