Key Features:

- No of Pages: 58

- No of Chapters: 05

- Figures Included

- Tables Included

Buy Now

Introduction:

Abstract

Future and even current European farmers are experiencing that the managerial tasks for arable farming are shifting to a new paradigm, requiring increased attention to economic viability and the interaction with the surroundings. To this end, an integration of information systems is needed to advise managers of formal instructions, recommended guidelines and documentation requirements for various decision making processes. In the EU funded project FutureFarm, a new model and prototype of a new Farm Information Management System (FMIS) which meets these changing requirements will be developed. The aim of the work presented in this paper is to define and analyse the system boundaries and relevant decision processes for such a novel FMIS as a prerequisite for a dedicated information modelling. The boundaries and scope of the system are described in terms of actors and functionalities, where actors are entities interfacing with the system (e.g. managers, software, databases). In order to analyse the complex and soft systems situations of how to develop an effective FMIS, which effectively meets farmers’ changing needs a conceptual model was developed based on Soft Systems Methodology (SSM) and based on information derived from four pilot farms representing diverse conditions across the EU that

are partners of the FutureFarm project. The system components were depicted as part of rich pictures and linked to the subsequent derived conceptual model of the overall system as an outline for the development of the specific FMIS requirements. This research has shown the benefit of using dedicated system analysis methodologies as a preliminary step to the actual design of a novel farm management information system compared with other more rigid and activity oriented system analysis methods.

Table of Content

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CONTENTS PAGE

Title page i

Certification ii

Approval Page iii

Dedication iv

Acknowledgement v

Abstract vi

Table of Contents vii

List of Figures viii

List of Tables

CHAPTER ONE

1.0 Introduction 1

1.1 Introduction/Background of the study 1

1.2 Statement of Problem 2

1.3 Objective/Purpose of the Study 2

1.4 Significant of Study 3

1.5 Scope of the Study 4

1.6 Limitation of the Study 4

1.7 Methodology 4

1.8 Project Layout/ Plan of Study 4

1.9 Definition of Terms 5



CHAPTER TWO

2.0 Literature review 7

2.1 Introduction 7

2.2 An overview of Farm management information system (FMIS) 8

2.3 Concept of management information systems (MIS) 9

2.4 The theory of Farm management 10

2.4.1 Farm system theory 11

2.4.2 Theory of Management by Objectives 12

2.5 The Practice of Farm management 13

2.5.1 Farm system Approach 13

2.5.2 Management by Objectives 14

2.6 The benefits of Farm management information system (FMIS) 15

2.7 Diversity of European agriculture 16

CHAPTER THREE

3.0 Methodology, System analysis and Design 18

3.1 Methodology 18

3.2 Choice of Methodology 18

3.2.1 Structured Interviews 18

3.2.2 Questionnaire 19

3.2.3 Others 19

3.3 An overview of the existing system 19

3.4 Problems of the existing system 20

3.5 The New system 20

3.6 Justification of the new system 20

3.7 Choice of Programming Language 21

3.8 Data Flow Diagram 21

3.9 Input Analysis and Design 22

CHAPTER FOUR

4.0 System Analysis and Implementation 24

4.1 System Design 24

4.1.1 Program Design 24

4.2 Documentation 36

4.2.1 System Documentation 36

4.2.2 Program Documentation 37

4.2.3 User Documentation 37

4.2.3.1 Background and Start up Form 38

4.2.3.2 Create Account Form 38

4.2.3.3 Manager and Cashier Login Form 38

4.2.3.4 Update Account Form 38

4.2.3.5 Hen Inventory Form 38

4.2.3.6 Egg Inventory Form 38

4.2.3.7 Farm Inventory Form 39

4.2.3.8 Sales Form 39

4.2.3.9 Print Receipt Form 40

4.2.3.10 Daily Sold Form 40

4.2.3.11 Telemedicine Form 40

4.2.3.12 Report Form 40

4.3 Database Design 41

4.3.1 Database Schema 41

4.3.2 Database Table 41

4.4 System Requirement 43

4.4.1 Hardware Requirement 43

4.4.2 Software Requirement 44

CHAPTER FIVE

5.0 Summary, Conclusion and Recommendation 45

5.1 Summary 45

5.2 Conclusion 45

5.3 Recommendation 46

LIST OF FIGURES

Figure 3.1 Data Flow Diagram

Figure 4.1a Program Flowchart: Inventory, report, farm diseases & treatment

Figure 4.1b Program Flowchart: Sales

Figure 4.2 Background Form

Figure 4.3 Start_up Form

Figure 4.4 Manager Login Form

Figure 4.5 Cashier Login Form

Figure 4.6 Update account Form

Figure 4.7 Create Account Form

Figure 4.8 Hen Inventory Form

Figure 4.9 Egg Inventory Form

Figure 4.10 Farm Inventory Form

Figure 4.11 Sales Menu Form

Figure 4.12 Hen Sales Form

Figure 4.13 Egg Sales Form

Figure 4.14 Feed Sales Form

Figure 4.15 Drug Sales Form

Figure 4.16 Print Receipt Form

Figure 4.17 Daily Sold Form

Figure 4.18 Telemedicine Form

Figure 4.19 Hen Report Form

Figure 4.20 Egg Report Form

Figure 4.21 Feed Report Form

Figure 4.22 Drug Report Form

LIST OF TABLES

Table 3.1a Input analysis and design (Farm Inventory)

Table 3.1b Input analysis and design (Sales)

Table 4.1 User account

Table 4.2 Inventory (Hen and Egg)

Table 4.3 Inventory (Feed and Drug)

Table 4.4 Sales

Table 4.5 Telemedicine

Introduction

A farm Management Information System (FMIS) is a system for managing the inventory of the farm. The term ‘’inventory’’ is used to refers to the farm working tools associated with the running of farm activities.

Farm Management Information System (FMIS) is also the program or software developed to describe the various on-farm programs and to assist farmers in managing their enterprise, natural resources, inventories, animals etc.

In today’s dynamic world everything is changing very radically; and as the 21st century dawns, revolutionary changes are also beginning to challenge the business and marketing world. To cope with the increasing competition and uncertainty, companies need to take advantage of the information technology (IT) and information systems (IS) to deal with the demanding challenges faced when carrying out their day to day activities, Accurate and easy to use Farm Management Information Systems (FMIS) are of fundamental importance for a successful operational farm management. Unfortunately, most farmers do not use FMIS when it comes to operation of their business, despite the increasing professionalism in the agricultural sector and its increasing usage of IT technologies.

Productivity gains in the agricultural industries have historically been driven by the adoption of new technical products and processes. It has been the realm of extension to make sure that farmers hear about these processes and technologies, and usually it has been State governments who have funded the extension effort. With the rapid increase in the complexity of the technology of farming, there is now a recognized need to improve the skills and education of our farmers – the human capital of agriculture. The Internet is changing the way society accesses and processes information. Farmers now have access to a wide range of information

about many aspects of their farming systems, but it is often thought by scientists and extension specialists that many lack the skills necessary to use that information to improve their farm profitability and sustainability through technical innovation.