CHINA'S AGRICULTURE MINISTRY TAKES STEPS TO ADDRESS POLLUTION

BY VINCENT LOW

BEIJING, Feb 9 (Bernama)-- China's Agriculture Ministry is taking various
steps to address the issue of pollution in the country's agriculture sector.
Among the steps are embarking on biogas projects and specifying the type of
fertilisers to be used based on the nature of soil.
"We want to ensure minimum adverse impacts on the environment while
promoting the agriculture sector," said Wang Yanliang, Director-General of the
Department of Science and Technology, Ministry of Agriculture.
According to the first National Pollution Census report released here
Tuesday, agricultural sources formed the greatest impact on water pollution with
carbon dioxide emissions reaching 13.24 million tonnes, which is 43 per cent of
all sources of pollution.
Agriculture sources also contributed to 57 per cent of total nitrogen
emissions.
Wang added that the sector also needed to adhere strictly to requirements of
modern agriculture in addressing the problem.
The census also showed that carbon dioxide, sulphur dioxide and nitrogen
were the main pollutants in densely populated and economically developed regions
in the country.
Eight industries contributed most to the problem of pollution with pulp and
paper and textile manufacturing being responsible for 83 per cent of industrial
carbon dioxide emissions and 73 percent of ammonia emissions.
The other culprits included the power sector, non-metal manufacturing and
petroleum refinery sector while motor vehicles were responsible for 30 per cent
of nitrogen emissions in the cities.
-- BERNAMA