Optimization of Energy Consumption in the Production of Warm Water Fish Using the Data Envelopment Analysis and Genetic Algorithm

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

Department of Agricultural Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Technology, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Tehran University

Abstract

Technical management in agricultural productions is a key factor for increasing the yield and reducing the cost of production. For this purpose, the technical efficiency of warm water fish farms was assessed during growing season 2014. The required information was collected from 57 growers by using questionnaires. Data envelopment analysis and genetic algorithm were applied to analyze the information. The results of data envelopment analysis showed that the total energy consumption in optimum situation is 158515.5 MJ ha-1. The highest save of energy among inputs in optimum situation (without any output reduction) belongs to fish input (9.27%). Based on the genetic algorithm results in optimum situation the total energy need is 43766.51 MJ ha-1 (with 26% energy saving).

Keywords