Livestock farming must not come at the expense of the ecological environment
A large-scale pig farm located in Pingshui Town, Keqiao District, Shaoxing City, Zhejiang Province, completed its closure inspection and acceptance several days ago. The farm had 259 pigs on hand and was built at the foot of a hill by a reservoir. The owner, Wei Jianjiang, had originally planned to raise pigs for the long term, so he built 4 pig houses covering 800 sq m. At the beginning of this year, because of hidden pollution risks, the pig farm was listed for closure under the clean farming closure program.
⟦NL> In fact, the action by the relevant departments of Keqiao District to close the pig farm was only a microcosm of the district's clean farming closure work. In the nearly year-long campaign to close livestock and poultry farms under the clean farming program, Keqiao District alone closed more than 800 livestock and poultry farming sites, which can be described as a very strong effort on an unprecedented scale. The ultimate purpose of the government's determination to make great efforts to close livestock and poultry farms is to prevent environmental pollution from livestock and poultry farming and to give the public back a clean, hygienic and healthy living environment.
Speaking of environmental pollution from livestock and poultry farming, the author has deep personal experience. In the past, almost every rural household raised pigs, and pig farming was the main source of income for the neighbors at that time. Pig houses were built right beside the courtyard. On sunny days the stench filled the air, and on rainy days sewage ran everywhere. But at that time ordinary people had no concept of environmental protection, and even if they did, it had to give way to earning income. After all, having an old sow at home was like having a “family bank”.
If this was so in rural areas, then in towns and suburban areas the impact went without saying. With the development and progress of society, the public's demands for the living environment have also become higher and higher. Many livestock and poultry farms have repeatedly drawn complaints from nearby residents because of problems such as odors and sewage discharge, and some have even triggered conflicts and clashes between residents and farmers or farming enterprises.
Under such circumstances, how to deal with these livestock and poultry farms with serious environmental pollution problems has become a test of the work wisdom and ability of local governments and functional departments. Objectively speaking, before most local governments make closure decisions on these livestock and poultry farms, they are also under great pressure and taking great risks. For example, suddenly closing hundreds or nearly a thousand livestock and poultry farms will certainly affect government tax revenue; and for another example, some farmers and farming enterprises will certainly not meekly accept being closed down, and may take various measures to maneuver and resist, increasing the difficulty of law enforcement for the relevant departments.
But then again, whether government or ordinary people, environmental awareness has become stronger and stronger, and people are no longer willing to trade the environment for economic development. In particular, for livestock enterprises that fail to meet pollution discharge and treatment standards and cause serious environmental pollution, regardless of their size or background, they should unconditionally accept closure or rectification. This is in fact sacrificing the interests of a minority to satisfy the interests of the majority and the public, so it should receive understanding and support from the whole of society, including farming enterprises and farmers.
Conversely, if we trade the environment for the development of the livestock farming industry, the result will inevitably be more loss than gain, and sustainable development will be impossible. If we insist on waiting until nearby water sources and land are polluted to the point where even livestock farming enterprises cannot remain there before carrying out treatment, then it will all be too late.