Energy and economic efficiency of wheat production using different irrigation supply methods

Abstract

Energy inputs are being used increasingly in Pakistan to boost agricultural production and are resulting in a transition from traditional to more energy-oriented agricultural production systems. In assessing the form of this transition and the trend that is likely to continue in the near future, it is imperative to know the present use of energy in agricultural production in order to formulate rational policy. The objective of the research was to provide an energy and economic efficiency analysis of wheat production in the Balochistan province of Pakistan using gravity and lift irrigation with diesel and electric energy. The applied inputs evaluated were farms irrigated with canal water, farms irrigated with electric motor driven pumps and the farms using diesel engine to pump the irrigation water. The sources of energy inputs included the human labour, FYM, chemical fertilizer, electrical or diesel pumps used for irrigation and tractor. The results indicate that irrigation using an electric motor and diesel engine is inefficient in term of energy consumption and economic returns at the farm level compared with canal irrigation. Consequently, the benefit cost ratios of the diesel and electric engine lift irrigation were also relatively small when compared with the canal irrigation.