Methodology to support decision-making in prioritization improvement plans aimed at agricultural sector: Case study

Abstract

Developing countries and those with agricultural tradition have, among their government priorities, the design and implementation of improvement plans to increase productivity in this sector. Prioritization of those plans tends to be based on assessment of production indicators, leaving aside key logistic aspects such as transportation, handling, packing among others. Due to this reason, this work proposes a multi-criteria methodology, based on experts’ method and planning method of technological development in agro-industrial chains proposed by ISNAR, which estimate logistic potential index (LPi) and level of competitiveness index (LCi). Joint analysis of both indicators allowed to prioritize products in an array called the prioritization matrix. Methodology was validated in a case study through prioritizing horticultural and fruit products in five zones of Tolima – Colombia to allocate resources in order to implement logistics strategies.

Keywords

• multi-criteria methodology
• agricultural sector
• product selection