Discerning Sustainable Interaction Between Agriculture and Energy in India

In India, traditionally, the relationship between agriculture and energy has been unidirectional, with agriculture using energy as input in crop production. However, of late, the energy sector is also using agricultural by-products as renewable-fuel feedstock. We examine the dual role of agriculture as a producer as well as consumer of energy. The study finds that the total commercial energy input in agriculture has increased. As an energy producer, the role of the agriculture sector is to produce biofuels which are considered as backstop technology to fossil fuel-based energy sources. However, there are sustainability issues as biofuel crops compete with food crops for resources.