Gajendra Singh

Energy inputs and crop production in Western Pakistan

The objective of this study was to investigate the patterns of enery use and their relationship with crop production on farms in the Dera Ismail Khan (D.I. Khan) District of the North West Frontier Province, Pakistan. A year-long survey of daily inputs of energy to more than 600 crop plots of 26 farms in seven villages was carried out. These represented both rainfed and irrigated farms operated by bullocks and tractors. Irrigation was provided by either canal or tube-wells. Data on energy inputs were recorded for crop-production operations through biweekly visits to the selected farms, for human labor, bullocks, electric motors, diesel engines and tractors. Applications of fertilizers and chemicals and the results of yields were recorded. On a per hectare basis, the use of tractors reduces the use of both human labor and bullocks on farms and increases the total energy consumption. Due to timely land preparation, yields of most of the crops were higher on tractor-operated farms than on bullock-operated farms. On rainfed farms, energy consumption was the lowest due to lack of a permanent source of irrigation. Floods destroyed the crops on certain plots, and therefore subsequent operations like harvesting were not performed. Canal-irrigated farms had higher cropping intensities and used more energy than rainfed farms. Per hectare consumption of energy was highest on tubewell-irrigated farms due to the high consumption of electrical or diesel energy for pumping.

A decision support system for mechanical harvesting and transportation of sugarcane in Thailand

Abstract A PC-based decision support system (DSS) has been developed to aid in decision making in management of a chopper harvesting system for sugarcane in Thailand. The DSS calculates the harvesting costs for a given set of conditions. It draws a pie chart showing the share and relative importance of different cost components. Graphic plots of harvesting costs versus material capacity at different daily working hours are produced showing the nature of cost variation. The DSS also simulates the harvesting and transportation operation and determines the optimum number of trucks for a given set of transportation conditions. This DSS is intended for use by the industrial team, and is designed to provide a user friendly basis for making optimum decisions for economic use of the harvester and its management.

Computer simulation of mechanical harvesting and transporting of sugarcane in Thailand

Abstract A computer simulation model has been developed for the mechanical harvesting and transporting of sugarcane in the Mae Klong river basin of Thailand. The model is based on measurements of the physical characteristics of sugarcane fields, a time utilisation study of harvesters and a performance evaluation of the trucks used for transport. Cost components of the operations were obtained either from the farmers or from the Massey Ferguson agents in Thailand. The information developed should help a farmer to determine the optimum number of trucks needed to transport the sugarcane harvested by a harvester at a certain distance from the mill. This should also help the management of the sugar mills in allocating daily quotas to the farmers according to the field to mill distance and the number of trucks available for transport.

A low lift solar water pump

A model of a diaphragm pump using an automatic valve mechanism consisting of a set of permanent magnets and springs was developed for lowlift solar water pumping. The pump that has been developed is based on the thermodynamic conversion method using an intermittent Rankine cycle with freon-113 as a working fluid. Solar radiation collected on a simple flat-plate solar collector (size 1.4 m2) is used to vaporize the liquid freon. The vapour pushes a rubber diaphragm which in turn pumps the water. The exhaust vapour is condensed and collected in a container. The condensate is charged into the flat-plate solar collector by gravity for use during the next days operation. Test results showed that with a constant input vapour pressure the discharge of the pump decreased as the head increased. The discharge of the pump was 4.3 l./min at a 3 m head while it reduced to 2.8 l./min at a head of 6 m with a freon pressure of 2.4 mg/cm2 (240 kN/m2) inside the collector. The head increased as the input vapour pressure increased.

Decision support system for the selection of agricultural machinery with a case study in India

Abstract A Decision Support System (DSS) was developed for optimization of farm machinery systems with the flexibility to incorporate regional variations in crops and cropping practices, farm characteristics, sizes of farm equipment, and costs of the resources and outputs. Two sources of mobile power, animals or tractors, and two sources of stationary power, electric motors and diesel engines, were considered. The DSS presents the optimum power solution for mobile and stationary operations, and selects the optimum power sources and the matching equipment from those available in the region. It gives working hours required; energy used; fixed, operating and timeliness costs for each of the selected farm operations; and economic returns on area, crop, seasonal and annual bases. To demonstrate the utility of the DSS, a simple, realistic but hypothetical case study was made. Analysis of the system outputs of the DSS was carried out for this case. Net returns per hectare of the crop area for all possible combinations of power sources were compared to determine the optimum system of farm machinery.

Energy inputs and potential for agricultural production in western Pakistan

Abstract A survey was conducted from March 1992 to May 1993 in Dera Ismail Khan District of Pakistan to investigate the patterns of energy use in crop production from different sources, namely human labor, bullocks, electric motors, diesel engines and tractors. Application of fertilizers and chemicals and crop yields were also recorded. This information was collected from selected farms through biweekly visits. Using the data of the surveyed farms, three projections were made for alternatives with higher levels of farm mechanization and flood control. The findings indicated that, as steps are taken towards increased levels of mechanization with flood control and assured irrigation, there is an increase in total energy inputs, an increase in production and a reduction in cost of production per unit produced.

A Report on Agricultural Production and Processing Technologies for Women in India

Even though there has been a considerable increase in the use of mechanical power, Indian agriculture continues to be largely dependent on animate power. The population of agricultural workers in I...

Machinery selection method for farms in North India

Abstract This paper describes a method of selecting farm machinery systems for farms of different sizes and categories. The annual cost equations developed determine the cost of each farm operation, as well as the total cost of the system of farm machinery. Comparison of the costs of different systems is used to select the system with the lowest costs. Computer programs were developed to handle the lengthy iteration computations. The utility of these programs is demonstrated in selecting least-cost power and machine combinations for farms of up to 20 ha growing maize and wheat in the Ludhiana district of Punjab, India.

Population and Food Production: Prospects and Challenges for Asia

The world population stood at 6,056 million in 2000, with 4,742 million in the less developed regions and 1,314 million in developed regions. Asia accounted for 3,672 million, i.e. about 61 percent of the world total. Currently, 2 out of 5 people in the world live in either China or India. The Green Revolution dramatically improved cereal productivity in Asia and other developing regions, easing the fear of endemic famine. During 1967-2000, per capita worldwide cereal production rose substantially mainly due to increasing cereal yields. While per capita cereal production in the developed world rose from 565 kilograms in 1967 to 665 kilograms in 2000, per capita cereal production in the developing countries rose from 176 kilograms to 253 kilograms during the same period. During the same period, many developing countries experienced rising incomes and shifting consumption patterns, which led to increases in consumption of livestock products, particularly in Asia. The number of food-insecure people in developing countries declined from 994 million in 1970 to 800 million in 2000. Increases in average per capita food availability are expected in all major regions of the world. However, since available food is not equally distributed to all regions, countries and individuals, a large proportion of developing country population is likely to have access to less food than needed. It has become widely accepted that “political will” is the key ingredient in any recipe for sustainable food security. This paper presents an overview of the food demand and supply situation along with changing trends in population growth. It also discusses possible strategies and guidelines in relation to achieving sustainable food security, particularly in the context of developing countries of Asia.

Requirements for systems research in agricultural and environmental sciences

With the increasing complexities of agricultural and environmental issues, there is a growing consensus that systems approaches are essential to understand and handle these issues properly. Although systems research has attracted attention in developed countries, developing countries have shown little interest in it so far. This paper identifies five key requirements for carrying out systems research: skilled users and developers of system research tools, adequate research organization, basic data about agroecosystems, access to computer technology, and opportunities for multidisciplinary cooperation. Researchers as well as users need to be trained in the contemporary technologies and methods. Asia in particular lacks properly trained scientists. Emerging worldwide electronic networking provides additional stimuli for the systems-research community, as data and programs can be shared much more easily.