1. ENERGY/ POWER
Sun is a storehouse of energy. Only earth and other solar planets intercept a small fraction of this energy. The exact value of the solar constant (the solar energy) is not known but is believed to be between 1,353 and 1,395 W/m2 [www.osti.gov/phv/phvhome.html - 5k]. But there is acute shortage of power for humanity on the surface of earth. Possibly, there is a mismatch of availability and need of energy, in respect of time, quantity and quality. As you study energy closely one gets a feeling that harnessing and management would be more important than its generation. The two basic problems facing India's development are power and population. If population can be a source of power, (i.e. the man power) a good part of India's energy requirement could be met. Gandhiji, the father of the nation suggested production by masses with the same objective. Animal power was once extensively used for a variety of activities in India. Historians feel that slavery was never formed part of life style or culture of Indian sub-continent (Indus valley civilization), possibly due to such extensive use of animals for work. 

2. SOURCES OF ENERGY: Energy can be sourced indirectly from wind, sea wave sun light, wastes, alcohol, fossil fuel etc. They are just being mentioned with sources. Only issues of power related to animals or animal rearing is being discussed currently. 

BIO-WASTE: Australia, has started to burns the residual fibre waste from raw sugar processing - called bagasse - to produce steam, to work the machines which process the cane and drive electricity generators. The present installed capacity of all the sugar mills in Australia is about 250 megawatts, 60-70 megawatts of which is sold to the electricity grid. This is only a fraction of the potential capacity. The installed electricity generation capacity of sewage farms around Australia is about 7.5 megawatts electricity production from this source could triple by 2010.  www.science.org.au/nova/039/039key.htm - 12k - 21 Oct 2003

WIND MILL: The first windmills were developed to automate grain grinding and water-pumping (in Persia and in China around 500-900 A.D. The bulk-power, utility-scale wind energy conversion systems were first undertaken in Russia in 1931. The wind farm market was soon be dominated by the Danes. telosnet.com/wind/ - 10k

SEA WAVES: Efforts to harness sea waves are under way in Canada, Europe and Japan. As of 1995, 685 kilowatts of grid-connected wave generating capacity was operating worldwide. This capacity comes from eight demonstration plants, it says. sanjose.bizjournals.com/sanjose/stories/2002/02/25/daily80.html

RV co's power stations will use a device called the Rochester Venturi, a cross between a wing and a funnel, which is placed underwater and channels tidal flows. Unlike other wave and tidal devices it does not have any moving parts immersed in the sea. Because it is below the surface, it is not subject to storms. www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,3604,475481,00.html - 37k

ALCHOHOL: Is mainly a by-product of sugar industry and often considered a potent source of power. In the early 1900's, several companies made fans that worked on the Sterling Engine principle. Also called a hot air engine, it worked using a source of heat such as a kerosene or alcohol lamp, which heated the air in a piston. This piston turned a crankshaft to which the fan blade was attached. Convenient where electricity was not available, these fans are still used today. www.fancollectors.org/info/defbody.htm - 27k. It may be beneficial to add something to the fuel for the purpose of lubricating the valves. Unfortunately, diesel and most petroleum-based oils will not mix with wet ethanol.

SOLAR POWER: Is almost in final stages of use and is marketed as cooker, water heater, light and what not?
Now you can power up, for example, a room in your house or cabin, for $500 or less--this includes lights, TV, computer, maybe even a small refrigerator. You need just a little handy using basic tools and virtually no maintenance. With a small solar electric systems in place--the power is considered to be more dependable than the grid.

THE FOSSIL FUEL: The oil reserves of the world are fast getting depleted; many sources are expected to last for another two decades only. Our Assam source has started showing signs of decline. Some developed countries are currently importing crude, keeping their own oil wells untapped for the future. OPA (oil pool account) is unpredictable as it depends on domestic requirement to keep pace with urbanization, technology development, transport, communication etc. as well as OPEC price line. 90% of our current need of energy for cooking in rural areas is met from dung cakes and crop residues. 

Domestic production of crude oil has declined from 63% in 1989-90 to a projected 32% of the projected requirement in 1999-2000. Agriculture is currently demanding 40% (39.52%) of its energy requirements by way of oil driven sources. The proposed national agriculture policy is expected to push up the oil demand manifolds. Unless other sources of energy like, alcohol, solar, dung gas, wind etc. are explored on a war footing, agriculture may find itself in grave crisis. Procurement price of food grains has already shot up and any further rise in OPA is likely to further it. Last year we imported 68 Million Tons (MT) of crude oil and 10 MT of petroleum products. For 2000-01 import of petroleum product will be reduced; but crude import will rise proportionately. Roughly for every rise of $1 crude price the import will rise by $40 million and the rise of $10 would shoot our liability by $4 Billion. 

[Based on: "From the bottom of the pool" by S.C. Das in Swagat, Nov 2000, issue. Page 76]

3. POWER GENERATION AND USE IN INDIA 
The current perspective India had an installed capacity of 2000 MW of electric power in 1950 (i.e. before five year plans of development were launched). Today we generate 85,000 MW electricity and nearly one third of it (30.54%) is used for agriculture specially for hi-tech cropping where the large landholders are involved. In some states it is given free of cost.

TRACTORS: With introduction of hi-tech agriculture number of tractors increased considerably (from 5000 in 1950 to 3 lakh tractors as on date). But many tractors are under-utilised and number of small farmers had been tempted to buy tractor on loans and had fallen to debts.

FUEL: We import petroleum products worth more than Rs. 30 to 35 thousand crores every year. A good share is used for agriculture. An increased OPA (oil pool account*) each year will add to oil pool deficit Rs. 12,000 crores if world price does not soften. 

Contributions of various energy sources for agriculture#
Following green revolution, machine power has a major role, so has the dependence on oil. Since oil is a major source of energy for hi-tech agriculture it must be considered from fiscal angle also. The table below shows the contribution of various energy sources used in India for agriculture. 200 million men and 84 million draught animals provide substantial energy for agriculture. 

4. USE OF ENERGY FOR ANIMAL HUSBANDRY/ PRODUCTION 
Though the energy requirement for various activities connected to animal production could not be traced, energy needs of various live-stock/ domestic animals in production are known. Grains are considered a major source of energy for animal in the west while Indian livestock do produce with minimal or no grain in their feed. Possibly the studies on the basal or energy metabolism of various breeds of domestic animals of India brought up on common property resources and crop residues need more study. Energy inputs for the production of fish or meat of cold-blooded animals is considerably lower than that of mammals or avian species. Similarly, it is known that at least in buffaloes, which contribute more than 56% share to milk production of India, the major source of energy is not glucose, but volatile fatty acids (VFA). It is also seen that the energy/ power input required for various animal husbandry activities in India is essentially in the form of man power (woman power to be more precise). When we consider the balance sheet of energy/ power in the Indian context, the facts just mentioned may have to taken into account.

5. ANIMAL AS SOURCE OF POWER (Animal Power) AND ENERGY
Even though the energy contribution from Draught Animal Power (DAP) which was around 70% has shrunken to 25%, it is estimated that more than 55% of the land is cultivated by DAP with 2 ha (hectare) command area per pair of bullocks. Paddy which was grown in 23.5% of the total area (in 1987) uses 35.6% of total DAP energy. Use of animal energy per hectare for jute, potato, onion and paddy crops is comparatively high. These crops are grown in states having higher DAP density and lower mechanical power

Draught Animal Power (DAP) is the muscle power of Draught Animals (DA's). 74 million (m). bullocks and 8 m. he-buffaloes make available 40 m. Hp, and energy worth Rs.10,000 crores per year. DA's plough 100 m. hectares of area sown (66%), and haul 25 billion-ton kilometers of freight in 15 m. Animal Drawn Carts (ADCs). DAP annually saves six m. tons of petroleum, worth >Rs. 12,000 crores, mostly in foreign exchange. Asset value of DAP system is >Rs.25,000 crores. 

In India, there must be about 100 million working animals including draught animals (DA's), pack animals, shepherding & security animals. Species, size and breeds of animals used for work vary with regions. Use of Draught Animal Power (DAP) for agricultural operations steeply declined during green revolution when machine power was adopted for hi-tech crop production. Highways are being increasingly used by heavy, high-speed vehicles that replace animal driven carts. 

 
The development of animal power (AP) depends on the number of animals available, their access and acceptability to the community, size, endurance, health status, selection, breeding efficiency etc. Issues involved in the use of DAP or AP are many. The number of bullocks has considerably been reduced. With labor demand in agriculture limited to 90-100 days, animal had tilling job for the limited period only. It becomes difficult for farmers to maintain male animals for the rest of the 265 days and feed them. DAP is chiefly used for ploughing, lift irrigation, and cane crushing. Mechanical efficiency as well as safety of many of the implements has scope for improvement and for optimal use of animal power. Issues could be addressed and use of innovated products optimized, if research and development are conducted under field conditions and involving the end users. 

6. ENERGY FOR COOKING: Rural India frequently uses dried cow dung (cow dung cakes) for cooking. This (biomass) is a major source of energy for cooking. In rural India, Indian cattle and buffaloes produce (by a modest estimate) more than 800 MT (million tons) of fiber rich dung every year. Of this around 300 MT is burned as dung cakes for cooking energy and the rest is used as manure. Nearly 90% of cooking energy of India's rural areas is from crop residues and cow dung cake (78%+11.5%). Manure gas plant especially the cow dung gas plants though low in water consumption, has not caught up due to operational problems. (Human waste can be added) These difficulties vary from region to region and season to season.

7. ANIMAL DRIVEN GENERATOR
10th plan sub-committee on Draught animal power has considered among other things the proposal for an animal driven generator, especially for un-connected remote areas. From time immemorial India had been using animal power for various activities of life. Though majority of the breeds of cattle of India are draught or duel purpose animals (see table 6), DA's remain idle in their barn for most part of the year. Currently in India less than 30% of the Potential Animal Power (PAP) is in use. Since farmers are unable to earn during lean season, they are kept on meager subsistence ration and low exercise. This can lead to diseases of musculo-skeletal system that may cripple them at early productive age. Methods for fully tapping potential animal power (PAP) and using it optimally throughout the year can be part of a total animal energy management plan. All energy problems stem from the methods of trapping energy streams for development. The animal driven mini-generator works on a bullock driven dynamo and with alternators and energy storage devices. This device can find work for animals all through the year. The models proposed could be fabricated and maintained by local blacksmiths and mechanics. By way of using material available locally (preferably through a participatory research), micro-generators may be useful in far-flung areas that are denied development for want of power-based communication. The high cost & transmission losses often stand in the way of accessing power to remote areas where population density is low. Tables below compare expenditure of production and transmission of electricity and of DA's in India. 

CONCLUSION
India has already committed itself to hi-tech agriculture and has achieved a grain revolution in terms of production. But all the same it had to pay a price in respect of high energy use, Oil Pool deficit etc. We must assess whether we have factually gained in terms of fiscal balance, factor productivity, food security or sustainability, by attempting to adopt global technologies and trends of production. Before we venture on hi-tech animal production we have to take a good look at the energy needs and prepare an affordable energy balance sheet. Optimal use of animal energy may a critical control point.

[ The next part would cover finance as an input need - Pl see Jan 2004 updates ]