Author:
C. W. Ardon Iton, Donald Palmer

Doi: 10.26480/amdn.01.2026.21.26

This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License CC BY 4.0, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited

This study investigates the critical factors influencing contemporary farmer decision-making processes within the Jamaican agricultural landscape with regards to roots and tubers. Recognizing the numerous challenges farmers face, this research proposes integrating Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) methodologies to move beyond heuristic-based decisions. Employing the Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS), the study evaluates four principal root crops cultivated in Jamaica: dasheen, cassava, yams, and sweet potato. Results of the ranking produced sweet potato emerging as the most favorable option, followed by yams, dasheen and cassava. The findings of this study have implications for agricultural development initiatives, such as Red Stripe’s and underscore the necessity of MCDM techniques in facilitating informed decision-making for farmers, development agencies, and policymakers in the Caribbean agricultural sector.