A Linear Programming for Sugarcane Cultivation and Harvest Planning with Cane Survival Rate

Abstract

In Thailand, sugarcane mills have faced supply and demand imbalance problems. Solving such problems is complicated due to various substantial factors. Sugarcane cultivation and harvest are important processes since they are the early stages of the sugarcane industry. Cultivation and harvest planning can be designed by using optimization model in order to balance supply and demand. This paper proposes a linear optimization model used in sugarcane cultivation and harvest planning with multiple suppliers. Sugarcane survival rate is one of the important factors considered in the presented model. A case study of the large-size sugarcane mills in Thailand was investigated. Many other significant factors were considered such as cultivating land size, sugarcane type, harvesting capacity, and delivery contract with the mill. The objective function was to maximize commercially recoverable sugar content in sugarcane (C.C.S.) of the total amount of sugarcane supplied to mill. This model can be applied as a supply management tool for both farmers and the mill management based on real situation.