Evaluation of different cotton types with analytical hierarchy process

Abstract

There are significant differences in terms of price formation between cotton growers and yarn producers. While cotton growers prioritize the average yield per hectare and ginning yield in price formation, yarn producers pay attention to properties such as fiber fineness, fiber length, tensile strength, etc. Therefore, even if a cotton grower produces a large amount of cotton per hectare, the monetary value may be lower. This study aimed to determine the most suitable type of cotton for optimal profitability and quality yarn production for both producers, using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) for decision-making. AHP is a method that analyzes decision-making processes in an analytical and hierarchical structure. AHP helps to determine the best selection by evaluating the factors of a decision, assessing their relationships and priorities. In this study, among the 13 cotton types registered by the Eastern Mediterranean Agricultural Research Institute, the most suitable cotton selection based on criteria such as fiber fineness, fiber length, tensile strength, average yield per hectare, and ginning yield was determined using AHP.