Requirement Based Evaluation of Energy Consumption in Agricultural Sector - A Case Study

Abstract

Agriculture is primary occupation in India and largely depends on ground water because of unscheduled canals, lowrain fall etc., Electrical Energy consumption for agricultural purpose has a major share in national energy consumption. Even though several methods have been followed from the past to lift ground water, pumps operated by electrical motors occupy larger percentage. Thus availability of electricity and availability of ground water became two vital elements for flourishment of agriculture and country to prosper. Operating hours of pumpset for various crops depends on amount of water required for the crop. In a crop cycle, for proper crop growth several irrigation cycles need to be scheduled. As there is direct dependence on electricity with water required for crops, estimation of energy consumed based on water required will definitely be an imperative task of interest. There is always a chance to show a high value for energy consumed by agricultural sector, which is not metered in Andhra Pradesh. In this paper, energy consumed for various crops is estimated in six districts of Andhra Pradesh covered by Andhra Pradesh Southern Power Distribution Company Limited (APSPDCL). This method may be useful in arriving at most reliable estimates for the energy consumed in agriculture.