design and implementation of a computerised farm management info system

ABSTRACT

This project was centered on the farm management system. The management system being operated manually results to the numerous problem encountered and inconsistency in the management of funds.

A design was taken to computerized the system in order to check this problem. The problems were identified after series of interviews and examination of document after which analysis was be made and a computerized procedure recommended.

This project also suggested how to successfully implement the computerized procedure and to overcome the obstacle that would hinder the successful implementation of the system.

The software was developed using visual basic 6.0 programming language. This language was chosen because of its easy syntax and structure for developing windows application

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title page                                                              i

Approval Page                                                        ii

Dedication                                                             iii

Acknowledgement                                                  iv

Abstract                                                                v

Table of contents                                                    vi

CHAPTER ONE

1.0Introduction                                                     

1.1  Background of the study

1.2 Objective of the study                                       

1.3  Statement of problem                                     

1.4  Significance of the study                                  

1.5  Scope of the study                                          

1.6  Methodology                                    

1.7  Definition of terms                                          

CHAPTER TWO

2.1 Review of related literature                                

2.2  Literature review

CHAPTER THREE

Research methodology, system investigation, analysis and

design of input/output forms                                         

3.1         Introduction                                                      

3.2  Research methodology                                    

3.3  Organizational chart                                               

3.4  Procedures in the current system                      

3.5  Problems associated with the existing system            

3.6  System proposal                                     

3.7  New system design                                  

3.8  Objectives of the new system                                  

3.9  Input/output design                                        

3.10 System flowchart                                            

CHAPTER FOUR

Programming, testing, implementation, documentation and maintenance 18

4.1         Introduction                                                      

4.2  Choice of programming language                      

4.3  Testing and debugging                                    

4.4  Hardware/software requirements                      

4.5  Program flowchart                                   

4.6  Staff training                                           

4.7  Implementation and documentation                         

4.8  System maintenance                                       

CHAPTER FIVE

Summary, Conclusion and Recommendation                    

5.1        Summary                                                    

5.2  Conclusion                                                     

5.3  Recommendations                                          

       References                                              

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION

1.1 BACKGROUND OF STUDY

As technology advance, the need for improved method of farming and management increases.

The overall objectives of many farm management tools provide a kind of guide or advice to farmers as well as advisors although it does not allowthem to leave their desk where they are developed. We actually know what the farmers are expected to do but not so much about what the farmers actually do. Farmers’ management tasks were presented as a guess outline, and citations of several published studies ranging from their various case studies to large sample surveys these were made to provide evidence about which management tasks most of the respondent farmers thought were the most difficult. There are virtually four ways of using computer systems to provide farm management help were described and compared

1. Farmers owned programmable hand calculators.

2. Farmers to owned microcomputers.

3. Organization should provide interactive farm computing.

4. There should be a kind of Mail-in system with a maxicomputer

Each of the waysmentioned above were described in terms of:

(a) The hardware for communication, storing data and doing computations,

(b) The software (both the type of algorithm and computer language),

(c) The delivery system that links the model together from hardware through end use, and

 (d) The use actually made of the computer output by the farmer (i.e., the using system).

An on-farm computer system for Swedish conditions was suggested (Öhlmér, 1981), and the Swedish farmer union and cooperative organizations let their computer centre develop onfarm computer systems for accounting, production planning and performance control. The hardware was initially in 1981 microcomputers and CPM operative system, and later PC and DOS. The farmers’ accounting service organization was engaged as field organization. A course material was developed (Pavasson and Öhlmér, 1983) and workshops were organized all over Sweden. The on-farm computer system was aimed to support farmers’ repetitive tasks in financial, production and marketing management with daily or weekly use of the system. Between 1000 to 2000 farmers used the system, which was lower than expected. One lesson learned was that farmers with high education used the systems and found them very valuable, but other farmers did not like the systems at all. Some complaints regarded time-consuming data entry and high price. Nowadays, “computer literacy” has improved, which has reduced the education constraint somewhat, but it has not affected the ability to understand the information content. The data entry problem has successively been reduced through automated data collecting (Nilsson, 1987). The initially high hardware and software price has been reduced considerably. However, the problem of slow adoption persists, and it is the same in other countries as discussed at international conferences as well as in other chapters of this book. Farmers with high education use IT but other farmers lag behind (Batte, Jones and Schnitkey 1990, Brink and Josephson 1986, Putler and Zilberman 1988, Öhlmér 1989). The aim of this chapter is to explain how human information processing may influence the adoption rate and to explore how computerized management tools could be designed to meet the needs of farmers. We will look in more detail at how farmers actually process and use information, and how computerized management tools might fit in.

1.2     OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY.

The objective that led to this research work is basically to expose the Nigeria farmers in general and especially FCAI farm manager with the effective, efficient, accurate and timely form of management information system. That is to replace manual management information system with computerized management information system.  The researcher hope to achieve the following after this research thus

-                     To equip the management with quality information on regular basis.

-                     To eliminate the steady decline in the management.

-                     To automate all the activities of management information system

-                     To accelerate decision performance

-                     To design a management information system.

1.3  STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

       It is very unfortunate that the technology potentials has not been fully or even adequately realized in the field of farm management information. Very little farm managers has grabbed this powerful it opportunities.  This has put managers and researchers behind.  Some of the problems militating against high decision performance and achievement of management goals are as follows:

-                     Lack of quality information tool.

-                     Lack of specialist in the field.Lack of technical – known how.

-                     Lack of sufficient fund

-                     Poor service render by the government

-                     Poor perception of economic benefit.

-                     Management decline

-                     Immobility etc.

1.4  SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

       In the event of the above mentioned faults and errors discovered in the manual system.  It is believed that the introduction of a computerized system of MIS will change the whole thing positively.  It will totally eliminate the inherent problem which will in turn bring about immense cash value to Nigeria Federal college of Agriculture,Ishiagu and to all farm managers in Nigeria.

       It will definitely expose and enlighten the staff and managers of farm in FCAIPU on what they supposed to know about their management.  In addition, it will bring about more noticeable contribution and improvements to both the headquarters and other branches nationwide to be able to defined their problems and find out large on the favorable side.

       Through the researcher restricted the study to NPAPSCE, the result of the findings will let of immense benefits to all Nigeria farm managers and as well to students conducting similar research work on the same or related topics.

1.5  SCOPE OF THE STUDY

       In the study of this nature, one would like to accumulate information from many areas, But, in the view of the time given for this research such a wide range could not be reached.  The researcher therefore, concentrated on the sales management information of farmer activities in Nigeria Prison Agric Project state command Enugu.  The choice of sales Mis was due to the time factor.

1.6  METHODOLOGY

       The source from which the necessary data were elicited for carryout this research work is basically from primary source.

       The researcher underwent a thorough interview, the farm manager Mrs Maria Ebuche was interviewed and she was kind enough to respond to the interview questions.  Finally, information were elicited from the observation techniques during the investigation.

1.7  DEFINITION OF TERMS

       Terms associated to this topic are to be define below. Thus.

Computer – A machine used in modern times in organization and homes do manipulate data.

DSP – Deputy Superintendent of Prison.  This is a person that oversees what is going on in the management.  He controls, arrange, organize, plan, manage and makes decision in the management.

Data – Is a raw fact that has no meaning.

Database – A collection of interrelated data stared with controlled redundancy to serve one or more application.

Information – Information is a data that has been evaluated.  It is a processed data.

Information Overload – A situation which the sheer amount of information in a system is simply too great to be coped with by the information management available.  It is overflow of information which slows down decision performance.

Information system-   A systematic way of organizing the handling of information, from information gathering to information retrieval and use.

Management -     The process of procuring, allocating, combing and utilizing or organizational resources expressed usually as 3ms (men, materials and money) through planning organizing directing and controlling activities of work of the organization member to reach certain stated objectives.

Management Information System – is an integrated and holistic reporting network system in an organization that provides planning and controlling information for effective decision making.

Mobility – This ability of information to move from one point to another, from one person to another easily and timely.

Open System – This system that interact with its environments.  The pigs reared in this system are always expose to the environment, its feeding and every other thing about the management is not controlled

System – It is a collection of interrelated and interdependent procedures that are joined together to perform an activity or a task.

Software – The programs that control the computer operation the system programme controls the hardware component of computer which application program controls task performed by computer.