Abstract:
This study was conducted to determine timeliness co
sts in using machinery and their
effects on farmers
’
revenues. In addition, optimum cropping pattern wa
s compared with
the existing one assuming removal of timeliness cos
t. For the purpose of the study, mixed
integer and linear programming methods were used. T
he study was conduced in
Marvdasht region in southern Iran. The data were co
llected through interviews with a
sample of 80 farm managers. Selected farmers were d
ivided into six groups in terms of
farm size and farm machinery use, and in each group
a representative farm was selected.
Findings of the study showed that 19 percent of far
mers owned and 81 percent rented
tractor and, as a result, timeliness cost was consi
derable for the latter group. The results
also showed that for the farmers whose farm size wa
s more than 10 hectares, it was
justified to buy tractor and rent a combine. The re
sults revealed that there was a gap
between the optimum and existing cropping patterns
with respect to timeliness cost and
gross margin increased mostly in the groups that ow
ned tractor and more than five
hectares of land. Finally, in order to minimize tim
eliness cost, joint ownership of
machinery by neighboring farms was recommended.
Keywords:
Cost minimization, Cropping pattern, Linear program
ming, Machinery selection.
