Enhancing Agricultural Decision - Making: A TOPSIS - Based Framework for Crop Selection

Abstract

Multi-Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM) is a widely used approach for solving complex decision-making problems. With the help of advanced computational tools, these methods can now be applied efficiently across various fields, including medical sciences, marketing, engineering, and agriculture. MCDM methods enable quick problem-solving and detailed analysis to identify optimal solutions. This study focuses on one such method, the TOPSIS (Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution), and explores its theoretical foundations and practical applications in agriculture. Specifically, the research demonstrates how TOPSIS can be used to select the most suitable field crop.

Five crops—wheat, corn, sunflower, soybean, and sugar beet—were evaluated and ranked using six key criteria: yield per hectare (in tons), purchase price per kilogram (in dinars), production costs (in dinars per hectare), total domestic consumption (in thousands of tons), exports (in thousands of tons), and adaptability to climatic conditions (drought, frost, floods). The selected crops are widely cultivated in Serbia, making them relevant to the local agricultural context. The criteria were chosen to cover a range of factors, including market dynamics, production efficiency, and economic viability. Using the TOPSIS method, the relative closeness of each crop to the ideal solution was calculated. The results showed that corn performed the best, being closest to the ideal solution, followed by sugar beet in second place and soybean in third. Wheat ranked fourth, while sunflower was identified as the least suitable crop under the given conditions.

The TOPSIS method provides a systematic way to identify efficient and cost-effective alternatives, making it a useful tool for decision-making in agriculture. This study highlights its potential benefits, such as saving time, reducing costs, and improving energy efficiency, which can be valuable for farmers, managers, agronomists, and other agricultural professionals.