Energy use pattern in wheat crop production system among different farmer groups of the Himalayan Tarai region

Abstract

This study examines the energy use pattern in wheat crop cultivation in the Himalayan Tarai region of India among different farmer groups. A total of 250 farmers from 59 villages were interviewed and information on various inputs in wheat crop production was collected during 2015–16. Based on the information, all the inputs in wheat crop production were identified and converted into energy using standard energy equivalents. Results showed that the total energy expenditure in wheat crop production in the region was 20497.1 MJ/ha in which fertilizer, fuel and seed shared 85% of the total energy. Fertilizer alone accounted for 50.2% of total energy followed by fuel (22.6%). It was estimated that farmers of the large and medium category used more energy compared to those having small landholding, but also produced more grains. Operation-wise, fertilizer application consumed maximum energy followed by tillage operation. The average value estimated for output-to-unit input energy ratio was 3.02, whereas it was 3.26, 3.15, 3.14, 3.11 and 2.95 for large, medium, semi-medium, small and marginal category farmers respectively. It can be concluded from the present study that energy consumption has a positive relationship with yield