Study on Energy Use Efficiency for Sugarcane Crop Production Using the Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) Technique

Abstract

This study aimed to study the energy use pattern of sugarcane crops, optimize the energy use pattern of an inefficient farmer, and study the opportunities for input energy saving in sugarcane cultivation. The input–output energy in sugarcane cultivation was audited by collecting data from 61 decision-making units (DMUs) using a face-to-face interview with sugarcane growers in Maharashtra state (India). Technical, pure technical, and scale efficiencies for farmers were calculated using the Charnes–Cooper–Rhodes and Banker–Charnes–Cooper models of the data envelopment analysis technique. The average total input (EI) and output (Eo) energy for sugarcane cultivation were 146.15 + 11.16 GJ ha−1 and 961.02 ± 83.73 GJ ha−1, respectively. The energy share of sugarcane and sugarcane trash in the total output energy was 843.18 ± 60.4 GJ ha−1 and 91.48 ± 6.5 GJ ha−1, respectively. The energy ratio (ER) and net energy gain of sugarcane cultivation were 6.57 ± 0.57 and 814.8 ± 69.9 GJ ha−1, respectively. The average technical efficiency, pure technical efficiency, and scale efficiency for sugarcane cultivation were 0.74 ± 0.03, 0.97 ± 0.006, and 0.76 ± 0.03, respectively, in the study region. The scope for energy saving in sugarcane cultivation was observed to be 19.82% as compared with the actual energy required. If the recommendation of energy saving is followed by inefficient DMUs, a total input energy of 28.98 GJ ha−1 can be saved, maintaining a constant output level of sugarcane yield.