Irrigation Planning Under Uncertainty—A Multi Objective Fuzzy Linear Programming Approach

Abstract

The problem of irrigation planning becomes more complex by considering an uncertainty. The uncertainties can be tackled by formulating the problem of irrigation planning as Fuzzy Linear Programming (FLP). FLP models can incorporate the scenario of real world problem. In the present study, Multi Objective Fuzzy Linear Programming (MOFLP) irrigation planning model is formulated for deriving the optimal cropping pattern plan for the case study of Jayakwadi project in the Godavari river sub basin in Maharashtra State, India. Four conflicting objectives are considered such as Net Benefits (NB), Crop/Yield Production (CP), Employment Generation/Labour Requirement (EG) and Manure Utilization (MU). Four different cases are considered to incorporate the uncertainty in MOFLP model. To include the uncertainty in irrigation planning problem only objectives are taken as fuzzy and constraints are crisp in nature in Case-I. To consider the uncertainty involved in availability of resources, in Case-II the stipulations are fuzzy. The technological coefficients are fuzzy in Case-III. The Case-IV includes both technological coefficients and stipulations fuzzy. The level of satisfaction (λ) works out to be 0.58, 0.50, 0.50 and 0.28 respectively for Case-I to IV. The results obtained in Case-IV are more realistic and promising as it involves the uncertainty in technological coefficients and stipulations simultaneously.