Choke of maize hybrids based on the individual decisions of the farmers

The uncertainty of agricultural profits is due to the effect of numerous un predictable, random factors (weather, disease, marker, etc.). The extent to which decision-makers are prepared to take risks influences the way in whi ch they weigh up of the chances of a crop proving profitable. The decision-making criteria involved in this state of uncertainty were app lied for the comparison of three maize hybrids (A, B, C), using yield data obtained in a polyfactorial experiment carried out under irrigated and non- irrigated conditions in the experimental nursery of the Department of Agron omy of the Agricultural Centre of Debrecen University between 1990 and 1994 . Similar results were obtained in both treatments: pessimistic decision-make rs applying the maximin criterion chose hybrid B, while the optimistic, neu tral or less pessimistic farmers, who applied the maximax, mean or minimax criteria, respectively, chose hybrid C. The decision-making criteria presented in the paper are very simple and are easy to apply. The results conform with those of stochastic dominance anal ysis carried out using a large number of data on the hybrids (Drimba and Na gy: 1997) and with those of the expected value - variance model (Drimba. Na gy and Sum. 2000).