Agricultural Engineering Today
Year : 2000, Volume : 24, Issue : 5
First page : ( 29) Last page : ( 61)
Print ISSN : 0970-2962.

Future contributions of energy in production agriculture

Panesar B.S., Director

School of Energy Studies in Agriculture, PAU Ludhiana-141 004.

Based on the Theme Paper presented in Expert Panel discussion on “Energy Management for Sustainable Agriculture” during the International Conference “Managing Natural Resources for Sustainable Agricultural Production in the 21 st Century” at New Delhi Feb., 14–18, 2000.

Abstract

Energy is essential for agricultural production. During recent years Indian agriculture has experienced phenomenal growth in mechanisation and the energy needs have increased many times. This paper analyses the current energy use scenario in agricultural production and predicts future requirements of energy for the years 2005, 201O, 2015. and 2020 for agricultural production under three situations namely (i) business as usual, (ii) accelerated adoption of mechanisation and (iii) highly accelerated adoption of mechanisation. The projections are that during 2st Century adoption of tractors and electric motors will be much more and demand of diesel and electricity will rise manifolds while the contribution from animate sources will go down. This will call for more import of oil and increased production of electricity for sustaining agricultural production and other activities. Renewable energy sources have great potential of utilisation in agriculture in future, and should he given due attention and emphasis for their promotion and utilisation.

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