Optimization of cropping patterns in the Bhimsagar canal irrigation scheme using linear programming approach

Optimization techniques can be employed to determine the best cropping patterns to ensure optimum net benefits, food production, and labor employment. Therefore, the current investigation employed the linear programming module in LINGO 14.0 software to develop optimal crop area allocation plans in the Right Main Canal (RMC) of the Bhimsagar irrigation project. The optimal cropping patterns (OCPs) were generated for 2013-2014 under different canal run (CR) periods in a month, i.e., 30, 24, and 21 days using three objective functions, viz., net benefit, food production, and labor-days maximization. In addition, the OCP scenarios were generated for long-term agriculture sustainability scenarios, viz., 2015, 2020, and 2025. Results revealed that the net benefit was increased by 122.2, 93.4, and 95.5% for Ratanpura (RT), Chaplada (CP), and Maraita II (MT) minor, respectively, under OCP estimated for 30-day CR in 2013-2014, whereas food production was increased by 22.4, 33.8, and 25.9% for RT, CP, and MT, respectively, under OCP over existing cropping patterns. Similarly, under OCP, labor employment had increased by 40.9, 33.8, and 33.1% for RT, CP, and MT, respectively, for 30-day CR. These findings infer that higher net benefits, food production, and labor employment may be achieved by shifting to OCPs.