Review on Environmental Impact of Unsafe Dairy Waste Disposal in Maychew Town of Southern Zone of Tigray Ethiopia

Abstract

In Ethiopia, a number of dairy farms are major suppliers of milk and milk products to the customers. However, the dairy farming management practice was a big challenge to the environment of the residents due to unsafe dairy waste disposal management practice and weak enforcement practice of Gov. Though, most of the households obtained proper trainings about environmental safety and dairy waste disposal management principles, they have not got the proper supports and facility services from the agriculture and municipal office in the areas. Hence, many farm households claimed for enough and appropriate dairy farming sites. The dairy farming surrounding environment was commonly observed with the sully and manure wastes on the roadside and walkways, in runoff and sewerage canals and nearby open spaces, which in turn caused bad smelling and respiratory related problems on the neighboring communities. Furthermore, it also aggravates the local environment pollution and greenhouse gases emissions. Thus, at the dairy farm stage manure management and feed productions were the main causes of the potential greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions of methane (CH 4 ), Nitrous oxide (N 2 O) and carbon dioxide (CO 2 ). Finally, preparing hole/storage tanker for the sully and manure wastes was the best mechanism to minimize the bad smelling effects, while to overcome the environmental effect relocating the dairy farming business out of the residual sites and then proceeding it with an appropriate management practices and controlling systems is recommended. Keywords : Dairy wastes, Methane (CH4), Environmental impact, GHGs, mitigation, Maychew town. DOI: 10.7176/JRDM/92-01 Publication date: October 31 st 2023