Modelación Bio-económica a nivel de finca: Uso sustentable del suelo en el cantón Saraguro.

Abstract

In the present work, mechanist models with a normative approach were developed in order to provide a tool for the optimal use of the soil and the resources available at the farm level in the canton of Saraguro, Loja province. Linear programming was considered as optimization technique, maximization of net profit as an objective function and some of the most important constraints for agricultural systems such as capital, land, fertilization and irrigation were incorporated. In addition, four sizes of farms were the most common crops of the sector, as productive alternatives (wheat, red onion, dry soft corn, soft corn and dry beans). In all the models generated, dry soft corn was the best productive option since it allowed to maximize producer’s incomes due to their high individual incomes and their low production costs, compared to the other agricultural options. Integrating risk and other constraints could favor greater levels of diversification and it would be recommended to include these aspects in new studies