Inhana Rational Farming Technology can ensure energy efficient agriculture. It already demonstrated energy efficient crop production in tea, paddy, vegetables etc. This is possible because sustainable crop production under IRF Technology ensure no crop loss with minimization of external inputs

1. INHANA RATIONAL FARMING (IRF) TECHNOLOGY
A PATHWAY THAT ENSURES
ENERGY EFFICIENT AGRICULTURE
Demonstration in a Wide Variety of Crops
(2008 – 2016)
Study in Collaboration with
Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya
Visva Bharati University
Calcutta University
Krishi Vigyan Kendra, ICAR
Inhana Organic Research Foundation (IORF)
168, Jodhpur Park (1st Floor)
Kolkata – 700068
Email : inhanabiosciences@gmail.com

2. INTRODUCTION
Energy consumption is gaining attention on a global scale due to
the dwindling fossil fuel reserves and energy byproducts that are
affecting climate. There has also been a growing awareness of the
inefficiencies of energy expenditures in food systems.
The method of agricultural production determines to a large
extent the amount of energy used in the cultivation of crops.
There are only limited opportunities to reduce energy use within a
farming system considering that most energy consumption occurs
off the farm in the production and transport of the inputs. Hence,
farming methods are probably the most significant area of
flexibility where efficiency can be introduced.
It has been suggested that organic agriculture can provide a
more energy efficient approach due to its focus on sustainable
production methods that offsets the high energy requirements for
the manufacture of fertilizers (especially nitrogenous), and
pesticides. But challenges like lower crop yields and the
requirement for manual weed control, also pose risk of the
organic cropping systems becoming even lesser energy
efficient as compared to conventional chemical farming.
IRF Technology Demonstrates for
the 1st Time
ENERGY EFFICIENT AGRICULTURE
Different Crop Types
Different Agro- ecosystem

3. Collaborated
with
Crop Period Study Area
Baby Corn 2014-15 Birbhum district,
West Bengal
(both Farm and
farmers’ field)
Okra 2013-14
Green Gram 2013-14
Collaborated
with
Crop Period Study Area
Paddy (Rainfed) 2012-15 Howrah district,
West Bengal
(Agricultural
Farm)
Paddy (Irrigated) 2013-14
Green Gram 2014-15
Howrah KVK, ICAR
Visva Bharati Univ
Collaborated
with
Crop Period Study Area
Tomato 2008-09 Nadia, 24 Parganas (N)
and Bankura district,
West Bengal (both farm
and farmers field)
Green gram 2008-09
Potato 2014-15
BCKV
Collaborated
with
Crop Period Study Area
Paddy 2012-15 Howrah and 24
Parganas (N) district,
West Bengal (both Farm
and farmers’ field)
Green Gram 2013-14
Potato 2015-16
Calcutta University

4. KEY FINDINGS
(IRF Organic vs. Chemical Farming)
 33 % Lower Energy Usage
 64 % More usage of Renewable Energy
 50 % Higher Energy Productivity
 88 % More Net Energy gain
 5 % Lower Energy Cost.
Energy Use Efficiency
2.55
1.29
2.12 2.07
3.06
2.022.07
0.80
1.77
0.98
1.98
1.72
0.00
0.50
1.00
1.50
2.00
2.50
3.00
3.50
Paddy Baby Corn Green Gram Tomato Potato Okra
EnergyUseEfficiency----->
Energy Use Efficiency under IRF Technology vs. Chemical Farming
Organic Agriculture utilizing IRF Technology is not only Low
Energy Intensive; the Energy Utilization Efficiency is
significantly higher than conventional chemical farming,
especially in cases of crops like Tomato, Baby corn and Potato.
In Indian Agriculture with the pre-dominance of small and marginal
farmers; and the with the continuing threat to Livelihood Security
under changing climatic patterns - it is an emergent need to
improve energy-use efficiency in our crop production system -
to increase the net income resulting from a reduction in input
expenditures, an increase in output yield, or both.

5. Energy Productivity i.e., Crop Yield (kg) per unit Energy Input (MJ/ ha) was recorded
as high under organic Management. But of special significance is the very high
Energy Productivity of crops like potato and tomato – i.e., High Energy Demanding
crops showed Higher Response to Renewable Energy Resources .
Sustainable agriculture lies on a delicate balance of maximizing crop
productivity, while minimizing the use of finite natural resources
and detrimental environmental impacts.
Sustained, even Higher Production under IRF Technology
indicated Efficient Use of the Renewable Sources, as
influenced by the Qualitative Approach towards Soil and
Plant and focus on Activation of Plant Physiology.
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
Paddy Green gram Potato Tomato Okra Baby corn
0.17
0.08
1.45
1.81
0.57
0.3
0.14
0.07
0.53
1.18
0.38
0.24
Kg/MegaJoule--->
Organic
Chemical Farming
Energy Productivity under IRF Organic vs. Chemical Farming
IRF Technology demonstrates . . .
Energy Efficient Agriculture is Possible irrespective of Crop Type
Renewable Energy Use in MJ
0
5000
10000
15000
20000
Paddy Green
gram
Potato Tomato Okra Baby
corn
MegaJoule--->
Organic
+73%
+96%
+44%
+66%
+122%
+82%

6. 0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
Paddy Green
gram
Potato Tomato Okra Baby
corn
18%
8%
62%
34% 33%
41%
%HigherthanChemicalFarming
Higher Income per Unit Energy Invested under IRF Organic
As in case of all economic activities, in agriculture too; the
“Energy Ladder" follows and influences the “Economic Ladder".
Hence, attempts to bring about food security or sustaining farmers’
livelihoods must be accompanied with efforts to conserve the energy,
resources and promote higher use of renewable sources; not simply
as a goal in itself but as a vital component of these attempts.
In case of all the organic projects under IRF Technology, the
comparatively high income per unit energy invested, especially
in the cases of the high energy demanding crops like potato,
tomato, okra and baby corn indicated high crop response even
under use of renewable resources.
‘Energy Efficient Agriculture’ is the true precursor of
both Ecological and Economical sustainability.
Inhana Rational Farming Technology Demonstrates . . .
The findings elucidate that a focused approach towards
Energization of Soil and Plant i.e. enlivening the native soil
micro flora and improving the plants’ efficiency towards
Nutrient Use; can enable More Output from Less Input or
in other words induce Energy Efficient Agriculture.

7. When the world is striving towards induction of Energy
Efficiency in Agriculture . . . .
IRF Technology from as early as 2008 sought for
‘POWERING AGRICULTURE’
so that it could generate
More Output from Less Power or Renewable Sources
. . . Success Guided by Science
This was done through a QUALITATIVE APPROACH TOWARDS SOIL &
PLANT i.e., Energization of Soil System & Energization of Plant System
A process of ENERGY INFUSION into Soil & Plant strives towards
Restoration the Natural Soil- Plant- Microflora Dynamics that has been de-
activated due to years of chemical bombardment.
Soil Energization is basically brought about through application of Stable,
non- phytotoxic and micro flora rich (self- generated and in the order of
1016 c.f.u.) compost that creates favourable environment in soil for rapid
regeneration and efficiency of the native microflora.
Plant Energization an exclusive & unique approach towards Activation of
Plant Physiology through application of ‘Energy Solutions’ extracted from
Botanical sources & developed under ‘Element Energy Activation Principle’
The higher Nutrient Use Efficiency of Activated Plant System
matched up the Nutrient Mineralization potential of the Dynamic
Soil leading to deliverance of Sustained/ Higher Yields under
utilization of Renewable Resources –
Demonstration of Efficient Energy Use under IRF Technology

8. REFERENCES
http://www.fao.org/docs/eims/upload/233069/energy-use-oa.pdf
http://www.fao.org/docrep/003/X8054E/x8054e05.htm
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1051/agro/2010029
http://www.usask.ca/agriculture/caedac/PDF/mcrae.PDF
Dr. P. Das Biswas
(Founder Director)