APPLICATION OF MULTIPLE CRITERIA DECISION-MAKING METHODS TO FARM-PLANNING - A CASE-STUDY

The three Multiple Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) techniques: goal programming (GP), multi-objective programming (MOP) and compromise programming (CP) are discussed in terms of their usefulness for practical farm planning. Application of these methods is illustrated by using the example of a University farm in the UK. The model is of a modest size consisting of 8 constraints and 9 activities and incorporates different objectives. These objectives include: maximization of total gross margin; maximization of permanent labour utilization; minimization of hiring of labour; minimization of annual total variable costs; and, maximization of business trading surplus. Solutions obtained by each method are compared and commented upon with regard to their relative merits in farm planning.