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Energy Intensity and Productivity in Relation to Agriculture-bangladesh Perspective

SHAIKH KHOSRUZZAMAN
Institute of Natural Sciences, National University, Gazipur-1704, Bangladesh

M. ALI ASGAR
East-West University, Dhaka, Bangladesh.

K. M. REZAUR RAHMAN
Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission, Dhaka, Bangladesh.

SHAWKAT AKBAR
Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission, Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

Results of the energy intensity and overall energetic efficiency show that total energy output increased from 69.87 to 82.08 GJha-1, with increasing commercial energy input from 17.94 to 27.10 GJha-1 during 1990 to 2005. The corresponding increase in energy intensity was 45.67 to 54.47 MJ/US$(2000). Energetic efficiency, calculated as the ratio of total output to input for different crops, using weight factor, decreased from 3.97 to 3.03. The energetic efficiency declines with increasing energy input, and the result indicates that input energy increases faster compared to energy output. The mechanization index increased from 64 to 78%. However, the main goal being maximization of the output per unit agricultural land, the estimated change in efficiency with increasing input can play an important role in choosing the appropriate input for optimum output.

Keywords: Energy intensity, Productivity, Agriculture

Location:

Start Date: 00-00-1990

End Date: 00-00-2005

Program Area: Socio-economic and Policy

Non-commodity: Profitability

Objectives:

In this study, we evaluate the role of energy in GDP and energy intensity, the role of energy in energetic efficiency and the role of energy in agricultural production as food that is energy productivity.

Methodology:

MATERIALS AND METHODS The available up-to-date data from different national and international published sources have been used here. In those cases, where no published data are available, the relevant figures from field survey have been estimated. Human and animal labor, machinery, electricity, petroleum and fertilizer have been included to estimate the energy intensity. The energy equivalents of these different forms of energy used for the computation have been estimated (Khosruzzaman et al. 2009). The energy supply by human labor has been calculated accordingly (Iqbal 2007). To estimate the gross energy input in agriculture, working day of agricultural worker is considered as 207 days per year, with an average 8 hr work per day (Stout 1990). The average working hours of an animal in agriculture is considered 360 hr per year (Ozkan et al. 2004). Since, there is no data available for petroleum (diesel) consumption of the machinery used in agriculture, the total diesel energy input to agriculture was calculated from the petroleum consumed by tractors and power tillers. From field investigations, it is found that a 70-hp tractor consumes 8 L diesels per hour and its average use on the field is 1140 hr per year. On the other hand, a 10-hp power tiller consumes 1.75 L diesel per hour with an 80% loading capacity and its average use on the field is 720 hr per year (Ozkan et al. 2004). Deep tube-well, shallow tube-well and low lift pump are operated by electricity and diesel. Data on electricity and diesel, used in irrigation were collected from field investigation. It is found that for irrigation, a deep tube-well consumes 1388 KWh electricity per hectare, shallow tube-well and low lift pump consume 266.4 L diesels per hector. Chemical energy input data on individual fertilizer materials (nitrogen, phosphorus, potash and zinc); manure and pesticides (insecticide, herbicide and fungicide) were used on the basis of practices (Ozkan et al. 2004). The total energy input from fertilizer was calculated from the chemical energy released by the different element of the fertilizer usage (Khosruzzaman et al. 2009). The energy contributions from the pesticide were also calculated. The energy contribution from water was estimated by considering the total water needed for irrigation and the energy released per unit quantity of water (Khosruzzaman et al. 2009). To calculate water energy, used in irrigation, it is assumed that 1.33 kg of water is consumed to produce 1 gm of wheat and 0.45 kg of water is consumed to produce 1 gm of rice and other food grains. This amount of water, was also converted to energy equivalent (Acaroglu 2005). Seed is considered as a form of energy input to agriculture. In this study rice, wheat, maize, jute, oil seed, pulses, vegetable, potato, sugarcane, spices, cotton, groundnut and their residues were considered as output in the energy estimation. Energy output from these products was calculated by multiplying the amount of production and their corresponding energy equivalent. Energy output from the by-products was estimated by multiplying a by-product with its corresponding energy equivalent (Khosruzzaman et al. 2009). Based on the energy equivalents of the inputs and output (Khosruzzaman et al. 2009), the energy input to produce per unit of GDP output (energy intensity), the energy ratio (energetic efficiency), energy productivity and the mechanization index have been evaluated of the period 1990 to 2005 as defined below (Sartori 2005).

Source of Information: Journal of Bangladesh Academy of Sciences, Vol. 34, No. 1, 59-70, 2010

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

Firstly, it has been realized that the energy intensity (considering total agriculture and commercial energy only) increased by 6.35-fold from 1990 to 2008. The projected energy intensity is shown to be non-linear up to 2035. The increasing trend of energy intensity in agriculture sector of Bangladesh does not support sustainable development. Secondly, it has been realized that the energy intensity (considering crops and horticulture sub-sector and commercial energy only) increased by eightfold from 1990 to 2008. The pattern of energy intensity indicates that the growth of energy demand in this sector will enhance the productivity of crops and other agriculture products. Thirdly, it has been realized that the energy intensity (considering crops and horticulture sub-sector with commercial and non-commercial energy) increased by 1.19- fold from 1990 to 2005. The calculated energy intensity shows that sustainability in respect of economic growth of agriculture (production of crops) is attainable. In the first case, the energetic efficiency, where only the commercial energy is included, decreased from 3.97 to 3.03 in the study period. This declining tendency with increasing energy input indicates that input energy increases faster compared to energy output. In the second case, the energetic efficiency, where both commercial and solar energy is included, increased from 0.109 to 0.126% in the study period of 1990 to 2005. This shows that there is enough scope still open to achieve greater solar conversion efficiency through photosynthesis. The contribution of mechanical (tractor, power tiller) energy was 16% of the total physical energy in 1990 and it rose to 30% in 2005. In 1990 the mechanization index was 64% and rose to 78% in 2005 showing a 22% increment compared to 1990. The production of food increased by 35% in the study period. On the other hand the input energy increased by 51% in 2005 with respect to 1990. In 1990 the energy productivity was 0.12, which declined to 0.11 in 2005. The energy productivity declined with increasing energy input/hectare. It can be concluded that our agriculture sector is approaching to its saturation level in the present trend, unless there is new innovation in agriculture.

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