Dr. Ramachandra T.V.

CONCLUSION

Bioresource status of a region depends mainly on the availability of resource, population and per capita demand. The ratio of availability to demand indicates the bioresource status and ratio greater than one indicates the presence of surplus bioresource, while a value less than one characterises a bioresource deficient zone. The availability of resources in different taluks depends on the   agroclimatic zones. From the study it is evident that few taluks situated in Southern transition zone (ACZ7- covering parts of Hassan, Chikmagalur, Shimoga, Mysore and a small potion of Tumkur district), Hilly zone (ACZ9- covering parts of Uttara Kannada, Belgaum, Shimoga, Chikmagalur, Haveri, Kodagu and one taluk of Hassan), and Coastal zone (ACZ10- covering parts of Uttara Kannada, Udupi and Dakshina Kannada district) have surplus bioresource. Analyses of sector wise contribution in the energy surplus zones shows that horticulture residues contribute in the central dry zone, southern transition zone and the coastal zone, while in the hilly zone, forests contribute more towards the available bioenergy.

In the southern transition zone, about 127769 ha of wasteland are available for energy plantation. The extent of wastelands in hilly and coastal zones, is about 237371 ha and 880189 ha respectively. This can be utilised for raising energy plantation comprising of Acacaia auriculiformis, Casuarina and Eucalyptus species.  Assuming an average biomass productivity of 5t/ha/year, the total amount of exploitable biomass available from these plantations would be 4400945 tonnes annually.  With the population increasing rapidly, the existing bioresource can be sustained by using other energy alternatives like biogas. 

Compared to these, taluks located in northeastern transition zone (ACZ 1), northern dry zone (ACZ 2), northeastern dry zone (ACZ 3), eastern dry zone (ACZ 5), southern dry zone (ACZ 6) and the northern transition zone (ACZ 8) are bioresource deficient zones. In the northeastern transition zone, agriculture residues contribute 52% and forests 48% in meeting the energy demand.  About 120305 ha of wastelands are available in this zone that could be used for energy plantations.  In the northeastern dry zone, forests contribute 53% and agriculture 47% towards the rural energy demand.  The extent of wastelands available in this zone is 325330 ha.  In the northern dry zone, agriculture contributes to 59%, forests 40% and horticulture 1% towards the total energy requirements.  About 850998 ha of wastelands are available in this zone. In the eastern dry zone, horticulture contributes 53%, forests-39% and agro residues-8% towards the total energy requirements.  About 228196 ha of wasteland are available in this region.  In the southern dry zone, forests contribute 53%, while agriculture and horticulture residues contribute 28% and 19% respectively in meeting the bioenergy demand.  314755 ha of wastelands are available in this zone, capable of being used for energy plantations.  In the northern transition zone, agriculture contributes 61%, forests 36% and horticulture residues 2% towards bioenergy demand.  The extent of wastelands available in this zone is 99462 ha.  The total extent of wastelands available for the energy deficient zones is 1999046 ha. Raising a mixed species energy plantation and assuming a productivity of 5t/ha/year, the total available biomass would be 9995230 tonnes annually.

The energy conservation to the tune of 42% is possible by using improved cook stoves. Apart from this, the options such as utilisation energy plantation (optimal utilisation of the wastelands), biomass gasifier and biogas technology would help in overcoming the fuel crisis.

Energy plantations raised on degraded lands will help in improving the ecological status of the region, provide biomass feedstock for rural bioenergy programmes and also help in meeting urban fuelwood demand. With appropriate species mixes, it also provides fodder for livestock, leaves for biogas and other valuable tree products.  In the agro climatic zones having higher bioresource potential, sustainable usage should be emphasized to maintain their status.  This has become imperative owing to the alarming population growth, mainly in the coastal zone. Active participation of the rural people in bioenergy programmes is required for its successful implementation. In the bioresource deficient zones, the forest stocking can be improved by afforestation of the degraded lands, popularizing social and community forestry.