ENERGY CHALLENGES IN INDIAN AGRICULTURE.

The Agricultural Sector occupies a pivotal position in the Indian Economy. We simply cannot survive without food, and therefore, without Agriculture. Energy is an essential component of Agricultural production. It fuels the equipment, irrigates the crops, fertilizes the soil, sustains the live stock, transports the food, and processes the food into its final forms. As the population continues to grow, more agricultural production is required to support the increased food demand. At the same time, Energy and Environmental constraint mandate that agricultural production be accomplished effectively with minimal Energy consumption. It is necessary to increase agricultural yield per unit area of land, while preserving the soil integrity and Environment. Efficient Energy Management practices will help to achieve and maintain the delicate balance. To tackle energy security, to implement India?s climate commitments, as well as to ensure food security and deal with water challenges, India must consider energy efficiency in Agricultural Sector. This paper deals with various challenges and wide variety of Energy efficient opportunities as related to sustainable Agriculture and Environment.