Politics of smell: Constructing animal waste governmentality and good farming subjectivities in colonial Hong Kong

Abstract

This paper examines the governmentality of colonial Hong Kong throughout the 1980s and 1990s, focusing on the implementation of the Livestock Waste Control Scheme (1987–1997), the production of normative waste treatment knowledge, the spatial control of farming practices and the resulting subjectivity in the construction of the ‘environmentally friendly farmer’ identity. These themes are examined by analysing archival materials and conducting in-depth interviews with two Pig Farmers Association representatives and 19 pig farmers. This paper argues that the colonial government of Hong Kong relied on environmental ordinances and zoning regulations, livestock waste demonstration projects and socially constructed perceptions of olfactory acceptability as major technologies of governance in the creation of ‘environmentally friendly’ pig farmers. Through being exposed to these technologies, pig farmers learned and internalised a particular concept of what constitutes appropriate animal waste management and treatment. This paper shows how the concept of being ‘environmentally friendly’ contributes to the creation and use of ‘good farming’ subjectivities when modernising pig farmers’ waste management practices.

On-farm biosecurity in livestock production: farmer behaviour, cultural identities and practices of care

“…trust, relationships with government officials, stockmanship) and farm materials (e.g. technological systems, infrastructure, waste treatment facilities) influence farmers' decision-making regarding biosecurity behaviours [25,31,32,33]. Fatalism and luck also play a part.…”

“…In practical terms, 'good farming' is expressed through forms of productivity, cleanliness, good record keeping and symbolic values in the eyes of other farmers [29,33,39]. Biosecurity practices such as following animal health standards, farm assurance schemes and codes of practices are symbols of 'good farming'.…”

Contesting countryside smells: The power of intensive livestock odours

“…There have been explorations of how animals were historically more enmeshed in urban communities and how smell has been one reason for livestock being, over time, banished to the countryside (Philo 1995). In some parts of the world animal smells continue to generate contestations in urban spaces (Chan 2020). In contrast, smells from livestock and manure are perhaps taken for granted as part of the countryside or are not considered a productive topic for research by (urban) academics.…”

Stench and sensibilities: On living with waste, animals and microbes in India

“…Lee observes that these smellscapes were reproduced over time through colonial rule, where upper castes and state actors further marginalised these communities (cf. Chan, 2020; Flikke, 2018). More recently, such exclusionary practices were achieved through a purposeful ‘distribution of persons and public functions’, like that of Dalit labour living in segregated settlements, ultimately ensuring that the Brahminical design was reaffirmed and maintained.…”