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Abstract
Fruit farming and animal husbandry have existed for
a long time in Meixian, Guangdong, South China. However, Meixian suffers
from shortages of rural energy and organic fertilizer and from environmental
pollution. A new eco-agricultural system, the livestock-biogas-fruit system,
has been designed successfully in this region by adding biogas production
to fight these problems. A study which was conducted in seven households
(family farms) in this region in 1994 showed that the three major components
of this system functioned in harmony for the mutual benefit of these farmers
and their environment. Pomelo (Citrus grandis) farming was the most profitable
component of the system. Pomelo litterfall and pig dung were fed into the
biogas digester underneath the pigsty. The digester supplied biogas as
domestic fuel and sludge as fertilizer. Chickens were raised in the orchard
where they fed on weeds and pests, and deposited excreta as fertilizer.
This system helped natural enemies function well in these studies, and
therefore decreased the application of pesticides. Serving as a key link
between fruit farming and animal husbandry, biogas production alleviated
the scarity of rural energy in Meixian. |
