Trends in energy use in Punjab agriculture

The composition of energy use in Punjab agriculture has changed substantially, with a significant shift from the animal and human power towards machines, electricity and diesel. Energy use efficiency is in a continuously declining phase as the energy ratio has declined from 11.8 in 1980–81 to 8.9 in 2018–19. For paddy and wheat occupying about 80per cent of gross cropped area in Punjab, though the energy use efficiency is approximately the same i.e. 5.12 and 5.32, respectively and the respective energy productivity values are 0.15 Kg/MJ and 0.23 Kg/MJ, but the Specific energy of 6.8 MJ/Kg for paddy compared to wheat i.e. 4.4 MJ/Kg stresses the need for the adoption of energy saving technologies especially in paddy cultivation. The share of commercial energy sources in the input energy has been on the rise and forms about 97 per cent of it. Use of direct energy is higher (i.e. 53 per cent) than the indirect energy use. Amongst the direct energy sources, electricity, while fertilizers amongst the indirect energy sources form the major share of the input energy. The overwhelming significance of irrigation water, chemical fertilizers and electricity consumption in the energy input indicates that there exists an opportunity for improving energy productivity of crop cultivation in the state and this can be achieved primarily through the use ofproven energy conservation/management practices and technologies. There is need for proper management of inputs at farm level and this can be achieved by educating the farmers regarding proper utilization of the scarce farm inputs along with creating awareness about the harmful effect of excessive use of energy inputs. In addition to these, Government policies aimed at improved energy efficiency must also be coherent and regard the synergies and trade-offs with the policies addressing issues of productivity, water use and food safety.