- Email: [email protected]
Energy for agriculture in Pakistan
190
Book reviews
The prose style is remarkably clear for someone whose mother-tongue is not English but it would have gained in elegance with a little editorial help and additional punctuation. The publishers in Kiel could also have avoided such errors as 'comlex' on p. 17, 'homes' on p. 73 and the novel word 'discontinual' on p. 223. The typeface is somewhat hard to read and the numbering of figures is unattractive, although this book, like most specialist paperbacks, is far from cheap. Nevertheless, Hans Jahnke has produced a helpful review and stimulating analysis within the constraints of available data. The book is essential reading for all those, at various levels and in many disciplines, who are involved in the demanding task of helping the African livestock industry realize its potential for improving human health and welfare. L. Tyler
Jameel, Muhammad. Energy for Agriculture in Pak&tan. IIASA. 1982. 39 pp. Price: US$5.00. For anyone concerned with calculating the fossil fuel consumption of agricultural commodities, this is a fascinating little booklet. It looks at the present food consumption patterns in Pakistan and anticipates how they will have evolved by the year 2000. The author then interprets what this and the need to export rice will mean in terms of demands made on the productivity of the agricultural sector and asks what resources will be needed to achieve the target. Calculations are made to show that the land, investment in irrigation equipment, and the energy required to supply the daily water requirements of important crops could all be provided. Three alternative ways of mechanising crop production are explored in terms of their requirements for energy and capital, as are two alternative methods of providing the nutrients necessary for crop growth. An interesting calculation in the Appendix shows that the oil expended in the production of beef in Pakistan is a worthwhile investment; the exported beef should earn sufficient revenue to enable the country to purchase more than 10 times as much oil as the process utilizes. J. M. Waisingham
Book reviews
The prose style is remarkably clear for someone whose mother-tongue is not English but it would have gained in elegance with a little editorial help and additional punctuation. The publishers in Kiel could also have avoided such errors as 'comlex' on p. 17, 'homes' on p. 73 and the novel word 'discontinual' on p. 223. The typeface is somewhat hard to read and the numbering of figures is unattractive, although this book, like most specialist paperbacks, is far from cheap. Nevertheless, Hans Jahnke has produced a helpful review and stimulating analysis within the constraints of available data. The book is essential reading for all those, at various levels and in many disciplines, who are involved in the demanding task of helping the African livestock industry realize its potential for improving human health and welfare. L. Tyler
Jameel, Muhammad. Energy for Agriculture in Pak&tan. IIASA. 1982. 39 pp. Price: US$5.00. For anyone concerned with calculating the fossil fuel consumption of agricultural commodities, this is a fascinating little booklet. It looks at the present food consumption patterns in Pakistan and anticipates how they will have evolved by the year 2000. The author then interprets what this and the need to export rice will mean in terms of demands made on the productivity of the agricultural sector and asks what resources will be needed to achieve the target. Calculations are made to show that the land, investment in irrigation equipment, and the energy required to supply the daily water requirements of important crops could all be provided. Three alternative ways of mechanising crop production are explored in terms of their requirements for energy and capital, as are two alternative methods of providing the nutrients necessary for crop growth. An interesting calculation in the Appendix shows that the oil expended in the production of beef in Pakistan is a worthwhile investment; the exported beef should earn sufficient revenue to enable the country to purchase more than 10 times as much oil as the process utilizes. J. M. Waisingham