Farm reorientation assessment model based on multi-criteria decision making

- A farm potential assessment model is proposed to reorient farms for horticulture.
- A qualitative multi-criteria approach was adopted, based on expert system theory.
- The model offers a wide range of analyses to support decision makers.
- The model gives the reorientation process of farms transparency.

Structural changes in farming present serious challenges at all spatial levels, from individual farms to the state level. The reorientation of a farm (i.e., changing from livestock production to one of horticulture or crops) represents one of these challenges. Here, a model assessing the potential for reorganizing farms to focus on horticulture is presented. The model accounts for various criteria, including: natural resources, demographic, economic, and social factors. The selection, structure, and importance of criteria and their interrelationships in the model are based on statistical data about farms, data gathered through surveys, and expert opinion groups. The model was developed using the Decision Expert method, implemented by the software DEXi, and was validated using a selection of farms. The added value of the approach is a transparent assessment of a farm's potential, which provides vital support for deciding about its reorientation.