Elsevier

Energy

Volume 10, Issue 7, July 1985, Pages 805-817
Energy

Modeling energy and agriculture interactions—II: Food-fodder-fuel-fertilizer relationships for biomass in Bangladesh

https://doi.org/10.1016/0360-5442(85)90114-8Get rights and content

Abstract

The model developed by Parikh1 is applied to Bangladesh for which the situation in 1976–1977 is simulated first. This base case provides insights into the present behavior of different income groups with regard to choices of fuels and allocation of biomass for various purposes.

It is shown that, due to high needs and prices of fuels, the biomass allocation for fuels takes priority over feed and fertilizers. In fact, the landless burn all, and small farmers burn 80% of animal dung rather than use it for fertilizers.

The model also shows that, unless substantial amounts of fertilizers are used, the small and middle farmers would have feed and fuel shortages on adopting high-yielding varieties (HYV) that minimize straw-grain ratios. Similarly, by 1990, when the population increases further, middle farmers also become vulnerable in meeting their feed, fuel, fertilizer requirements. To mitigate these effects, improved stoves and other measures would be necessary to increase biomass use efficiencies considerably. Since Bangladesh is a very low-income and resource-scarce country, the choices of biogas, charcoal kilns, and alcohol distilleries, and the choices of mechanization, all of which require investment, play a minor role.

References (13)

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    Energy

    (1985)
  • Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics

    Household Expenditure Summary of 1976–77

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  • World Bank Country Study

    Bangladesh—Current Trends and Development Issues

  • R. DeLucia et al.

    Energy Planning in Developing Countries: A Study of Bangladesh

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  • R. Tyers

    Optimal Resources Allocation in Transitional Agriculture Case Studies in Bangladesh

  • J. Briscoe

    Population and Development Review

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There are more references available in the full text version of this article.

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