Application of Mixed Integer Linear Programming Approach on Crop Rotation Practices in Organic Farms in Central Luzon and Calabarzon, Philippines

Abstract

The primary objective and purpose of agriculture is to sustain society. With this is mind, two farming concepts have emerged with different methods and systems in complying with the industry’s objective. Organic farming, the less practiced between the two, is more fitting to uphold the sustenance of society in a healthier and long term span. Crop rotation scheduling, the required method in organic farming has always been done manually with no established basis. The aim of this study is to maximize the efficiency of organic farming in the second and third highest agricultural land area in the Philippines. Thus, a decision making tool is utilized to be applied to simple crop rotation practices in the industry. This tool takes into consideration several variables in organic farming. Best-selling and top produce in the areas are used with the corresponding profit organic farms may obtain with planting them. Constraints are generally stated to fit a realistic situation in farms, neglecting too complex variables to maintain simplicity and uniformity. Generation of a crop rotation schedule has been successful, showing which crops to be planted, how many, and in what period to be planted in the span of twelve (12) months, including the fallow. However, we suggest that further study and tests must be conducted using more powerful and complex analytic tools with consideration of specific variables and constraints applicable to different settings to generate more accurate crop rotation schedules.