Solving Farm Policy Problems Using Linear Programming: The Case of Wonji-Shoa Sugar Estate

Abstract

The aim of this program is to determine a long-range plan.bilsed  the accumulated informalion of the last 15 years. In this program a lexicographic approach is adopted since cost minimising and sugar yield maximising goals of the Estate are conflicting.
The functional value of the program revealed a possibility of producing up to959,000 quintals of field sugar about 16 percent higher than ihe Estate's experience. This could be attained by shortening the crop cycle and growing the selected bette, varieties at a cost of about Birr 3.87, million per annum, replanting each year about 1,330 hectares of land and uprooting many hectares right after harvesting the first ratoon. The policy program has chosen
the better yielding and cost effective sugar-can? varieties. It prescribed thebetter harvesting months for each soil-vari~ty combination, replanting cycles, planting months, and optimum age at harvest for the selected varieties