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9 ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMISSION FOR ASIA AND THE PA C I F I C S y m b o l number: DP/EDRS/33

Distribution: F o r participants Only UNITED NATIONS ENVIRONMENT PROGRAMME 15 A u g u s t 1 9 7 9 ORIGINAL: E N G L I S H

ENVIRONMENT AND DEVELOPMENT: REGIONAL SEMINAR ON ALTERNATIVE PATTERNS OF DEVELOPMENT AND LIFE-STYLES I N A S I A AND THE PA C I F I C

BIOGAS U T I L I Z AT I O N AND COMPREHENSIVE DEVELOPMENT I N CHINA

SUBMITTED BY THE GOVERNMENT OF CHINA

-, o f C h i n aY . T h e views expressed i n i t d o n o t n e c e s s n r i l y r e f l e c t t h o s e o f the U n i t e rd N o t i o n s .

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To u t i l i z e b i o g a s o n a b i g s c a l e s o a s t o s o l v e t h e e n e r g y problem i n t h e r u r a l a r e a s i s a n i m p o r t a n t m e a s u r e t a k e n f o r d e v e l o p i n g . a g r i c u l t u r e i n o u r c o u n t r y . I n i t i a l p r o g r e s s h a s b e e n made u n d e r t h e a c t i v e guidance o f t h e c e n t r a l g o v e r n m e n t a n d t h e l o c a l a u t h o r i t i e s . B y t h e e n d o f 1978, o v e r 7 , 0 0 0 , 0 0 0 b i o g a s - d i g e s t e r s h a d been b u i l t . B i o g a s u t i l i z a t i o n was i n t h e m a i n p o p u l a r i z e d i n 2 1 c o u n t r i e s a r i d o v e r 1 , 3 0 0 communes. bore t h a n 700 b i o g a s p o w e r s t a t i o n s a n d s m a l l - s i z e d b i o g a s e l e c t r i c i t y generating s t a t i o n s had a l s o been b u i l t . B i o g a s u t i l i z a t i o n i s b e g i n n i n g t o spread f r o m household u s e t o t h e r e a l m o f p r o d u c t i o n . T h e p e o p l e i n the r u r a l areas s a i d i n a p p r e c i a t i o n : " T h e b e n e f i t s o f biogaS u t i l i z a t i o n a r e g r e a t i n d e e d . T h e a b u n d a n c e o f b i o g a s a n d f e r t i l i z e r s l e a d s t o gOod crops. B e s i d e s , b i o g a s c a n a l s o be used t o p r o p e l e n g i n e s . " Biogas U t i l i z a t i o n i s b e n e f i c i a l b o t h t o t h e S t a t e a n d t h e p e o p l e . That's why t h e government has p a i d g r e a t a t t e n t i o n t o i t s development a n d the people i n t h e r u r a l a r e a s a r e v e r y e n t h u s i a s t i c a b o u t i t . B e s i d e s meeting t h e p e o p l e ' s n e e d f o r h o u s e h o l d f u e l , b i o g a s c a n s e r v e a s a n inexpensive source o f energy f o r a g r i c u l t u r a l mechanization, r u r a l e l e c t r i f i c a t i o n a n d t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f commune-run e n t e r p r i s e s . I t can g i v e I t can

agriculture a boost by providing additional organic f e r t i l i z e r s .

be h e l p f u l t o a n i m a l h u s b a n d r y a s i t c a n b e u s e d t o i n c r e a s e t h e p r o d u c t i o n of c a t t l e f o d d e r. B i o g a s u t i l i z a t i o n i s b e n e f i c i a l t o t h e c o n s e r v a t i o n o f f o r e s t s and woods. I t a l s o helps t o improve envirOnmental s a n i t a t i o n b y a

b e t t e r d i s p o s a l o f human a n d a n i m a l e x c r e m e n t . I n a w o r d , b i g - s c a l e b i o g a s u t i l i z a t i o n has b r o u g h t a b o u t a n advance i n a g r i c u l t u r a l p r o d u c t i o n and the comprehensive development i n t h e r u r a l a r e a s . 1. B i n g e s u t i l i z a t i o n i s a n i m p o r t a n t u n d e r t a k i n g i n

t h e development o f e n e r y resources

rankind has a n a l l - t i m e r e l i a n c e o n energy resources i n p r o d u c t i o n and d a i l y l i f e . D e p o s i t s o f f o s s i l e n e r g y r e s o u r c e s s u c h a s c o a l , o i l a n d natural gas, however abundant, a r e l i m i t e d and d a i l y d e p l e t i n g , w h i l e man's consumption o f e n e r g y r e s o u r c e s h a s n o l i m i t a n d i s d a i l y i n c r e a s i n g . T h i s gap between s u p p l y a n d demand i s d a i l y w i d e n i n g . E v e n i f e x p l o i t a b l e d e p o s i t s 'or

of f o s s i l energy resources do e x i s t , t h e r e s t i l l w i l l be t h e hard-to-solve problems o f e q u i p m e n t , l a b o u r , t e c h n o l o g y a n d t r a n s p o r t a t i o n . T h e g l o b a l s c a r c i t y o f e n e r g y becomes e v e r m o r e a c u t e i n r e c e n t y e a r s . P e o p l e c o n c e r n e d w i t h t h e e n e r g y p r o b l e m a r e c o n c e i v i n g , e x p e r i m e n t i n g a n d e x p l o r i n g ways t o h a r n e s s a n d u t i l i z e new s o u r c e s o f e n e r g y s u c h a s s o l a r , b i o l o g i c a l , w i n d , o c e a n , g o o - t h e r m a l a n d m a g n e t i c f l u i d e n e r g y. A t t h e p r e s e n t moment, t h e s i m p l e s t a n d m o s t p r a c t i c a l among t h e m i s t h e u t i l i z a t i o n o f b i o l o g i c a l energy w h i c h i s a l s o l o w i n c o s t a n d i n e , : h a u s t i b l y r e n e w a b l e . M o s e s i s a k i n d o f b i o l o g i c a l e n e r g y. I n t h e p l a c e s i n o u r c o u n t r y w h e r e b i o g a s i s b e i n g developed, i t i s w i d e l y used f o r l i g h t i n g , c o o k i n g , h e a t i n g , e l e c t r i c i t y - g e n e r a t i n g , e n g i n e - p r o p e l l i n g and s t o v i n g and d r y i n g o f a g r i c u l t u r a l produce and s i d e - l i n e p r o d u c t s . T h u s , b i o g a s h a s shown a b r i g h t f u t u r e f o r i t s e l f a s a n e w s o u r c e o f e n e r g y. At present, about 7 0 p e r c e n t o f t h e r u r a l p o p u l a t i o n i n o u r country s u f f e r f r o m a shortage o f f u e l supply t o v a r y i n g degrees. T h i s huge gap i n t h e f u e l s u p p l y c a n h a r d l y b e f i l l e d i n a s h o r t t i m e b y i n c r e a s i n g the c o a l p r o d u c t i o n by t h e s t a t e . I t i s much e a s i e r t o s o l v e t h e r u r a l

energy p r o b l e m t h r o u g h t h e u t i l i z a t i o n o f b i o l o g i c a l e n e r g y r e s o u r c e s u n t a p p e d s o f a r . F i e l d a p p l i c a t i o n shows t h a t t h e n o r m a l t e m p e r a t u r e fermentation biogas-digesters g e n e r a l l y adopted i n o u r c o u n t r y has a working l i f e o f seven t o e i g h t months e a c h y e a r, i f i t i s well maintained. T h e

heat o u t p u t o f a household b i o g a s - d i g e s t e r o f 8 t o 1 0 c u b i c metres i n s i z e e q u a l s t o t h a t o f o n e t o n o f c o a l e a c h y e a r . T h e r u r a l demand f o r e n e r g y w i l l i n c r e a s e as a g r i c u l t u r a l modernization advances. I t i s unreasonable

to r e l y s o l e l y on the s t a t e f o r t h e s o l u t i o n o f t h e problem. T h e energy s h o r t a g e i n a g r i c u l t u r a l p r o d u c t i o n a n d t h e commune-run e n t e r p r i s e s c a n be made u p i f b i o g a s i s u s e d t o p o w e r i n t e r n a l - c o m b u s t i o n e n g i n e s . M i x e d use o f b i o g a s a n d d i e s e l o i l c a n r e d u c e t h e c o n s u m p t i o n o f t h e l a t t e r b y 70 t o 3 0 p e r c e n t . C a l c u l a t e d o n t h i s b a s i s , s i x m i l l i o n t o n s o f d i e s e l o i l c a n b e saved i f h a l f c f t h e p r o d u c t i o n teams i n t h e c o u n t r y b u i l d u p biogas-digesters o f t h e i r own. F e r t i l i z e r s f r o m the d i g e s t e r s reduce t h e need f o r c h e m i c a l f e r t i l i z e r s , t h u s r e d u c i n g t h e e n e r u c o n s u m p t i o n i n t h e i r p r o d u c t i o n . T h e r e a r e now o v e r seven m i l l i o n b i o g a s - d i g e s t e r s i n o p e r a t i o n i n o u r c o u n t r y. T h e n i t r o g e n o u s elements c o n t a i n e d i n t h e b i o g a s f e r t i l i z e r s f r o m a l l t h e s e d i g e s t e r s e q u a l t o 5 0 0 , 0 0 0 t o n s o f ammonium /carbonate

c a r b o n a t e . T h i s means t h a t 2 0 0 , 0 0 0 t o n s o f c o a l c a n b e s a v e d f r o m b e i n g used f o r t h e p r o d u c t i o n o f t h a t a m o u n t o f ammonium c a r b o n a t e . I f , in

a d d i t i o n t o t h i s , h a l f o f t h e r u r a l households b u r n biogas f o r f u e l and h a l f o f t h e p r o d u c t i o n teams g e n e r a t e s e l e c t r i c i t y w i t h b i o g a s , 1 0 7 , 0 0 0 , 0 0 0 to 108,000,000 tons o f c o a l can be saved i n t h e whole c o u n t r y each y e a r. F u r t h e r m o r e , a n i n v e s t m e n t o f RUB 2 2 t o 2 3 b i l l i o n y u a n a n d 5 0 6 , 0 0 0 w o r k e r s can b e s a v e d f o r t h e p r o d u c t i o n a n d t r a n s p o r t a t i o n o f t h a t a m o u n t o f c o a l . These a r e n o d o u b t c o n s i d e r a b l e f i g u r e s . H e r e i s a n e x a m p l e . T h e H o r t i c u l t u r e S t a t i o n o f Deyang C o u n t y, S i c h u a n P r o v i n c e , h a s a s t a f f o f 200. S i n c e 1974, t h e y have b u i l t i n succession e i g h t l a r g e - s i z e d b i o g a s digesters w i t h a t o t a l c a p a c i t y. o f 1,565 c u b i c metres. F o r f e r m e n t a t i o n r a w m a t e r i a l s t h e y u s e d m a n u r e o f 1 6 7 m i l k i n g c o w s . T h e Gas g e n e r a t e d h a v e been u s e d f o r c o o k i n g i n t h e p u b l i c c a n t e e n a s w e l l a s e l e c t r i c i t y - g e n e r a t i n g f o r a 6 8 k i l o w a t t generating s e t . T h e e l e c t r i c i t y met t h e power needs i n pumping w a t e r , s p r a y i r r i g a t i o n , r i c e m i l l i n g a n d f o d d e r p r o c e s s i n g . Each y e a r , t h e s t a t i o n s a v e s o n i t s c o n s u m p t i o n o f c o a l b y 1 2 0 t o n s , firewood b y 3 . f t o n s , d i e s e l o i l b y 2 . 2 t o n s and e l e c t r i c i t y b y o v e r 10,000 k i l o w a t t - h o u r s . I n f a c t , t h e s t a t i o n n o l o n g e r u s e s c o a l e i t h e r i n production o r i n household consumption. I t s d a i r y. f a r m alone saves RMB 2 , 7 6 2 y u a n o n i t s e x p e n d i t u r e o n c o a l a n d e l e c t r i c i t y e a c h y e a r . 2. B i n g o s u t i l i z a t i o n p r o v i d e S a n i m p o r t a n t s o u r c e o f o r g a n i c f e r t i l i z e r F e r t i l i z e r s a r e e s s e n t i a l t o t h e expansion o f a g r i c u l t u r a l p r o d u c t i o n and t h e g r o w t h i n f a r m o u t p u t . T h e r e a r e t w o ways o f e x p a n d i n g t h e s o u r c e of f e r t i l i z e r s . O n e i s t o increase t h e production o f chemical f e r t i l i z e r s . This would e n t a i l t h e consumption o f l a r g e q u a n t i t i e s o f energy r e s o u r c e s . Continued u s e o f c h e m i c a l f e r t i l i z e r s f o r a l o n g p e r i o d o f t i m e w o u l d a l s o be bad f o r t h e s o i l . T h e o t h e r way i s t o make'a comprehensive u s e o f b i o l o g i c a l energy r e s o u r c e s . T h i s c o u l d p r o v i d e a d d i t i o n a l amount o f o r g a n i c manure . During t h e p a s t t w o o r t h r e e decades, a g r i c u l t u r a l p r o d u c t i o n h a s and h e n made r a p i d advances i n t h e w o r l d . A s m u l t i p l e c r o p i n d e x i n c r e a s e s a n d c e sown h e area eypands, s o i l f e r t i l i t y d w i n d l e s a c c o r d i n g l y. E x c e s s a p p l i c a t i o n lo f c ph e m i c a l f e r t i l i z e r s a g g r a v a t e s t h e w o r s e n i n g o f s o i l f e r t i l i t y . t Therefore, t h e agronomists appeal f o r r e t u r n i n g c r o p s t a l k s t o t h e s o i l . o iI n t h e h i g h l y i n d u s t r i a l i z e d c o u n t r i e s , a s t h e r u r a l p o p u l a t i o n i s s m n 11 m p r hand o v e t h

. I t

and t h e h o u s e h o l d n e e d f o r f u e l i s m e t w i t h o i l , g a s o r e l e c t r i c i t y , c r o p s t a l k s g o d i r e c t l y bacic t o t h e s o i l s o t h a t t h e o r g a n i c c o n t e n t o f t h e s o i l and t h e s o i l f e r t i l i t y a r e increased. I n China, where t h e r e ' is a ' l a r g e r u r a l p o p u l a t i o n , s t r a w and c r o p s t a l k s a r e s t i l l t h e v a i n s o u r c e o f household f u e l . I t i s n o t now p r a c t i c a b l e t o r e t u r n t h e c r o p s t a l k s

t o t h e s o i l . T h e u t i l i z a t i o n o f b i o g c s n o t o n l y makes i t p o s s i b l e t o return t h e crop s t a l k s t o t h e s o i l b u t a l s o furnishes a source o f additional o r g a n i c m a n u r e . S t a l k s , w e e d s , o r g a n i c t r a s h e s a s w e l l a s human a n d animal excrement a r e p u t i n t o t h e d i g e s t e r s f o r f e r m e n t a t i o n . A f t e r biogas i s g e n e r a t e d , t h e r e s i d u e f e r t i l i z e r s a r e r e t u r n e d t o t h e f i e l d s in t h e form o f f l u i d o r dregs. Compared w i t h the d i r e c t r e t u r n i n g o f crop stalks t o the s o i l , t h i s f o r m o f u t i l i a a t i o n avoids t h e waste o f energy and t h e v y i n g f o r O i t r i c n u t r i e n t s i n t h e s o i l w i t h t h e c r o p s b y t h e s t a l k s w h e n t h e y decompose. I t also avoids t h e harmful e f f e c t t o the

crops b y t h e o g a n i c a c i d s a n d t h e h y d r o g e n s u l p h i d e c o m i n g f r o m t h e f i r s t s t a g e o f d e c o m p o s i t i o n o f t h e r e t u r n e d s t a l k s . R e s e a r c h a n d e x p e r i e n c e -prove t h a t b i o g a s f e r t i l i z e r s a r e q u i c k - a c t i n g and h a s g r e a t e r f e r t i l i t y ' than s u c h f a r m y a r d manure a s o p e n - p i t manure o r c o m p o s t . B i o g a s f e r t i l i z e r s can a d d t o t h e o r g a n i c c o n t e n t a n d h u v u s i n t h e s o i l a n d f a c i l i t a t e t h e a c t i v i t i e s o f t h e microbes t h e r e i n . C r o p y i e l d h a s h a d a marked i n c r e a s e i n places where p o p u l a r i z a t i o n o f biogas u t i l i z a t i o n i s achieved a s t h e continuous a p p l i c a t i o n o f biogas f e r t i l i z e r s l o o s e s t h e s o i l , causes i t t o b e m o r e p o r o u s . and r a i s e s i t s c a p a c i t y t o h o l d w a t e r a n d r e t a i n f e r t i l i t y . E x p e r i m e n t s show t h a t , w i t h t h e use o f biogas f e r t i l i z e r s , r i c e and w i n t e r w h e a t y i e l d s h a v e h a d a y e a r l y a v e r a g e i n c r e a s e o f 1 0 t o 1 3 per c e n t , m a i z e 1 4 p e r c e n t and c o t t o n 1 5 . 7 p e r c e n t . Mianyang M u n i c i p a l i t y o f S i c h u a n P r o v i n c e i s C h i n a ' s f i r s t p r e f e c t u r e where b i o g a s u t i l i z a t i o n i s ' p o p u l a r i z e d . I n t h e t h r e e y e a r s s i n c e - 1 9 7 5 . when b i o g a s p o p u l a r i z a t i o n was a c h i e v e d , 1 , 8 3 0 , 0 0 0 t o n s o f h u m i c a c i d f e r t i lizers . to an a l l - r o u n d development o f p r o d u c t i o n i n a g r i c u l t u r e , f o r e s t r y , a n i m a l have h b a n d r y, f i s h e r y a n d s i d e o c c u p a t i o n s i n t h e m u n i c i p a l i t y . T o t a l o u t p u t bu se e n o f g r a i n i n c r e a s e d f r o m 1 9 , 0 0 0 t o n s i n 1 9 7 5 t o 2 5 0 , 11 5 t o n s i n 1 9 7 8 , a n o b average y e a r l y i n c r e a s e o f 1 2 p e r c e n t . t a i n /3. e d . T o g

3. P o p u l a r i z a t i o . e o f b i o g a s c o n t r i b u t e s g r e a t l y t o e n v i r o n m e n t a l - - p r i l l . As s o c i c i p r o e u c t i o n a n d s c i e n c e a n d t e c h n o l o g y d e v e l o p , t h e L p o l.l u t i o n a n d t h e p r o t e c t i o n o f t h e e n v i r o n m e n t h a s i n c r e a s i n g l y become = 1 _ p u a mb al t tiec r o f m a j o r c o n c e r n t o many p e o p l e . B i o g a s u t i l i z a t i o n f a c i l i t a t e s a p rn thesc o m ehensive u t i l i z a t i o n o f f a r m wastes. I t c a n reduce t h e wanton i t a f e l l i n g o f t r e e s and avoid t h e s i d e - e f f e c t s f r o m extensive use o f chemical t i o f e rn t i l i z e r s a n d i n s e c t i c i d e s . B i o g a s i s a l s o a c l e a n s o u r c e o r e n e r g y. U n l i k e ' c o a l , o i l o r n u c l e a r e n e r g y, i t c a u s e s l i t t l e p o l l u t i o n . T h e u r b a n a r e a ' c a n a l s o make u s e o f t h e f e r m e n t a t i o n t e c h n i q u e o n t h e d i s p o s a l o f manure, t r a s h , s l u d g e a n d i n d u s t r i a l l i q u i d w a s t e . S o t h e p o p u l a r i z a t i o n of biogas i s b e n e f i c i a l t o environmental p r o t e c t i o n , p a r t i c u l a r l y t o the c o n s e r v a t i o n o f t h e a g r i c u l t u r a l e c o - s y s t e m . To u t i l i z e b i o g a s i n t h e r u r a l a r e a s o p e n s a n e w way f o r a s c i e n t i f i c d i s p o s a l o f manure and t h e p r e v e n t i o n o f d i s e a s e s . M a n u r e i s a m a j o r s o u r c e o f spreading o f s c h i s t o s o m i a s i s , hookworm disease ( a n c y l o s t o m i a s i s ) and o t h e r diseases. A p r o p e r d i s p o s a l o f manure, t h e r e f o r e , i s a n i m p o r t a n t l i n k i n , the f i g h t t o c u t o f f t h e source o f i n f e c t i o n and c o n t r o l t h e s p r e a d i n g o f d i s e a s e s . I n t h e p a s t , t h e h e a l t h d e p a r t m e n t s concerned s u g g e s t e d many ways t o d o w e l l t h e management o f manure a n d w a t e r ; t o make i m p r o v e m e n t s o n t h e cooking s t o v e , t h e p i g s t y , t h e l a v a t o r y , t h e w a t e r w e l l and p u b l i c s a n i t a t i o n . But t h e y f a i l e d t o h o l d o n i n many p l a c e s a s t h e y d i d n e t c o n c e r n c l o s e l y w i t h a g r i c u l t u r a l p r o d u c t i o n and t h e d a i l y l i f e o f t h e p e a s a n t s . T h e y d i d not o f f e r a p r o p e r s o l u f : i o n o f t h e c o n t r a d i c t i o n b e t w e e n management, a n d u t i l i z a t i o n . T h e biogas-digesters, especially the "three-in-one" p i t combining t h e l a v a t o r y a n d , c a t t l e s h e d w i t h t h e b l o g a s - g e n e r a t i n g p i t , makes i t p o s s i b l e f o r t h e manure t o g o d i r e c t l y i n t o t h e d i g e s t e r s . This n o t o n l y improves p u b l i c s a n i t a t i o n b u t a l s o e f f e c t i v e l y k i l l e s o f f t h e eggs o f p a r a s i t e s and c e r t a i n p a t h o g e n i c b a c t e r i a . A c c o r d i n g , t o t h e e x p e r i m e n t s made b y h e a l t h r e s e a r c h i n s t i t u t e s , b i o g a s f e r m e n t a t i o n speeds u p t h e d e a t h o f eggs o f s u c h p a r a s i t e s a s b l o o d f l u k e s and hookworms. C e r t a i n k i n d s o f p a t h o g e n i c b a c t e r i a s u c h a s f l e x n e r a n d leptospirosis w i l l d i e soon i n t h e a i r - t i g h t b i o g a s - d i g e s t e r s . T h e p a r a s i t e eggs a n d b a c t e r i a t h a t s u r v i v e d i n t h e r e s i d u e c a n b e k i l l e d b y a d d i n g . n i t r o g e n o u s f e r t i l i . i . e r t o t h e r e s i d u e t o make i t i n t o h u m i c a c i d f e r t i l i z e r or b y t h e method o f h i g h - t e m p e r a t u r e compost-making. T h u s , t h e d i s p o s a l o f /mnnure

manure t o t h e b i o g a s -o t h e c o n t r o l o f t h e s p r e a d o f p a r a s i t i c d i s e a s e s a n d i n f e c t i o u s i n t e s t i n e t g e n e r a t i n g d i s e a s e s a n d t o t h e p r o t e c t i o n o f t h e h e a l t h o f man a n d c a t t l e . I n p i t gl i t y o f S i c h u a n P r o v i n c e , w o r k f o r c e h a s b e e n e f f e c t i v e l y rti a nh yanr s Mo uniu cipa h p r o t e c t e d , t h a n k s t o d i s p o s a l o f manure a n d t h e c o m p r e h e n s i v e measures o f f e r m e n p r e v e n t i o n a n d c o n t a t i o n t r o l taken along w i t h the u t i l i z a t i o n o f biogas. T h e c o n t incidence o f schistosomiasis,-hookwor r i b u t m s e a s e a n d s h ad r p il e sy. ' H o u s e h o l d t r a s h , l i q u i d a n d s o l i d w a s t e s a n d t r e e l e a v e s a r e i n t e s t i n e g r hered a e td imely i n t o et h e d i g e s t e r s . O p e n l a t r i n e s a n d w a s t e w a t e r i g a ts e n da p u t n a t l di t c h e s r are o d f i l l e dp u p , t p h u s de o i n g away w i t h t h e b r e e d i n g ground o f f l i e s y d and m o s q u i t o e s . . C o o k i n g w i t h b i o g a s i s c l e a n a n d s a n i t a r y a s i t g e n e r a t e s no smoke o r d i r t . T h e . u t i l i z a t i o n o f b i o g a s h a s b r o u g h t a b o u t . a t r ei n a p t u b l i c s a n i t a t i o n i n t h e r u r a l areas and has e ff e c t e d t h e change management o n manure a n d i m p r o v e m e n t s o n t h e c o o k i n g s t o v e , p i g s t y , l a v a t o r y and p u b l i c s a n i t a t i o n , 4. T h e popularization o f biogas u t i l i z a t i o n gives a boost t o t h e development o f f o r e s t r y na e p r io td c i lo il ii o m atc t n n in hue i tni .e sI t a l s o a s s i s t s i n t h e t h e i n d u s t r i a l c o n s t r u c h u s b a n d r y , A o s t th o f oe r e s t r y . H e n t s h a n D i s t r i c t o f S u i n i n g C o u n t y, f i b os r y Sichuan P r o v i n c e , h a s a p o p u l a t i o n o f o v e r 1 0 0 , 0 0 0 . I t u s e d t o h a v e a n a n a c u t ed s h o r t a g e o f f i r e w o o d . r 3 e f o r e b i o g a s u t i l i z a t i o n was p o p u l a r i z e d , dd a l l a l o n g b e e n v e r y s e r i o u s . T r e e s p l a n t e d w e r e f o r e sst d e p l ei t i o n h a e soon c u t . S i n c e b i o s a s u t i l i z a t i o n b e g a n i n 1 9 7 2 , w i t h t h e s o l u t i o n o f the f u e l p r o b l e m , a f f o r e s t a t i o n h a s shown r e s u l t s . I n these f i v e years,

38,870,600 t r e e s have been p l a n t e d i n t h e house s i d e , v i l l a g e s i d e , r o a d side and w a t e r s i d e , f i v e t i m e s t h e t r e e s p l a n t e d i n t h e 2 0 years b e f o r e biogas p o p u l a r i z a t i o n . 6 9 . 4 p e r c e n t o f t h e m o u n t a i n - s i d e s s u i t a b l e f o r afforestation i n the Siosas u t i l i z a t i o n c o n t r i b u t e s t o t h e g r o w t h o f a n i m a l h u s b a n d r y. d i s t r i c t Sangahuans h a v P e o p l e ' s Commune i n D e n g x i a n C o u n t y, H e n a n P r o v i n c e , a c h i e v e d eo p u l a r i z a t i o n o f b i o g a s u t i l i z a t i o n o f b i o s a s ' u t i l i z a t i o n i n t h e m a i n p b e e towards t h e e n d o f 1 9 7 f . . A l l t h e p r o d u c t i o n b r i g a d e s o f t h e commune h a v e n as t a b f lish f e d ot h e i r own c o l l e c t i v e p i g f a r m s a s f o d d e r i n c r e a s e d , p r o v i d i n g e r e t h e c o n dsi t i o tn f o r t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f a n i m a l h u s b a n d r y. C o m p a r e d w i t h t e d . w i t h 1 9 7 6 , d r a u g h t a n i m a l i n c r e a s e d b y 1 5 . 8 p e r c e n t a n d t h e amount o f

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pigs b y 5 4 . 2 p e r c e n t i n 1 2 7 8 . I n Ta i h e g u a n p r o d u c t i o n Te a m o f Houyu People's Com..lune, W t l i n C o u n t y, J i a n g s u P r o v i n c e , 4 0 h o u s e h o l d s b u i l t u p i r b i o g a s - d i g e s t e r s . S t r a w a n d weeds s a v e d a r e n o w u s e d a s c o a r s e f o d d e r for p i g s . O n e year a f t e r popularization o f biogas u t i l i z a t i o n , p i g s raised, by t h e p e a s a n t s a t home i n c r e a s e d b y 1 5 0 p e r c e n t a n d p i g s i n t h e c o l l e c tive p i g farm increased by 420 per c e n t . I n 1977i 463 p i g s were s o l d , an a v e r a g e o f 1 1 . 5 p i g s f o r e a c h h o u s e h o l d . T h i s g r e a t l y s t r e n g t h e n e d the c o l l e c t i v e economy a n d r a i s e d t h e i n c o m e o f t h e commune me.olebers. Income f r o m t h e c o l l e c t i v e p i g f a r m a l o n e amounted t o o v e r R113 CO y u a n per cduimune member. Diogas u t i l i z a t i o n h e l p s d e v e l o p i n g s i d e - p r o d u c t i o n o f t h e p r o d u c t i o n b r i g a d e s . I n Red F l a g P r o d u c t i o n B r i ga-d ;e o f J i n g b i a n P e o p l e ' s Commune, Q u x i a n C o u n t y, S i c h u a n P r o v i n c e , 1 4 l a r g e - s i z e d b i o g a s - d i g e s t e r s were b u i l t f r o m 1976 t o 1 9 7 7 . T h e b i o g a s g e n e r a t e d w e r e u s e d m i x e d l y w i t h diesel o i l o r gasolene t o propel f o u r d i e s e l engines and two gasolene engines f o r w a t e r - p u m p i n g , s p r a y i r r i g a t i o n , t h r e s h i n g a n d s h e l l i n g , fodder-grinding, r i c e and w h e a t - m i l l i n g a s w e l l a s power-generating. During t h e p a s t t w o y e a r s , t h e b r i g a d e r e d u c e d i t s e x p e n d i t u r e o n o i l by RMB 2 , 0 6 0 y u a n a n d e a r n e d a n i n c o m e o f R1113 7 , n 7 0 y u a n o f p r o c e s s i n g fee, t h u s i n c r e a s i n g t h e a c c u m u l a t i o n f u n d o f t h e b r i g a d e . I n t h e r u r a l areas i n S i c h u a n a n d A n h u i p r o v i n c e s , p e o p l e u s e b i b g a s o n b a k i n g t i l e s , c u r i n g t o b a c c o a n d d r y i n g farL1 and s i d e - l i n e p r o d u c t s . T h i s n o t o n l y f i l l e d the g a p o f t h e s h o r t a g e o f c o a l a n d f i r e w o o d , b u t a l s o r e d u c e d t h e c o s t in l a b o u r and f u e l . T h e q u a l i t y o f t h e p r o d u c t s were g e n e r a l l y improved, p r o d u c t i o n c o s t l o w e r e d a n d t h e c o l l e c t i v e income. i n c r e a s e d . Siogac h e l p s i n t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f f i s h e r y . I n t h e r u r a l areas

i n S i c h u a n a n d Sueogdong p r o v i n c e s , b i n g e s r e s i d u e i s a l s o u s e d a s f i s h feed. C o m p a r e d w i t h t h o s e p l a c e s w h e r e r a w manure i s u s e d a s f i s h f e e d , survival r a t e o f f i s h f r y r i s e s by 1 p e r c e n t , speed o f growth i s increased by 2 5 p e r c e n t a n d f i s h d i s e a s e s a r c r e d u c e d b y u n d e r 5 0 p e r c e n t . A s a r e s u l t , o u t p u t o f f i : ; 11 r i s e s w h i l e p r o d u c t i o n c o s t s d r o p . O u t p u t o f s i l v e r c a r p p e r h e c t a r e her; a n Gwerage i n c r e a s e o f p e r cent while

production c o s t s a r e reduced b y ';f 1 p e r c O n t . to t h e s h e r p d r o p i n t h e amount o f p a r e s i t e e g g s a n d p a t h o e n i c b a c t e r i a A t t h e s a m e /in t i m e , t h a n k s

i n t h e biogas r e s i d u e , r i s k s o f i n f e c t i o n t o workers working i n t h e water are reduced. R a t e . o f work attendance r i s e s a s a r e s u l t . A l l t h i s c o n t r i b u t e s t o t h e development o f f i s h i n g e n t e r p r i s e s . Biogas g i v e s a i d t o u r b a n i n d u s t r i a l p r o d u c t i o n . A s b i o g a s i s introduced i n t o p r o d u c t i o n and t h e household i n t h e r u r a l a r e a s , t h e c o a l , o i l and e l e c t r i c i t y saved u p can b e used o n urban i n d u s t r i a l p r o d u c t i o n and t h e c r o p s t a l k s a n d s t r a w s a v e d u p c a n b e u s e d a s e x t r a r a w m a t e r i a l s f o r i n d u s t r y. Ta k e L i a n g 2 P r o v i n c e a s a n e x a m p l e . To w a r d s t h e e n d o f 1 9 7 7 hu P e o p l e ' s ) o v e r 1 , 3 0 0 b i o g a s were ilt m i n tu he n commune. L a r g e q u a n t i t i e s o f c r o p s t a l k s and s t r a w were saved C o b um e d i g e s t e r s o u p . T h e fcommune o v e r f u l f i l l e d i t s q u o t a o f s a l e o f r i c e a n d w h e a t s t r a w b y Y u h a n 224 p e r c e n t . I n t h e f i r s t s i x m o n t h s o f 1 9 7 8 , 1 , 2 0 0 b i o g a s - d i g e s t e r s w e r e g Cu i l t w b o i t h t hu e a s s in s t a n c e o f H u a f e n g P a p e r M i l l o f Hangzhou. T h i s e n a b l e d t y o v e r 7 0 p e r c e n t o f t h e r u r a l h o u s e h o l d s t o make u s e o f b i o g a s . M o r e t h a n i 5 , 0 0 0 t o n s o f s t r a w was s a v e d u p a n d t h i s was a b o o s t t o t h e p a p e r - m a k i n g i n d u s t r y . n Z h e j 5 i . Pop au l a r i zna t i o n go f b i o g a s u t i l i z a t i o n - e n r i c h e s t h e c u l t u r a l l i f e o f the peasants With t h e i n t r o d u c t i o n o f biogas, r u r a l c h i l d r e n o f school-age can a l l n o w g o t o s c h o o l a s t h e r e i s n o w n o n e e d f o r t h e m t o w a s t e t i m e on g a t h e r i n g f i r e w o o d o r c r o p s t a l k s f o r f u e l . I t i s a l s o now p o s s i b l e

f o r t h e peasants t o read and w r i t e under b r i g h t biogas l i g h t s . B i o g a s powered e l e c t r i c i t y - g e n e r a t i n g s t a t i o n s p r o v i d e l o w - c o s t a n d s t a b l e s o u r c e s o f e l e c t r i c i t y f o r f i l m p r o j e c t o r s a n d r a d i o a n d Te l e v i s i o n b r o a d c a s t i n g s t a t i o n s i n t h e r u r a l a r e a s . Y i l o n g County o f Sichuan Province i s o f mountainous t e r r a i n . P e o p l e t h e r e began t o change t o e l e c t r i c i t y g e n e r a t e d by m i x e d u s e o f b i o g a s a n d d i e s e l o i l i n t h e i r b r o a d c a s t i n g s y s t e m s i n 1976. N o w i t h a s s p r e a d t o 3 8 communes. I n U n h u a P e o p l e ' s Commune, a f t e r t h e c h a n g e - o v e r, t h e y b r o a d c a s t t w i c e a d a y . T h e t o t a l b r o a d c a s t i n g time h a v e i n c r e a s e d b y 1 7 0 p e r c e n t w h i l e t h e c o s t baa dropped b y RIM 350 y u a n . The masses o f t h e p e o p l e l o o k o n t h e b i o g a s - d i g e s t e r s a s a t r e a s u r e house, c a l l i n g i t a f u e l d e p o t , a f e r t i l i z e r storehouse, a f o d d e r p r o c e s s i n g p l a n t , a s m a l l w a t e r r e s e r v o i r a n d a p h a r m a c y. In v i e w o f t h e i m p o r t a n t r o l e w h i c h biogas c a n p l a y, o u r government is a c t i v e l y working f o r i t s popularization i n China's r u r a l areas as a major measure f o r a c h i e v i n g t h e f o u r m o d e r n i z a t i o n s , p ac r ut r i a c gu t h e of. r il ca u lr t lu y re. m o d e r n i z a t i o n