DESIGN & IMPLEMENTATION OF A COMPUTERIZED FARM MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEM
ABSTRACT
In this study the researcher aimed at computerizing piggery farm management information system. A piggery farm is a kind of farm management where pigs are been reared and care for, for the purpose of production to do this the researcher under want a thorough interview where she was able to discover some problems associated with the existing system of management information system which is manual system. This problems have been hindering the growth of the management till date and that is what called for this research work. The attempt of other researchers, authors are reviewed to know their opinions patterning this problems / topic. Oral interview were used to connect the datas needed for this research work, and to researcher also added some of observation made during the collection of datas. In the chapter three, the researcher described and analysis the existing system in order to tackle the problems in the existing system. Chapter 4 and 5, the new system were designed and implemented to replace the old / existing system which is manual system. Finally, the researcher summarized the findings from the data gotten. And resolved into making some reasonable recommendations before concluding the work at last.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
Piggery farm is a part of animal section in NIGERIA PRISON AGRICULTURE PROJECT, STATE COMMAND ENUGU (NPAPSE) Agriculture itself is a science of farming. It can be practice for either animal production or crop production purposes. This study is based on farm management information system” a case study of a piggry farm. Piggry farm is an example of animal farm which is practiced for the purpose of animal production. Before a piggry farm could stand, there must be a boar at least, sow / sows, pockers and piglet of different stages.
Once more the direction intention of this project is to computerize farm management information system have been operated manually. Mis in this orgnization was essentially operated with a great deal of human efforts, and infact the activities of the organization in this system is less challenging, less complex and hence organizations do this extents small sized. Management information systems remain the system that aim at providing information for the management on a regular basis. This call to mind the time value of information which implies that when the required information is received behind the period it will be used, the information become useless. Mis dries to inform the manager how to provide the information.
Management always aim at reading the climax in the decision performance fort attainment of organizational objective but this existing system could not attract such performance due to the lack of effective information tool which can provide the management with quality and needed information and at needed time. This system always result to information over local which actually decreases the decision performance in any management. Information they say is power. Quality information is very vital do check in organization. The only information tha can accelerate the management decision performance is the information that process the good quality of information. Such qualities of information comprises:
(1) Relevance
(2) Accuracy
(3) Completeness
(4) Reliability
(5) Timeliness
Despite these qualities management cannot achieve their objectives. The decision performance also depend on the manager himself. The manager must be able to identify problem, define the problem, analyse it and suggest a possible solution to the problem. And for manager to do these, he must be backup with informations required. Due to the show mentioned faults and errors associated with the existing system of management information an alternative system is suggested which is a computerized system.
The technology have created an interesting opportunities for all managers and as the technology is growing the researcher demand it necessary to let the blowing wind reach the farm managers (piggry farm managers) in their management information system. A software is developed to replace this manual operation of Mis. This form of software is an expert system. Computerized farm management information system is a software package that contains a lot of files and records the file that was designed in detail is a sales file which each of it record consist of files like varieties of pigs, quantity, price, weight, subtotal, total amount grand total etc.
1.1 BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY
Nigeria Prison Agriculture Project, State Command (NPAPSCE) stated its operation in Nigeria Prison State Command Enugu between 1980-1981 under the management of MRS MARIA EBUCHE. NPAPSCE started it operation with about three kinds of animals sections, poultry department and crop department. As Nigeria Prison State Command seems to be a world of its owner, the manager (DSP) did not relent at all instead he worked indefatigably expand and introduce other animals to the animal department Around 1990, there came the expansion of the organization / management. That was when the idea of introducing piggry farm section was accepted in anticipation of the management goals achievement. This led to the origin of piggry farm in this management. The piggry farm they said has provide worthwhile, it has contributed a lot to the labor market and to the management itself. The piggry farm are divided into subsection headedby DSP (manager). The sections are.
(1) Boar Section (2) Sow Section (3) Pocket Section
(4) Piglet Sections.
The management is also divided into management sections. Thus.
(1) Stock keeping (2) Feeding (3) Maintenance
(4) Health care, (5) finance, (6) Accounting (7) Marketing and Sales
Piggry Sales management is discussed in detail here.
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 NPADSCE farmer manager with the effective, efficient, accurate and timely form of management information system. That is to replace manual mis with computerized Mis. The researcher hope to achieve the following after this research thus
- To equip all the manage with quality information on regular basis.
- To eliminate the steady decline in the management.
- To autonate all the activities of Mis
- To accelerate decision performance
- To design an expert system.
1.2.2 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.
1.3 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 Prison State Command, Enugu and to all farm managers in Nigeria. It will definitely expose and enlighten the staff and managers of farm in NPAPSCE 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 favourable 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.
1.4 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 pig in Nigeria Prison Agric Project state command Enugu. The choice of sales Mis was due to the time factor.
1.5 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, informations were elicited from the observation techniques during the investigation.
