Energy Input Use and CO2 Emissions in the Major Wheat Growing Regions of India

Energy Input Use and CO2 Emissions in the Major Wheat Growing Regions of India ABSTRACT The structural and technological changes that have taken place over the past several decades have resulted in an increased use of direct and indirect energy inputs in Indian agriculture. In particular, the substitution of capital for labour has increased the reliance of agriculture on non-renewable energy use. Increased wheat production in India has been achieved through the expanded use of increasingly sophisticated inputs, such as farm machinery, fertilizers, herbicides, and irrigation. All these involve the use of commercial energy. The use of fossil fuel in the agriculture industry contributes to the overall Greenhouse emissions. This study estimates the impact on CO2 emissions from two policy options: (i) the increase in price of direct energy inputs, and (ii) the increase in price of indirect energy inputs. These impacts, in the short run, largely depend upon the elasticities of substitution between energy and other farm inputs, which, in turn, are determined by the current production technology. The results indicate that substantial reductions in CO2 emissions cannot be achieved. The increase in fertilizer prices has a larger overall emission reduction than increase in the price of direct energy inputs. The non price measures like Resource Conservation Technologies and direct restrictions on input use could be the effective options.