CHINA will pay farmers to turn animal poo into fertilizer and power, the Ministry of Agriculture said Wednesday, as the government cracks down on agricultural pollution that has for years leaked into rivers and lakes. China will give farmers subsidies to build animal waste processing facilities to make fertilizers or to treat manure so it’s safe for disposal, and to install biogas plants that use methane to generate electricity, according a government plan. The plan includes setting up recycling programs by 2020 in 200 major counties that have livestock farms. That’s less than half the 586 major counties the government says have hog and poultry farms. The agriculture ministry gave no details about the size of the subsidies, but the move could be a big step toward curbing chemical fertilizer use and cutting water pollution. “We will help the farmers fully understand how organic fertilizer can improve energy efficiency and the environment,” said Zhong Luqing, director of the fertilizer department at the ministry, at a briefing Wednesday. Biogas technology, which can help save on electrical costs, is too expensive for many farmers unless the government helps. Those researching and using organic fertilizer will also get preferential treatment on loans, taxes, power use and land rent, Zhong said. Getting rid of animal waste is a major headache for livestock producers worldwide, partly because of the strong odor and damage caused to the atmosphere by the release of harmful gases. (SD-Agencies) |