Author(s): Khaled Saeed Balkhair
Article publication date: 2004-09-01
Vol. 22 No. 3 (yearly), pp. 190-199.
136
Keywords
Water conservation, optimal production, linear programming, groundwater shortage, economical feasibility
Abstract
Water resources conservation is no less important than the strategic role of the agriculture sector. It aims to minimize the food demand gap and achieve self sufficiency through production with existing facilities and capabilities. This study is the evaluation of five crops grown economically under conditions of groundwater supply shortage. It further calculates the possible water savings under two production policies. The study was conducted at the Agriculture Research Station that belongs to King Abdulaziz University in the Makka region. Linear programming was used as a mathematical model in the economic evaluation process. The station's historical records of production and expenses have been utilized during model formation. Two production policies were adopted under the conditions of water availability and water shortage. These are open and restricted production policies. Consequently, the mathematical model was built containing appropriate objective function and constraints for each policy. Optimal production and income was obtained by solving the linear programming problem. Sensitivity analysis was conducted and the effect of objective function coefficient and available resources on the solution was determined and water savings were also calculated. An open production policy leads up to 58% of water savings and achieved 32% more income than the restricted production policy. Results also showed that shortage of groundwater supply in both policies leads to direct reduction in income. A linear relationship was obtained between them.