Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
CHAPTER 7
DIESEL CONSUMPTION OF
AGRICULTURE IN CHINA
NAN LI , HAILIN MU, HUANAN LI, AND SHUSEN GUI
7.1 INTRODUCTION
The limited supply of traditional fossil fuels and the associated consump-
tion limitations needed for dealing with global climate change have con-
siderably restricted economic development in recent years. This has raised
the concern of energy analysts and policy makers regarding the adverse
effects of energy overuse. A series of policy measures aimed at reducing
energy consumption have been implemented in order to meet the com-
pulsory targets stated in the China government's Eleventh Five-Year Plan
(2006-2010). Agriculture development in China is not an exception. Cal-
culated at constant prices, the average elasticity of energy consumption
in agriculture declined from 2.33 (2001-2005) to 0.29 (2006-2010). The
rapid growth of energy consumption in agriculture was thus restrained
without negatively affecting economic development.
With a gradually increasing level of mechanization, agricultural en-
ergy consumption in China has increased from 36.88 million tons of coal
equivalent (Mtce) in 1996 to 64.77 Mtce in 2010, which translates to an
annual increase of 4.10%. Energy plays a critical role in the development
 
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