ENERGY FOR RURAL DEVELOPMENT: A CASE STUDY IN BIHAR, INDIA (PULKAHI, BIOMASS)

This thesis analyses the feasibility of various sources of energy for the development of agriculture on the Indian subcontinent. There is a large potential for further use of groundwater for irrigation in the northeast Indian plains and this study examines the trade-off between the benefits to agriculture of irrigation and the costs of the energy and equipment required for pumping.; A linear programming model has been developed to predict the general equilibrium state of the economy of Pulkahi, a typical poor village in the Indian State of Bihar. The results from this model show that the present cropping pattern existing within Bihar (with no irrigation) is close to the general equilibrium state. Therefore, it appears that in this region traditional farmers are efficient at maximizing income, given their resources.; This model has been used to predict the effects on agricultural production of various technological endowments. Four different methods of pumping water were considered in detail. These were: diesel engines fueled with diesel oil, diesel engines with biogas plants fueled with dung, diesel engines with gasifiers fueled with residues or wood, and animal powered pumps. Gasifiers convert wood or residues to a combustible gas (primarily hydrogen and carbon monoxide) through a process of partial combustion. Biogas plants use anaerobic decomposition to produce methane. Only small size pumps suitable for use by individual farmers, or small cooperatives were considered.; As most biomass is already used for some purpose (e.g. fertilizer, fuel) special attention was given to the balance of nitrogen within the village system.; The results from this analysis show diesel fueled diesel-engine pumpsets to have the largest net benefits. However, small farmers owning less than 2 ha of land do not have sufficient resources to warrant the purchase of any pump. The general uncompetitiveness of the biomass technologies is due to the closeness of the groundwater to the surface. These 'renewable' technologies effectively substitute a capital cost (in equipment) for a current cost (for diesel oil). In this region, however, the annual fuel cost for irrigation is low. The animal powered pumps are uneconomic due to their capital cost, and due to the capacity limitations of existing herd sizes.