Application of Linear Programming to Individual Fish Farm Production Planning

Abstract

Decision making in a fish farm business presupposes a deep knowledge of the farming system itself and the market environment within which it operates. Assuming that the fish farm manager has allthe data needed to control his business and to plan future production through a well established data recording system, he may then use further techniques which will give him high level information and guidelines for future policies.Linear programming is a sophisticated, computer based technique which has recentlybecome available to smaller businesses with the advent of affordable, but powerful microcomputers with simplified, ‘friendly1’ software. It produces planning models which provide a decision making tool to indicate the way a farm should operate in order to achieve certain specific objectives. It is essential, for its use, that comprehensive records of the business should be availableIn this study the skills needed to use this technique, its data requirements, its strengths and usefulness under a fish farming environment were analysed. For this purpose “LPWYE” linear programming package running on an IBM PC microcomputer was applied to a fish farming business which operated the circular tank system to produce trout fingerlings for restocking.The farming system was analysed and its data presented in the LP matrix form, which is the basic input for the technique. The production process and the marketing environment were faithfully reflected in the matrix and a solution was sought which aimed at a maximum profitability production plan, given theparticular resource limits and market constraints of the farm.From the study conclusions were drawn as to the usefulness and overall suitabilityof linear programming in a fish farming environment, and a case study is given as an example which states the basic requirements for LP, explains how the matrix can be constructed and how the results can be interpreted.