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TÜRK TURKISH
TARIM ve DOĞA BİLİMLERİ JOURNAL of AGRICULTURAL
DERGİSİ and NATURAL SCIENCES
www.turkjans.com
Multi-criteria evaluation for sustainable horticulture
a
Vera STEFANOVA, aZhulieta ARNAUDOVA, bDimka HAYTOVA, cTatyana BILEVA
a
Department of Melioration and Land Surveying, Agricultural University-Plovdiv, Plovdiv, Bulgaria
b
Department of Horticulture, Agricultural University-Plovdiv, Plovdiv, Bulgaria
c
Department of Ecology and Environmental Protection, Agricultural University-Plovdiv, Plovdiv, Bulgaria
*Corresponding author: vera.v.stefanova@abv.bg
Abstract
Multicriteria evaluation is a transparent way of systematically collecting, processing and analyzing objective
information. This method integrates multiple criteria in order to combine all the relevant concerns in the decision
problem as a gauge for comparison. Agricultural crop suitability is one of the interdisciplinary approaches that
involve integration of criteria from different branches of science. Assessment for vegetable development in Plovdiv,
Bulgaria is influenced by many parameters namely, soil and land parameters, climatic attributes, terrain and
physiographic, social characteristics, cultural aspects, cultivation customs, infrastructure and human development,
services available, market situations, live-hood of population, standard of living, ecology and many more. All of them
can logically be classified into following categories: physical characteristics, environmental parameters and socio-
economic condition. Matching all these conditions and different requirements to assess the suitability of horticulture
is carried out by Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP), developed by Saaty (1977). By calculating important indicators
for sustainable vegetable cultivation, using GIS applications and digital information in the form of assessment map
are the core of process.
Keywords: multi-criteria evaluation, sustainable horticulture, Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP), GIS
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production. This comprehensive overview develops a especially in the areas that have easy access to
logical consequence of geographic data and its market. Vegetable farming demands intensive care
influence on vegetable development in Plovdiv and balanced nutrients input (Bileva et al., 2011).
region. Vegetable cultivation is traditional subsection
The multi-criteria model, which this report of horticulture in Bulgaria, which is determined by
presents, is a framework of different conditions, good environmental conditions and increasingly
which are significant for vegetable crop production. qualification of the population during the years.
Suitability evaluation was carried out in two different South Central region is the main region of horticulture
phases namely: production, especially Plovdiv and Pazardzik region.
1) Physical land suitability evaluation The main live hood of the population in these
2) Socio-economic-infrastructural land evaluation ( locations is the horticulture. The diverse topographic
Baniya, 2008). features and climatic conditions in Plovdiv region
This report presents an integrated view of the permit the successful production of a large number of
spatial data, highlighting the main features of the vegetables. The most growing vegetable plants are
environmental development. It is addressed to tomatoes and papers. Total area of Plovdiv region is
vegetable crop production and mainly land using for 597220 ha. According to Agro-Statistical Reference
sustainable horticulture. The main objectives of this book of the Ministry of Agriculture for the period
report are to explain the aspects of the framework of 2008 to 2012 years the area with tomatoes plants are
information and specifications about correct and increased from 2924 ha in 2010 to 3860 ha in 2011.
continued using of land for vegetable development. The results from analyses for pepper is similar. For the
The main idea of this report is laying down the multi- researched period pepper areas under cultivation
criteria assessment for established development of change from 3013 ha in 2012 to 5013 ha in 2009. By
vegetable crop production. Information from this analytical information is made generalization for
environmental resources is a key to their careful and the whole vegetable areas in Bulgaria. By years and
effective evaluation. for the whole period, South - Central region is leader.
Description of the studied area The research like this has never been done before. So
Vegetable production is an important it is considerable to know how vegetable plan
component of agriculture and also an essential part of production is change during the years. This
a balanced human diet. In recent years, vegetable knowledge can permit us to make forecast for the
production has also become an income generating future yields, to examine the strong and week points
enterprise for those farmers who are located close to of vegetable development and to improve the
markets and road sides (Budathoki, 2002). Vegetable environmental conditions.
farming is increasing in Plovdiv region as it has more
economic returns than growing other crops,
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Cultivation is the act of making use of real scientific experiences, culture practices and last
environmental resources to get production for analyses relevant to plan production in Plovdiv
livelihood of mankind. Therefore, cultivation involves region. Suitability evaluation of vegetables is carried
both characteristics including qualities and human out considering each component separately. Physical
activities. While evaluation is purely based on the land suitability, socio-economic suitability and
land, soil and climatic parameters, it is simply called environmental suitability are established ones. All
as the physical land suitability evaluation. necessary data about physical suitability for
Incorporation of physical and climatic suitability for sustainable vegetable development is presented by
vegetable cultivation with the socio-economic the next table.
attributes makes multi-criteria assessment of the
horticulture. Examination includes information from
Table 1: Category of dominant and ordinary physical factors for vegetable crops in Plovdiv region
WEATHER CHARACTERISTICS LAND CHARACTERISTICS SOIL CHARACTERISTICS
Temperature Land slope Soil type
Rainfall Surface orientation Soil texture
Humidity Elevation Soil depth
Sunshine hour Soil Fertility
Irrigation Soil reaction (pH)
Wind speed Organic Matter
Evapotranspiration Water holding Capacity
Hydrography Soil preparation
Soil erosion
Table 2: Social and economic factors for vegetable crops in Plovdiv region
SOCIO-ECONOMIC ATTRIBUTES
Marketing Employment
Economy of the country Existing road systems
Demography parameters Mechanization of the working
Poverty Education and qualification
Standard of living Prices of the vegetable
Income and expenditure Investments
Production transporting
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Thematic maps are the basis of the suitability requirements to assess the suitability is carried out by
analysis. The maps in present study include land use different methods. Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP)
map, land capability, soil maps and map of is a widely used method in multi-criteria decision
administrative boundaries (Arnaudova et al., 2011). making and was introduced by Saaty (Saaty, 1977).
Those thematic maps are created and edited, overlaid AHP is a proven, effective means of dealing with
and visualized. Application of GIS for overlaying complex decision making and can assist with
thematic layers to establish land databases has to be weighting selection criteria, analyzing the data
converted into consistent coordinate system. Several collected for the criteria, and expediting the decision-
maps like land capability map, land use map, road making process. By making pair-wise comparisons at
map and administrative boundary maps were each level of the hierarchy, participants can develop
collected. All spatial information is kept in the GIS relative weights, called priorities, to differentiate the
framework and managed by GIS applications to importance of the criteria (Hossain et.al. 2007).
create assessment map of vegetable production in Development of weight in pairwise comparisons
Plovdiv region. developed by Saaty (1977) is one of the appropriate
One of the most useful applications of GIS for decision making tool for multi-criteria assessment of
planning and management is the land use suitability vegetable cultivation.
mapping and analysis. The map overlay approach has Suitability analysis is the decision making part
been typically applied to land-use suitability in the which is the vital of the suitability assessment job.
form of weighed linear combination (WLC). GIS-based Based on the vegetable cultivation parameters,
data can be thought of as a process that combines selection of the suitable mode for the decision
and transforms spatial and non-spatial data (input) analysis is important part. The criteria are selected
into a resultant decision (output) (Malczewski, 2004). from physical environment, social and economic
These procedures define a relationship between the aspects including infrastructural aspect. The method
input maps and the output map. Matching of social- use for the analysis is presented as follows.
economic, environmental conditions and different
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Figure 2: flow chart showing application of GIS and AHP for physical environment, social and economic-infrastructure
suitability evaluation (Baniya, 2008)
Socio-economic, environmental suitability in order to achieve a goal. At the same time, this
evaluation is carried only on those areas which are model can also be expanded in other parts of our
physically suitable. If land unit show degree of country for better land management purpose. It is
unsuitability in physical suitability assessment, they recommended from the research to set a panel for
are further not taken for the suitability assessment. gathering and updating reliable and consistent data,
To achieve the full assessment of horticulture both spatial and attribute data. With usually used
in Plovdiv region is used GIS tools and Analytic weighted linear combination, factors are combined
Hierarchy Process (AHP), introduced by Saaty (1977). by applying a weight to each followed by a summation
This theory on analytical hierarchy process (AHP) is of the results to yield a suitability map. GIS have
the backbone of the pairwise comparison of criteria. emerged as useful computer-based tools for spatial
The AHP is a practical and effective method for solving description and manipulation. All spatial data related
multi-criteria decision problems (Guo et al., 1998) to economy-infrastructure, society and environment
which uses hierarchical structures to represent a is converted into thematic maps. Then all suitability
problem and then develop priorities for alternatives maps are overlayed and the results appeared-
based on the judgment of the user (Saaty, 1980). assessment map of sustainable horticulture.
Suitability analysis consists of multiple criteria and
alternatives which must be useful to decision-maker
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Figure 3: GIS based model for multi-criteria land suitability evaluations for agriculture (Baniya, 2008)
Classifying and evaluating all suitability criteria situation of study area. Therefore social and
are valuable proposals for effective and profitable economic attribute together with land quality
horticulture planning. All researches satisfy the idea information in present work are combined to have
of significantly improving the growth, development useful, comprehensive, systematic, easyto- use and
and productivity of vegetable crops. easy-to-update information system (Baniya, 2008).
Vegetable sector is one of the important
Conclusion components of Bulgaria agriculture where diversity in
Multi-criteria evaluation for sustainable vegetable cropping is presented by different agro-
horticulture in this study uses physical and ecological regions of the country. Results from the
environmental parameters, social attributes and physical land suitability are combined with
economic indicator as necessary factors for best socioeconomic land suitability evaluation. The total
possible outcome consulting both with farmers and out put is portrayed in the thematic map of the
experts. Spatial information like maps and attributive Plovdiv region. Result of multi-criteria evaluation is
characteristics are incorporated into GIS based data used to determine the investment requirement.
as a system. Use of social and economic parameters Horticulture suitability evaluation is one of the best
through AHP analysis provides reflection of real alternatives and multicriteria evaluation further gives
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best suitability classification considering wide range Saaty, T. L (1977), A scaling method for priorities in
of multi-disciplinary alternatives. The goal of hierarchical structure: Journal of
assessment map is to present the best appropriate Mathematical Psychology 15.3
and lucrative development of vegetable plants, Saaty, T. L. 1980. The analytic hierarchy process:
workable to further forecasts and substantial McGraw Hill International., New York.
investments. Voogd, H, 1983. Multicriteria Evaluation for Urban
Acknowledgement and Regional Planning: Pion, London
The report and participations on the congress
was financial supported by Project 05-14 of Research
Centre in Agricultural University, Plovdiv.
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