RELEVANCE OF THE IMPROVED INTEGRATED FARM PLANNING APPROACH AND FARM MANAGEMENT PERFORMANCE RELATIONSHIPS TO ADDRESS THE CHALLENGES OF THE NEW MILLENNIUM

Abstract

An integrated farm planning approach was applied in an area with mixed farming enterprises to promote farming efficiency. Using linear programming, 29 farm plans were developed. The variable planning cost amounted to R2485,31 per farmer while the expected net benefit/cost ratio was 1,757. Two years after completion of the last plan a research project was conducted to determinc the extent of plan implementation, reasons for deviations from planned proposals, and guidelines for future planning endeavours. In another research project, farmers' performance, based on their management practices, was measured. A scale that measured mangement aptitude was adapted and used to measure farmers' management performance. The latter was expressed in terms of the farmers' performance index (PI), and it was found that large differences occurred in the PI among farmers (between 27,6 and 99,5). To accommodate all cases, the farmers were divided into three groups according to PI. Statistically significant differences (but not in all cases) were found between farmers with different biographies, as well as between farmers with certain management practices. These differences are related to the implementation of new farming systems and the relevance for future use is discussed.