Need for Energy Efficiency Practices in Agriculture

Scopes of Improvement : - -> Mechanization Systems -> Agro Energy Management Renewable Shift -> Precision Farming Innovative Concept -> Fertilizers -> Inorganic & Organic -> Post Harvest Practices

Overview

Need??Agriculture employs about 60% of the population of India and is one of the most energy intensive sectors in the country.

Agriculture was the third highest sector of electricity consumption and a sector with greatest scope for improvement in practices.

Development of Mechanization Systems

FOR

Indicates land Holding size in HectaresSource : NSSOReport No. 40

Mouldboard ploughSpring tine harrowDisc harrowDisc Plough

Increase in productivity upto, 12.34%

Seed cum fertilizer drill facilitates:Saving in seeds, 20%Saving in fertilizer, 15-20%

Enhancement in cropping intensity,5-22%Increase in gross income 29-49% and return of the farmers

Increased debt, cost of fuel and repair, unemployment, disparity in incomeDepends on:size of operational holding, land topography, availability of credit facilities and per hectare profitability

SuccessLosses

Rota- tiller for seed bed preparation, Till planter, strip till drill, pneumatic precision planter, Sugarcane sett cutter planter, Vegetable transplanter And check-row planter, for sowing and planting. Power weeders and equipment for chemico-mechanical weed management, electro-static spraying and tall tree spraying are required

Energy Management in Agriculture Renewable Practices

Theelectricity consumptionin agriculture during 2004/05 was 88,555 MWh accounting for the 22.93% of overall electricity consumption in India (386,184 MWh) and was the sector constituting third highest consumption of electricity, very close to the domestic sector and behind Industrial sector.7123 thousand tonnes of HSD (high-speed diesel) 19.2% LDO (light diesel oil) and furnace oil was 44 000 tonnes (2.7 %) and 243 000 tonnes (2.9%), respectively,

Solar Drying of Agricultural Produce

Wind Mills use Wind energy to convert to mechanical and electrical energy

The approximate rate of pumping under ideal conditions ranges from 1000 to 1200 liters per hours, which could cater to the irrigation needs of about half to one hectare area depending upon the cropping pattern and its water requirement.

The cost of water pumping windmill for a farm is just Rs 40,000 ( varies to 1,00,000 for higher capacity). Thus over a breakdown period of 4 years, it appears economical apart from saving the ecology.

. The number of wind pumps for water in India are 1284 (2007-08) which are still very less. Availability of wind and initial cost are an issue. Govt. support programs can bolster the use of wind pumps.

Conventional (Rs 2-6)Solar (Rs 15-30)Wind (Rs30-50)

Cost is more efficient in the long run (4-5 years) and also by funding and maintaining as community resources.

A Biogas Plant has a breakeven period of 4-5 years for larger capacity. Also the environmental cost of these sources is not taken into account which when accounted for would save a lot of money

Biofuels like ethanol and biodiesel can be produced from agricultural crops and residues,Can be used to run tractors and other equipments in agriculture.By 2017 Govt. has made mandatory for 20% requirements of diesel to be accomplished through biodiesel.Current biodiesel production is about 4,80,000 tons/ annum Cost of production of biodiesel per litre is Rs 15-17, which is lesser than diesel from conventional sources.In addition, these products supplement the income of farmers and lead to better utilization of land unsuitable for other produce

Precision Farming

What is precision farmingTechnologies used in Precision FarmingSalient features in PFStatus of PF in IndiaSuitability in Rural AreasAdvantages/cost analysisPilot project details

Information and technology based farm management system.Understanding and dealing with natural variability found with in the field.precise application of agricultural inputs based on soil, weather and crop requirement.

Installation of Drip System

Community Nursery

Not commonUse limited to mainly horticultureMany pilot projects running sucessfullyISRO has dedicated satellite for agricultural purposesLack of farmer awerness

Very much suitable for rural areasSuitable for arid areasTechnical help available from ISRO, state and central agricultural universitiesFinancial subsidy from governmentCost effective in long runForm a co-operative society for larger landholding

Tamilnadu Precision farming project in Dharmapuri and Krishnagiri Districts.Precision farming projects in the Grama Panchayats of Perumatty, Eruthiampathy, Vadakarapathy, Pattancherry Kerala.Bharati group has been running successful projects in in rural Punjab.

Profit margin: Rs. 1.00 to 8.00 lakhs/ha/ cropYield increased to 60 to 100%Water saving 40-60%Fertilizer saving 25-30%Electricity saving 30%Input cost reduction 40%Increased profit margin

Efficiency Through fertilizers

The fertilizer industry presents one of the most energy intensive sectors within the Indian economy.The fertilizer industry shows highest growth in the group of energy intensive industries.Production in the fertilizer sector has been increasing over the last 20 years.In 1993-94, the fertilizer sector accounts for 7.4% of total fuels consumed in the manufacturing sector.

Indias fertilizer sector has been biased towards the use of energy, while it has been capital and labor saving.Energy intensity in Indias fertilizer plants has decreased over time.

Future Prospects: Energy Efficiency Improvement Potential

A 5-6 year payback period is one of the barriers to energy-saving investment.Limitations imposed by existing plant layout and technology and utility systems in use.Firm-level barriers to the adoption of energy efficiency improvement significant capital requirements, lack of appreciation for reducing energy use Familiarity with the technical and commercial aspects of energy efficiency and environmental management.

Efficiency Through Reduction in Post Harvest Losses

Due to poor post harvest management, the losses in farm produce in India have been assessed to be of a very high order. Post production losses in food commodities to the tune of Rs. 75,000-1,00,000 crore per annum.

Post Harvest Processing is directed to conservation of produce, process goods and value adding to make the material more readily usable and economically more remunerative.PHT (Post Harvesting Techniques) are used to enhance the per capita food and fiber availability from the limited and dwindling land and water resources in rural areas.Main objectives are:Better economic utilization of agricultural residues, by-products and recycling of wastes.Energy auditing and use of non-renewable sources of energy for post harvest operations.

HarvestingHandlingStorageProcessingPackagingTransportationMarketing

Mud Bins Made of unburnt clay mixed with strawA small hole is provided at the base and a larger hole is provided at the topStraw Bins

Used to store paddy in humid rural areasDried plants are used for making temporary structuresReinforced from outside by winding paddy straw ropes around the whole structureCan hold 2 to 6 quintals of grain

Made of steel, aluminium R.C.Ccapacity ranges from 1 to 10 tonnesfire and moisture prooflong durability

Value added means adding value to a raw product by taking it to, at least, the next stage of productionAt every stage of processing, value is added to the product

There is a huge scope in improvement in agricultural practices in IndiaAwareness and more pilot projects should be initiated to promote renewable and new techniquesGovt. should provide confidence in these practices and aim at community implementation

Scope, Progress and Constraints of Farm Mechanization in India by Joginder Singh, Punjab Agricultural University, LudhianaFarm Power Sources, their Availability and Future Requirements to Sustain Agricultural Production by N.S.L. Srivastava, ICAR, New DelhiFuture Requirements of Agricultural Machines for Mechanizing Agriculture by Anwar Alam, ICAR, New Delhihttp://www.icar.org.in/agricultural-engineering.htmAgricultural Engineering Data Book, Jan. 2008, Central Institute of Agricultural Engineering, Nabi Bag, Berasia Road, BhopalMinistry of Renewable Energyhttp://www.indg.in/agriculture/agricultural-best-practices/precision-farming

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