Energy Efficiency of Agroforestry Farms in Angola
The main objective of energy balance analysis is to guide farmers in making informed decisions that promote the efficient management of natural resources, optimise the use of agricultural inputs, and improve the overall economic performance of their farms. In addition, it supports the adoption of su...
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MDPI AG
2025-05-01
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| Series: | Agronomy |
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| author | Oloiva Sousa Ludgero Sousa Fernando Santos Maria Raquel Lucas José Aranha |
| author_facet | Oloiva Sousa Ludgero Sousa Fernando Santos Maria Raquel Lucas José Aranha |
| author_sort | Oloiva Sousa |
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| description | The main objective of energy balance analysis is to guide farmers in making informed decisions that promote the efficient management of natural resources, optimise the use of agricultural inputs, and improve the overall economic performance of their farms. In addition, it supports the adoption of sustainable agricultural practices, such as crop diversification, the use of renewable energy sources, and the recycling of agricultural by-products and residues into natural energy sources or fertilisers. This paper analyses the variation in energy efficiency between 2019 and 2022 of the main crops in Angola: maize, soybean, and rice, and the forest production of eucalyptus biomass in agroforestry farms. The research was based on the responses to interviews conducted with the managers of the farms regarding the machinery used, fuels and lubricants, labour, seeds, phytopharmaceuticals, and fertilisers. The quantities are gathered by converting data into Megajoules (MJ). The results show variations in efficiency and energy balance. In corn, efficiency fluctuated between 1.32 MJ in 2019 and 1.41 MJ in 2020, falling to 0.94 MJ in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic before rising to 1.31 MJ in 2022. For soybeans, the energy balance went from a deficit of −8223.48 MJ in 2019 to a positive 11,974.62 MJ in 2022, indicating better use of resources. Rice stood out for its high efficiency, reaching 81,541.33 MJ in 2021, while wood production showed negative balances, evidencing the need for more effective strategies. This research concludes that understanding the energy balance of agricultural operations in Angola is essential not only to achieve greater sustainability and profitability but also to strengthen the resilience of agricultural systems against external factors such as climate change, fluctuations in input prices, and economic crises. A comprehensive understanding of the energy balance allows farmers to assess the true cost-effectiveness of their operations, identify energy inefficiencies, and implement more effective strategies to maximise productivity while minimising environmental impacts. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-24bc84356c794f188ffe9f52d289675e |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2073-4395 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Agronomy |
| spelling | doaj-art-24bc84356c794f188ffe9f52d289675e2025-08-20T03:14:29ZengMDPI AGAgronomy2073-43952025-05-01155114410.3390/agronomy15051144Energy Efficiency of Agroforestry Farms in AngolaOloiva Sousa0Ludgero Sousa1Fernando Santos2Maria Raquel Lucas3José Aranha4CETRAD—Centre for Transdisciplinary Studies, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, Quinta dos Prados, 5000-801 Vila Real, PortugalFaculdade de Ciências Sociais e Tecnologia, European University, Quinta do Bom Nome, Estr. da Correia 53, 1500-210 Lisboa, PortugalEscola de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, Quinta dos Prados, 5000-801 Vila Real, PortugalDepartment of Management, MED (Mediterranean Institute for Agriculture, Environment and Development) & CHANGE (Global Change and Sustainability Institute), Universidade de Évora, Largo dos Colegiais, Nº 2, 7004-516 Évora, PortugalCentre for the Research and Technology of Agroenvironmental and Biological Sciences (CITAB), Inov4Agro, Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, Quinta de Prados, 5000-801 Vila Real, PortugalThe main objective of energy balance analysis is to guide farmers in making informed decisions that promote the efficient management of natural resources, optimise the use of agricultural inputs, and improve the overall economic performance of their farms. In addition, it supports the adoption of sustainable agricultural practices, such as crop diversification, the use of renewable energy sources, and the recycling of agricultural by-products and residues into natural energy sources or fertilisers. This paper analyses the variation in energy efficiency between 2019 and 2022 of the main crops in Angola: maize, soybean, and rice, and the forest production of eucalyptus biomass in agroforestry farms. The research was based on the responses to interviews conducted with the managers of the farms regarding the machinery used, fuels and lubricants, labour, seeds, phytopharmaceuticals, and fertilisers. The quantities are gathered by converting data into Megajoules (MJ). The results show variations in efficiency and energy balance. In corn, efficiency fluctuated between 1.32 MJ in 2019 and 1.41 MJ in 2020, falling to 0.94 MJ in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic before rising to 1.31 MJ in 2022. For soybeans, the energy balance went from a deficit of −8223.48 MJ in 2019 to a positive 11,974.62 MJ in 2022, indicating better use of resources. Rice stood out for its high efficiency, reaching 81,541.33 MJ in 2021, while wood production showed negative balances, evidencing the need for more effective strategies. This research concludes that understanding the energy balance of agricultural operations in Angola is essential not only to achieve greater sustainability and profitability but also to strengthen the resilience of agricultural systems against external factors such as climate change, fluctuations in input prices, and economic crises. A comprehensive understanding of the energy balance allows farmers to assess the true cost-effectiveness of their operations, identify energy inefficiencies, and implement more effective strategies to maximise productivity while minimising environmental impacts.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/15/5/1144energy efficiencyagroforestrymaizesoybeanriceeucalyptus |
| spellingShingle | Oloiva Sousa Ludgero Sousa Fernando Santos Maria Raquel Lucas José Aranha Energy Efficiency of Agroforestry Farms in Angola Agronomy energy efficiency agroforestry maize soybean rice eucalyptus |
| title | Energy Efficiency of Agroforestry Farms in Angola |
| title_full | Energy Efficiency of Agroforestry Farms in Angola |
| title_fullStr | Energy Efficiency of Agroforestry Farms in Angola |
| title_full_unstemmed | Energy Efficiency of Agroforestry Farms in Angola |
| title_short | Energy Efficiency of Agroforestry Farms in Angola |
| title_sort | energy efficiency of agroforestry farms in angola |
| topic | energy efficiency agroforestry maize soybean rice eucalyptus |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/15/5/1144 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT oloivasousa energyefficiencyofagroforestryfarmsinangola AT ludgerosousa energyefficiencyofagroforestryfarmsinangola AT fernandosantos energyefficiencyofagroforestryfarmsinangola AT mariaraquellucas energyefficiencyofagroforestryfarmsinangola AT josearanha energyefficiencyofagroforestryfarmsinangola |