Abstract

The Decision Support System for Irrigation (DSIRR) is a DSS for the economic-environmental assessment of agricultural activity focusing on irrigation, designed to answer both public and private needs. The program simulates the economically driven decision processes of farmers, permitting an accurate description of production and irrigation in terms of technology and agronomics. Distinct farm models can be constructed to describe the relevant production system in the catchment. Short and long term analyses can be conducted, the latter with endogenous investment choices. Solutions are found by applying multicriterial mathematical programming techniques. Farm models run under a graphical interface, which allows the user to quantify, by farm type, the utilization of water, labour and machinery, considering different types of soils, irrigation systems, water-yield functions and seasonality. Data are aggregated at catchment scale. Richness of information produced, flexibility and simplicity of use make DSIRR a useful tool for more sustainable agriculture and the definition of a sound water policy.

Author Keywords: Decision support system; Economic modelling; Multicriteria modelling; Agriculture; Water; Irrigation; Agriculture policy; Water policy

Article Outline

1. Introduction

2. Modelling irrigation

3. The scale problem

4. A scenario manager for agro-economic models

4.1. The support database

4.2. The interface

5. The models

5.1. Farmer behaviour

5.2. Time horizon

5.2.1. Short term

5.2.2. Long term

6. Analysis

7. Output and interfacing

8. Conclusions

References