1.1 Introduction
Automated Farm Management System is a software packaged that contains a lot of files and records the file that was designed in details. These files include sales, files which each of this record consist of files like varieties of pigs, quantity, price, weight, sub-total, total amount, grand total, etc.
As a prelude to other parts of this study, this chapter will discuss the background upon which this study was initiated, the statement of problems that led to this study, the Aim and Objectives of the study. Others are Significance of the study, Scope of work, Limitations of the Study and Definition of technical terms.
1.2 Background Of Study
The Harrison piggery farm also state Pig farming as the raising and breeding of domestic pigs. It is a branch of animal husbandry. Pigs are raised principally as food (e.g pork, bacon, gammon) and sometimes for their skin. Pigs are amenable to many different styles of farming intensive commercial units, commercial free range enterprises, extensive farming being allowed to wander around a village, town or city, or tethered in a simple shelter or kept in a pen outside the owners house.
This farming is divided into subsection headed by her, this sections are
- Boar section
- Sow section
- Pocket section
- Piglet section
Piggery farm is a part of animal Agricultural farming. It can be practiced for purpose of animal production (raising of pigs). This study is based on Farm Management System” a case study of a piggery farm. Piggery farm is an example of animal farm which is practiced for the purpose of animal production. Before a piggery farm could stand, there must be a boar at least, sow / sows, pokers and piglet of different stages.
The main aim of this project is to design a computer- based Farm Management System that has been operated manually. Management information system is and will remain the system that is aimed at providing information for the smooth running of the farm on a regular basis. This call to mind the time value of information which implies that when the required information needed is received behind the period it will be used, it becomes useless.
Management information system provides a means to manage and retrieve information as at when due. Management is aimed at reading the climax in the decision performance for attainment of set objectives and if this system lacks the effective information tool which can provide the management with quality and needed information at the appropriate time, then taking decisions for the growth and development of the farm will be affected drastically.
Quality information, thus, is very essential and the only information that can accelerate the management decision performance is the information that possesses such qualities like:
- Accuracy
- Completeness
- Reliability
- Timeline
This qualities mentioned were not found in the former system which is manual, thus, an alternative system is suggested which is an automated system. Software is developed to replace the manual operation of management information system. This form of software is an expert system.
1.3 Statement of the Problem
It is very unfortunate that the technology potentials have not been fully or even adequately realized in the field of farm management information. Very little farm managers have grabbed this powerful opportunity. 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 – know how.
- Lack of sufficient fund
- Poor service rendered by the government
- Poor perception of economic benefit
- Management decline
- Immobility etc
1.4 Aim and Objective of the Study
The objective aim that led to this research is basically on finding the procedure employed by the management of a piggery farm in obtaining information from the farm products and to keep track of records on available farm product when needed and the hope to achieve the following.
- To accelerate decision performance
- To automate all the activities of management information system
- To eliminate the steady decline in the management
- To design an expert system
- To make decision making very fast and reliable.
1.5 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 an automated system of management information system will change the whole thing positively to the piggery farm management.
1.6 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.
1.7 Limitations of the Study
During the course of this study, many things militated against its completion, some of which are:
- Time Constraint: The time frame given to accomplish this project was very short due to school academic calendar and it was carried out under pressure which made the researcher not to implement some necessary features.
- Establishment Policies: Establishment policies posed a serious limitation as most staffs are not ready to release information needed for this project work. There were lots of information needed from the staffs of this institution to enhance the study which took them time to release or they did not release at all for security purposes, hence the scope was reduced.
1.8 Definition Of Terms
Some term are defined as they relate to their particular usage in the study. The terms includes: boar, confine system, computer, data, database, information, information system, management, mobility, poker, piglet, system, software, hardware, sow
- Boar: This is a male pig that has grown to a point that can pregnant a sow
- Confine System: This is type of management system that does not interact with the system’s environment. The pigs under this system are controlled and they are not exposed to the environment
- Computer: A machine used in modern times in organization and homes do manipulate data.
- Data: Is a row 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 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.
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