Guidelines and Best Management Practices for Livestock Waste Management in Myanmar

Established on October 24, 1999, the MLF represents 15 Regional and State Associations, 42 District Livestock Associations, 148 Township Livestock Associations, and 12 Specialized Associations. The MLF has 15,397 registered members and aims to promote technical exchange and economic collaboration for the development of Myanmar's livestock sector. The Environmental Conservation Law, enacted in 2012, establishes a broad overview and objectives for environmental protection in Myanmar. The law tasks the Ministry of Environmental Conservation and Forestry with implementing its provisions, including the issuance of rules, regulations, and by-laws. The Environmental Conservation Rules, approved by the Union Government in June 2014, include a chapter on Waste Management (Chapter IX) that affects agriculture and livestock production. The goal of developing Guidelines and Best Management Practices for Livestock Nutrient Management in Myanmar is to proactively develop a "roadmap" for environmental conservation and protection by the livestock sectors in Myanmar. The guidelines aim to provide livestock farmers with help in understanding the purpose and components of a livestock nutrient management plan and provide guidance in developing such a plan for their individual farm. Protecting Myanmar's water resources is essential for human health, economic vitality, and natural ecosystems. Water resources include surface waters, groundwater reserves, and coastal waters. Controlling pollution sources is crucial to preserve and improve these limited resources. Watersheds are land divisions that are tied together by water flowing through them, and all resources within them should be preserved and protected to sustain communities and future generations. The livestock industries in Myanmar provide valuable benefits to the country by producing and supplying nutritious but perishable products of high quality and freshness. The opportunity for the livestock industries to use the nutrients in manures to increase the production of foodcrops is obvious. Proper management, handling, and processing of these manures can reduce the pollution risks from operations. The livestock sector in Myanmar is significant, with a large number of animals and products. The sector includes buffalo, cattle, sheep and goats, pigs, chickens, and ducks, with a total of 3.53 million buffalo, 15.94 million cattle, 7.57 million sheep and goats, 14.94 million pigs, 267 million chickens, and 21.65 million ducks. The sector also produces a substantial volume of livestock products, including meat, milk, and eggs. Key regulations affecting livestock producers in Myanmar include the Environmental Conservation Law and the Environmental Conservation Rules. These laws and regulations aim to protect the environment and public health by controlling pollution from agricultural and livestock production activities. The right to farm is also an important consideration, with many municipalities in the U.S. having laws in place to protect farmers from nuisance or environmental violations.