Nexus between energy use and economic efficiency of low-input intensive hill crops under valley farming system in Indian Sub–Himalaya

The study assessed the energy use efficiency and economics of low input-intensive hill crops under the valley farming system in Indian central Himalaya. It was conducted in the Uttarakhand state by using sample survey techniques. A total eleven crops viz. paddy, finger millet, barnyard millet, soybean, horse gram, wheat, lentil, barley, mustard, potato and pea were studied along with seven prevalent cropping system of the valley farming system viz. rice–pea, pulses pea, pulses–potato, rice–wheat, pulses–mustard, barnyard millet–wheat, finger millet–fallow. It was found among all inputs the different operations, seed consumed the bulk of energy for all crops except field pea. The total input energy consumption was found highest for pea (16.89 GJ/ha) followed by potato (8.89 GJ/ha) and rice (3.83 GJ/ha) whereas lowest for mustard (0.84 GJ/ha). The pea followed by potato is giving a maximum yield in terms of rice equivalent yield. Comparing the economic and energy efficiency together the most remunerative crop sequences were estimated as pulses–pea, followed by rice–pea as output per rupee investment is higher than other sequences although as far as energy profitability is concerned, finger millet–fallow followed by rice–wheat and barnyard millet–wheat are better options for valley farming system in Indian central Himalaya.