Guidelines to the Cyprus Competent Authorities for Policy Formulation for Sustainable Management of pig-farming wastes in Compliance with EU Practice

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

BACKGROUND

The treatment and use of pig waste constitutes a serious source of annoyance and environmental pollution in Cyprus. Odour problems, deterioration of the quality of surface and ground water and soil, and restrictions on the use of land have been noted in areas with high concentrations of pig farms. At present, the lack of proper handling of pig waste, and in particular the disposal of wastewater, has no strategic solution. While some treatment measures are available, information on best practices and local experience is lacking. The authorities are now aiming to develop appropriate environmental policy and action plans that will lead to the management of pig farms in accordance with EU practice.

OBJECTIVES

The project aimed to support the Cypriot authorities in the design and implementation of a pig waste management and disposal policy in accordance with EU Directives.

The project’s objectives were to:

Promote instruments and tools for environmental protection and pollution prevention as the result of pig farm wastes in Cyprus;

Promote the sustainability of pig farming in the national policy of Cyprus;

Identification of pig farm waste management techniques suitable under local conditions; and

Disseminate information and train authorities on sustainable management of pig farming wastes in compliance with EU Directives.

RESULTS

The project, through collaboration with Greek and Danish experts, was successful in meeting these objectives. BATs for managing pig waste are a long-term legacy. Practices take into account the following factors: scale of pig farm, collaboration of several pig farms, pig farm location (e.g. proximity of pig farm to inhabited areas) and land cover (especially regarding smaller scale pig farms which may not have sufficient space for evaporation facilities). An optimal solution was sought for each of the three main problems concerning pig waste: nitrogen content, odour and salinity. Solutions also aimed to accommodate local environmental conditions.

Much work, however, remains to be done to encourage pig farmers to take up new techniques. Policy at a national level must acknowledge the financial weakness of the pig farmers, who have been hit by a trebling of the animal feed prices and a decrease of pork meat prices following the country’s accession to the EU.

A final conference last year to publicise the results of the project included a high-quality PowerPoint presentation. A Workshop for Competent Authorities and a Workshop for Farmers were also held at the end of 2006. Although attendance of the workshops was low, the most important stakeholders were represented: MANRE (Department of Agriculture, Environment Service), the Municipality of Aradippou (one of the two areas with a high concentration of pig farms), the Provincial Administration of Nicosia (responsible for the Kato Moni-Orounta area), and pig farmers representing the two areas with most pig farms.

Disclaimer : This « results » section should be considered as a draft until the Commission has completed its evaluation . The project, through collaboration with Greek and Danish experts, was successful in meeting these objectives. BATs for managing pig waste are a long-term legacy. Practices take into account the following factors: scale of pig farm, collaboration of several pig farms, pig farm location (e.g. proximity of pig farm to inhabited areas) and land cover (especially regarding smaller scale pig farms which may not have sufficient space for evaporation facilities). An optimal solution was sought for each of the three main problems concerning pig waste: nitrogen content, odour and salinity. Solutions also aimed to accommodate local environmental conditions.

Much work, however, remains to be done to encourage pig farmers to take up new techniques. Policy at a national level must acknowledge the financial weakness of the pig farmers, who have been hit by a trebling of the animal feed prices and a decrease of pork meat prices following the country’s accession to the EU.

A final conference last year to publicise the results of the project included a high-quality PowerPoint presentation. A Workshop for Competent Authorities and a Workshop for Farmers were also held at the end of 2006. Although attendance of the workshops was low, the most important stakeholders were represented: MANRE (Department of Agriculture, Environment Service), the Municipality of Aradippou (one of the two areas with a high concentration of pig farms), the Provincial Administration of Nicosia (responsible for the Kato Moni-Orounta area), and pig farmers representing the two areas with most pig farms.

Disclaimer : This « results » section should be considered as a draft until the Commission has completed its evaluation .