Environmental research

The Livestock Keepers Association was set up in 2001 and comprises members engaged in the breeding activity. The members are mostly cow breeders and on average own around 7milch cows. The cowsheds have been set up near their own residence. At present, the cow dung is left inside the shed, piled up on the ground and left to rot, attracting flies, cockroaches and other vermin and fouling the floor. In some cases the cow dung is washed out and left dry in the backyard creating a most unhealthy situation. The project comprises the installation of infrastructure for a pollution-free environment as well as an economical system of milk production through the setting up of digesters for the treatment of animal waste generated by the breeding activity of 13 farmers who are members of the Livestock Keepers Association. The main objectives of the project are to promote the use of renewable energy and improve the living conditions of rural animal keepers by ensuring a cleaner and more hygienic environment, while at the same time encouraging the use of natural methods for agriculture through treatment of animal waste for use as fertilizer. The animal waste will be washed and directed into a digester, which will treat the wastes to produce biogas energy for cooking and water-heating purposes. The effluents from the digester will be used as fertiliser and for irrigation of the fields where fodder and other crops will be grown.

Mauritius