PIG-WASTE TREATMENT PLANT (Construction cost)

Mr Ng Kah Ting: To ask the Miniser for National Development how much has been raised by the levy of $10 per pig slaughtered in the abattoirs since 1st March, 1981, and whether the $100 per pig subsidy, as announced by the Minister for the Environment, will be sufficient to defray the cost of construction of the pig-waste treatment plant.

Mr Lim Boon Heng (Kebun Baru): Question No. 10, Sir.

Mr Lee Yock Suan (for the Minister for National Development): Mr Speaker, Sir, between 1st January, 1980, when the levy scheme started, and 15th August, 1982 a total of $23.4 million has been collected from the levy of $10 per pig slaughtered. The amount collected between 1st March, 1981 (as required in the Question) and 15th August, 1982 is $12.6 million.

The cost of installing pig-waste treatment plants varies, depending on the system of treatment adopted as well as the ground condition of the farms. The capital grant of $100 per pig by the Government is expected to be sufficient to cover the construction costs of most systems. However, in some cases, farmers may choose to install more expensive plants if these plants cost less to operate and provided these savings more than compensate for the higher capital cost. Owing to economies of scale, the larger capacity plants cost less on a per-capita basis to construct. The actual costs will only be known after tenders have been awarded to the most competitive bidders.

Mr Lim Boon Heng: Sir, as the Minister of State rightly points out, the subsidy based on per head of pig would mean that the larger farmers would receive a larger quantum of subsidy to enable them to construct waste treatment plants. My question is, will the smaller farmers who will receive less subsidy have enough to afford the construction of these waste treatment plants?

Mr Lee Yock Suan: Mr Speaker, Sir, it will be necessary for the smaller farmers to combine together to upgrade their operations so that they will be able to afford the waste treatment facilities. Because of our constraints in Singapore such as land shortage and also the need to maintain a clean environment, it is necessary to have farms which are economical and mechanized, and so on. So small farmers should really get together and upgrade themselves, and my Ministry will be only too happy to provide them with the necessary technical assistance.

Mr Tang See Chim (Chua Chu Kang): Is there a minimum number of pigs which a farm must have before it qualifies for the subsidy?

Mr Lee Yock Suan: Mr Speaker, Sir, the answer is no. The pig farms in the designated pig farming areas will be required to treat their waste to the required level, i.e. to bring down the BOD (Bio-chemical Oxygen Demand) from above 4,000 to about 250 milligrams per litre by December 1984. So they will have to decide whether they want to comply with this requirement or to give up farming altogether. There is no minimum requirement in terms of number of pigs that they have.