Overview

Need for Energy Efficiency Practices in

Agriculture

Scopes of Improvement : -> Mechanization Systems

-> Agro Energy Management
Renewable Shift
-> Precision Farming Innovative
Concept
-> Fertilizers -> Inorganic & Organic

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
Mechanizatio
n Systems

FOR

Source : NSSOReport No. 40

Indicates
land Holding
size in
Hectares

Spring tine harrow

Disc harrow

Mouldboard

Disc
Ploug
h

Increase in productivity upto,

Seed cum fertilizer drill facilitates:

Saving in seeds,
20%
Saving in fertilizer,
15-20%

Enhancement in cropping intensity,

Increase in gross income
and return of the farmers

12.34%

5-22%
29-49%

Success

Losses

Increased debt,
cost of fuel and
repair,
unemployment,
disparity in
income

Depends on:
size of operational holding, land
topography, availability of credit
facilities and per hectare
profitability

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 chemicomechanical 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

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

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 farming

Technologies used in Precision Farming
Salient features in PF
Status of PF in India
Suitability in Rural Areas
Advantages/cost analysis
Pilot 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 common
Use limited to mainly horticulture
Many pilot projects running sucessfully
ISRO has dedicated satellite for
agricultural purposes
Lack of farmer awerness

Very much suitable for rural areas

Suitable for arid areas
Technical help available from ISRO, state
and central agricultural universities
Financial subsidy from government
Cost effective in long run
Form 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/ crop
Yield 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, byproducts and recycling of wastes.

Energy auditing and use of non-renewable sources of
energy for post harvest operations.

Harvesting
Handling
Storage
Processing
Packaging
Transportation
Marketing

Mud Bins
Made

of unburnt clay mixed with straw

A small hole is provided at the base and a larger hole is provided at
the top

Straw Bins
Used to store paddy in humid rural areas
Dried plants are used for making temporary structures
Reinforced from outside by winding paddy straw ropes
around the whole structure
Can hold 2 to 6 quintals of grain

Made of steel, aluminium R.C.C

capacity ranges from 1 to 10 tonnes
fire and moisture proof
long durability

Value added means adding value to a raw product by

taking it to, at least, the next stage of production

At every stage of processing, value is added to the product

There is a huge scope in improvement in

agricultural practices in India
Awareness and more pilot projects should be
initiated to promote renewable and new techniques
Govt. 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,
Ludhiana
Farm Power Sources, their Availability and Future
Requirements to Sustain Agricultural Production by N.S.L.
Srivastava, ICAR, New Delhi
Future Requirements of Agricultural Machines for
Mechanizing Agriculture by Anwar Alam, ICAR, New Delhi
http://www.icar.org.in/agricultural-engineering.htm
Agricultural Engineering Data Book, Jan. 2008, Central
Institute of Agricultural Engineering, Nabi Bag, Berasia
Road, Bhopal
Ministry of Renewable Energy
http://www.indg.in/agriculture/agricultural-bestpractices/precision-farming