A DECISION SUPPORT SYSTEM FOR PLANNING AGROFORESTRY SYSTEMS

A decision support system for planning small-scale agroforestry systems was developed (DESSAP). The program generates a set of feasible alternatives of culture combinations based on specified constraints. The constraints include land, labor, and cash. Labor used include own and/or hired, and cash is money spent for different items and activities such as fertilizer, harvesting, etc. The program utilizes a multiple objective linear programming model coupled with a management tool to generate alternatives. The system can be used by planners, managers, trainers, extension personnel, farmers, etc., to determine the optimum and desirable alternative(s) for an agroforestry farming system.