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The choice between organic and inorganic farming: lessons from Pakistan

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 March 2022

Muhammad Sabir Open the ORCID record for Muhammad Sabir [Opens in a new window] ,
Yousaf Ali Open the ORCID record for Yousaf Ali [Opens in a new window] ,
Abdullah ,
Amjad Ali ,
Jehangir Khan  and
Zia- Ur Rehman
Muhammad Sabir*
Affiliation:
NUST Business School (NBS), National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), Islamabad, Pakistan
Yousaf Ali
Affiliation:
School of Management Sciences, Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute of Engineering Sciences & Technology, Topi, Swabi, KPK, Pakistan
Abdullah
Affiliation:
Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute of Engineering Sciences and Technology, Topi, Swabi, KPK, Pakistan
Amjad Ali
Affiliation:
Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute of Engineering Sciences and Technology, Topi, Swabi, KPK, Pakistan
Jehangir Khan
Affiliation:
Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute of Engineering Sciences and Technology, Topi, Swabi, KPK, Pakistan
Zia- Ur Rehman
Affiliation:
Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute of Engineering Sciences and Technology, Topi, Swabi, KPK, Pakistan
*
Author for correspondence: Muhammad Sabir, E-mail: sabir.m@nbs.nust.edu.pk
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Abstract

The choice between organic and inorganic farming is an exciting debate in scholarly literature. A large number of studies has enriched the discussion. However, this particular study adds to this debate in unique ways. This study uses a hybrid model based on analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS), a methodological contribution to the debate of organic and inorganic farming by using multicriteria decision analysis. Also, this study uses several conflicting criteria (such as health benefits, environmental benefits, soil fertility, consumer awareness, etc.) that have not been combined in a single research study earlier to consider the choice of organic and inorganic farming. The study is based on a questionnaire survey undertaken by consumers, farmers and agriculture experts. After the application of the AHP-TOPSIS based hybrid model, several interesting results have been founded that have important policy implications for farming in Pakistan and other developing countries.

Keywords

AHPinorganic farmingorganic farmingPakistanTOPSIS
Type
Research Paper
Information
Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems , Volume 37 , Issue 5 , October 2022 , pp. 429 - 436
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Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2022. Published by Cambridge University Press

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