Introduction of Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) Into Comprehensive Utilization of Livestock Waste From Rural Livestock Keepers

Small-sized private livestock farms in the rural areas discharge quite a large volume of livestock wastes, contributing significantly to the agricultural non-point source pollution. As the farms are widely scattered in distribution, it is very hard and costly to exercise overall environmental supervision and pollution control. And what is more, so far no effective livestock waste treatment technologies or policies are available for extension. In recent years, a waste recycling pattern of pigsty-biogas digester-orchard has become an effective way to alleviate livestock waste pollution. However, this pattern depends mainly on government subsidies, which in turn leads to low efficiency of government financial funds. The public-private-partnership (PPP), as a new financing mechanism, has been developing the fastest in public services supply, and mainly applied to the construction of large-scale infrastructure, rather than such small projects as livestock waste treatment or transfer. In light of the above, this paper aims to explore whether or not PPP can be introduced into small-scale farms' livestock waste transfer projects. A case study was carried out of the PPP model demonstration in Pujiang County. Through cost-benefit analysis of the Pujiang case, economic feasibility of the PPP project of handling and treating livestock waste from small-sized livestock farms and environmental benefits it may create were discussed. Suggestions on improving the PPP system for small-scale projects are brought forth, in anticipation of initiating innovative thoughts for comprehensive utilization of livestock wastes from small scaled livestock farms.