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Majeke et al

Greener Journal of  Economics and Accountancy Vol. 2 (2), pp. 058-061, June 2013

ISSN: 2354-2357 © 2011 Greener Journals

Research Paper

Manuscript Number:052213634

Optimum Combination of Crop Farm Activities: Application of a Linear Programming Model to a Rural Farmer in Zimbabwe

Felix Majeke^1*, Michael Ticharwa Mubvuma², Kasirayi Makaza² and Jackqeline Mutambara³

¹Faculty of Natural Science, Mathematics & Computer Science Department, Great Zimbabwe University, Zimbabwe.

²Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Soil and Plant Sciences, Great Zimbabwe University, Zimbabwe.

³Department of Agricultural Economics & AGEC, University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe.

*Corresponding Author’s Email: fmajeke @ gmail. com

Abstract:

Farm planning problems are much more complex. Farmers do not only produce different crops, but also have to choose among a variety of ways of producing them. Crop planning may involve choices about varieties, planting dates, fertilizer and pesticide treatments. Linear programming has proved a very flexible tool for modeling these kinds of complexities. In this paper, a linear programming model was developed to determine the optimal crop combination for a rural farmer. Crops considered were maize, soya beans and cotton. The model produced an optimal crop combination that gives higher income than that obtained from the farmer’s plan. The income difference was 72.79 percent.

Keywords: Linear Programming, Maize, Rural Farmer, Optimum Crop Combination, Income.

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Journal Name : citation_journal : Greener Journal of  Economics and Accountancy 

Publication Status/Date : usp_status_date : June 2013