Linear programming model of a rice-based crop-livestock farming system in Sta. Barbara, Pangasinan [Philippines]
1989
Recta, G.M.R.
Linear programming [LP] analysis of the data showed that with unlimited weed supply and with one animal holding, the gross margin of the optimal plan using farmer's traditional practices was lower (P1837.00) than that using the technology introduced by the project (P2072.00). This technology consisted of improved practices through straight row method of planting rice and with one animal holding plus unlimited weeds. The gross income could be further increased to P17,627.00 when the animal holding was increased to two heads. When weed supply was limited, however, the optimal plan yielded a negative gross margin of P7747.00. The farm could barely raise one animal because the nutrient requirements could not be satisfied. Including concentrate supplementation in the model resulted in an increased farm gross margin of P1605.00. The LP model formulated was able to elicit the best choice of rice varieties from among those being grown and the number of livestock to raise, given the constraints of land resource, labor supply, minimum rice consumption requirements of the family, maximum loans available, and animal feed supply. Some limitations of the present study include lack of data on non-ruminant animals and on animal feed resources obtained by grazing animals. Linear programming by itself is also a limitation by its assumption of linear relationships.
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