Use of energy in raising dryland intercrops

A dryland village has been selected in Jammu region (J&K State) to assess the resource availability, its utilization pattern and economic viability of raising intercrop (black gram, sesamum and pearl millet). The observations on the energy consumption and inputs used for various field activities have been collected on a predevised proforma. The farmers used very high seed rates and lower doses of FYM (12% of recommended value) and fertilizers (25% of N, 40% of P and 53% of K). Human and draft animal pair were the chief source of power in the selected village. Harvesting utilized highest human energy (52% of total human energy) followed by threshing (32%) and these two are, therefore, critical operations for growing intercrop in the village. With the present technology and resource utilization pattern, it is not profitable to raise the crops in the selected village. The benefit-cost ratio ranges from −0.10:1 to −0.69:1 and decreased with increase in area under cultivation.