Modeling a Small Farm Using Linear Programming In Gilgit Baltistan

Abstract

Agriculture, with its diverse range of activities, plays an important role in any area's economic development. The fundamental difficulty in agriculture is to make decisions for the optimal selection of activities. With these important considerations in mind a research study is being carried out in Gilgit Baltistan to determine the best cropping strategy for Apricot and Cherry to optimize the net profit. This research aims to design a Linear Programming (LP) model to formulate the apricot and cherry production for achieving the maximize net profit gain in Gilgit-Baltistan. Given the region's unique geographical and economic constraints, such as limited cultivable land and high production costs, the model takes into account variables like land allocation, crop yield, and production costs. The study is based on the analysis of secondary data from both published and unpublished sources. Apricot and cherry are major cash crops in Gilgit Baltistan, covering roughly 2,500 and 400 hectares, respectively. The findings suggest that optimal resource allocation can significantly boost farm income. For instance, apricot production, which averages 8.5 tons per hectare, has the potential to generate significant economic returns if modern agricultural practices are implemented. Similarly, cherry production, with an average yield of 4.15 tons per hectare, shows great potential for poverty reduction and livelihood resilience. The findings highlight the importance of government intervention in terms of infrastructure development, market access, and technological support to increase the productivity and profitability of these fruit crops. The beneficial outcome of applying the LP model is to increase the income of the farm income by 30%.