AGROCULTURE INFORMATION MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

ZETECH UNIVERSITY

NAME: JACKLINE WAIRIMU MAINA

ADM: BSCIT-01-0019/2020

NAME: JOHN MBURU KARIUKI

ADM: BSCIT-01-0005/2020

PROJECT DOCUMENTATION FOR A FARM MANAGEMENT SYSTEM SUBMIT-

TED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REGULATION GOVERNING THE
AWARD OF BACHELORS OF SCIENCE IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY OF
ZETECH UNIVERSITY

JUNE 2022

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DECLARATION

We hereby declare that this project report is based on my original work except for citations and
quotations that have been duly acknowledged. We also declare that it has not been previously
and concurrently submitted for any other degree or award at ZETECH UNIVERSITY

SIGN…………………………… DATE…………………………….

NAME: JACKLINE WAIRIMU MAINA

ADM NO: BSCIT-01-0019/2020

SIGN…………………………… DATE……………………………

NAME: JOHN MBURU KARIUKI

ADM NO: BSCIT-01-0005/2020

Declaration by the supervisor

This report has been submitted for examination with my approval as the university supervisor.

SIGNATURE: ……………….. DATE……………………………

NAME: MR SIMON CHEGE

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DEDICATION

We dedicate this project proposal to our parents, our classmates, and our friends. We would like
to pass this message to them that only the Almighty God has enabled us to reach that far through
our first trust in him in all that we do. Therefore, we argue them all to continue trusting in him to
succeed in all their work.

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ACKNOWLEDGMENT

This research project was successful due to the cooperation of several people who have enabled
us to research more on the research project. We would like to extend our gratitude to our family
members especially our parents for their financial support and assistance during our research. We
also thank our classmates and other friends for support and encouragement and for explaining
how the project is written. Our gratitude goes to our supervisor MR Simon Chege for his guid-
ance, remarks, and relevant suggestions throughout our research. Above all, we thank the
Almighty God for the divine protection, guidance, and the opportunity of researching.

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ABSTRACT
Over the years farming has been the greatest activity in the world that no one can do without it.
Despite this, the biggest question for the farmers has been if the farming they have been doing is
worth the energy they give and the finances they spend on it. To solve the weight of this question
we have come up with a system that helps them know if they have made a profit or loss. Out of
the inputs in a farm in a particular harvest the output will be calculated and compared to the
input, and the worthiness of the farming will be measured from then. The systems hence can
store data of the farm which include the workers and their details, sales, and all the inputs in the
farm. This data will help the targeted farmers easily manage the farm with the available data,
they will also be able to foresee and predict the events that will happen in the next season.
Farmers strive to get consumers of their products and this system will ease their struggles as
buyers will be able to purchase their products remotely. With these data, they will be able to
choose what they would farm next time because it determines the loss or profit to be made next
time.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
DECLARATION.........................................................................................................................................ii
DEDICATION............................................................................................................................................iii
ACKNOWLEDGMENT.............................................................................................................................iv
ABSTRACT................................................................................................................................................v
List of Figures.............................................................................................................................ix
List of Tables...............................................................................................................................x
CHAPTER ONE..........................................................................................................................................1
INTRODUCTION.......................................................................................................................................1
1.1 Overview................................................................................................................................1
1.2 Background Information........................................................................................................1
1.3 Problem Statement.................................................................................................................2
1.4 Project Objective....................................................................................................................2
1.4.1 General Objectives......................................................................................................................3
1.4.2 Specific Objectives.....................................................................................................................3
1.4.3 Research Questions.....................................................................................................................3
1.5 Project Justification...........................................................................................................3
1.6 Project Scope..........................................................................................................................4
1.6.2 Assumptions...............................................................................................................................4
1.6.3 Summary Of The Chapter...........................................................................................................5
CHAPTER TWO.........................................................................................................................................6
LITERATURE REVIEW............................................................................................................................6
2.1 Overview................................................................................................................................6
2.2 Ancient History Of Farming And Agriculture.......................................................................6
2.3 Technological And Biological Advancements Changing The Agricultural Industry............8
2.4 Agricultural Information Technology (I.T) In Kenya............................................................9
2.5 Summary..............................................................................................................................12
CHAPTER THREE...................................................................................................................................13
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY..............................................................................................................13
3.1 Overview..............................................................................................................................13
3.2 Project Design......................................................................................................................13
3.3 Target population.................................................................................................................14
3.4 Sample and the Sampling procedure....................................................................................14

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 3.5 Data Collection Instruments And Procedures......................................................................14
3.5.1 Interview...................................................................................................................................15
3.5.2 Observation...............................................................................................................................15
3.5.3 Questionnaires..........................................................................................................................16
3.6 Data Analysis and Presentation............................................................................................16
3.6.1 Methods of Data Analysis.........................................................................................................16
3.7 System Development Methodology.....................................................................................17
CHAPTER FOUR.....................................................................................................................................18
REQUIREMENT SPECIFICATIONS AND SYSTEM DESIGN.............................................................18
4.1 Overview..............................................................................................................................18
4.2 System Design......................................................................................................................18
4.2.1 Conceptual Framework.............................................................................................................18
4.2.1.1 Dataflow Diagram.................................................................................................................19
4.2.1.2 Use case Modeling.................................................................................................................21
4.2.1.3 Entity Relationship Diagram..................................................................................................24
4.2.2 Module Design.........................................................................................................................24
4.2.3 Database System Design...........................................................................................................25
4.2.3.1 Analysis By Database System................................................................................................25
4.3 Graphic user interface..........................................................................................................26
4.4 Tools And Techniques.........................................................................................................30
CHAPTER FIVE.......................................................................................................................................32
CODING AND TESTING OF RESULTS................................................................................................32
5.1 Introduction..........................................................................................................................32
5.2 Login Test............................................................................................................................32
5.3 Functionality Test................................................................................................................34
CHAPTER SIX.........................................................................................................................................36
SUMMARY OF FINDINGS, CONCLUSIONS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS....................................36
6.1 Findings and Limitations.....................................................................................................36
6.2 Conclusion...........................................................................................................................36
REFERENCES..........................................................................................................................................36
APPENDICES...........................................................................................................................................38
APPENDIX 1............................................................................................................................................38
Project Budget............................................................................................................................38

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 Table 1.1............................................................................................................................................39
APPENDIX II...........................................................................................................................................39
Project Activities........................................................................................................................39
Table 1.2............................................................................................................................................40
APPENDIX III..........................................................................................................................................40
Gantt chart..................................................................................................................................40
Table 1.3............................................................................................................................................41
APPENDIX IV..........................................................................................................................................42
REQUIREMENTS.....................................................................................................................42
Table 1.4............................................................................................................................................42
APPENDIX V...........................................................................................................................................43
Program source codes................................................................................................................43

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List of Figures
Figure 1 Farm Structure.................................................................................................................12
Figure 2 Conceptual framework....................................................................................................18
Figure 3 Data Flow Diagram.........................................................................................................20
Figure 4 Use Case Modelling........................................................................................................22
Figure 5 UML Modelling..............................................................................................................23
Figure 6 Entity Relationship Diagram...........................................................................................24

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List of Tables
Table 1 Authentication..................................................................................................................25
Table 2 Project Budget..................................................................................................................39
Table 3 Project Activities..............................................................................................................40
Table 4 Gnatt Chart.......................................................................................................................41
Table 5 Requirements....................................................................................................................42

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 CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION
1.1 Overview
According to Abyllkasymov & Mirzaliyev (2014), “the world is geared toward information
technology thus proving and showing that it is the most efficient way to access, transact and
share information”(p. 434). By using ICT, farming systems will never be the same again since it
entails bringing in an easier, cheap, and maintainable system that will help commercial farmers
get higher production. Hence, we have considered creating this farming management information
system to clear the loss of data and files, reduce losses and increase performance for all the
farmers across the nation (Odini, 2014, p 85).

1.2 Background Information

Farming is the act of engaging in agriculture and raising living organisms for food or raw
materials. A farmer is a person engaged in agriculture. The term usually applies to people who
do some combination of raising field crops, orchards, vineyards, poultry, or other livestock. In
advance, farmers aren't usually farm owners (Semin, 2019).

We researched one of the many farms that operate on a large scale along Garissa Road, which is
on a wholesale and retail basis hence we got connected to Marydale farm. Marydale farm is a
farm that deals with both crop and livestock farming. Due to the huge bulk and load of work due
to the growth of the farm, record keeping becomes difficult and a lot of data is lost leading to low
sales in addition that a lot of produce end up wasted due to lack of market mostly produce that
does not last long after harvest.

This system’s purpose is to maintain the records of the clients and employers of the farm who
buy and sell farm products for better sales and production.

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1.3 Problem Statement
After research on Marydale farm and the problems it faces, we had an idea of what farmers
elsewhere around the nation might be facing often. Hence, Farming tends to undergo certain
challenges such as:

1. Loss of data due to poor record record-keeping the farmers lack the criteria for
predictions.
2. The inadequate market for farm produce; is due to poor marketing strategies including
analog strategies and media
3. Inability to determine loss or profit-making overproduce in a particular time when input
and output finances are considered.

We came to understand that we can use this proposed system to come up with solutions to the
problems above by checking the system online on ways to deal with loss date, inadequate
market, and inability to determine loss or profit and methods of dealing with them hence
implementing them practically. The installation of computerized systems will enhance the
knowledge and understanding of farmers who will be able to grow profitable and required farm
produce worldwide. This will lead to more jobs with better pay not only to the owners of farms.

1.4 Project Objective

This project aims to bring into light a system that will enhance record-keeping to store data for a
long time. By finding out ways and means for increasing the efficiency of farm business through
better input-output relationship and proper allocation of the resource among different uses.
Studying the impact of technological changes on farm business. To market, farm produce so
increases financial productivity for farmers and reduces waste. This would be achieved by
individual farmers having to take production decisions such as what profitable amount of
resources which combination of resources is most profitable and what to produce. To determine
loss of profit regarding finances used for input and output.

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1.4.1 General Objectives
To come up with a system that has an admin module, log in and register module, and market
module with a cart module that will enable buyers to select what they want to buy from a product
menu that will display all the available products.

1.4.2 Specific Objectives

1. To integrate it with google login API to fasten the login process.
2. To integrate the entire system with a database that will store all information of the
system which can also generate a report.

1.4.3 Research Questions

Before taking our investigation, questionnaires were undertaken to help gain more knowledge
about the operation of the current system and how this can be automated into an effective
electronic system. This study is determined to study the manual systems that exist. The research
tackles certain aspects in connection with the following question:

a) What is the current system for farm management and how is it implemented?
b) How effective is the current system of farm management?
c) How is employing an electronic system will change the way farming is done?

1.5 Project Justification

The proposed system will be easy, reliable, and cheap to maintain instead of the manual system.
The system will also help to eliminate and simplify all the observed problems. The proposed
system will be easy to use and understand by low-level(basic farm produce), middle-
level(advanced farm produce), and commercial farmers(more advanced farm produce and
engaged in manufacturing and production chains). The system will require a change in the
normal working farms where recording and filing of the farm documents and important data
were done manually to the computerized database management system. The proposed system
will have rapid security measures to ensure the privacy of farm data and information and also has
antiviruses to deal with threats in form of viruses towards the system.

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1.6 Project Scope
We researched Marydales farm which is located alongside Garissa Road 5km from Thika town.
This farm was established in the year 1992 by the Europeans who named it after their names, the
wife being called Mary and the husband Dale. It is a farm that has approximately 15000 acres of
land. In 1993, The two came up with the idea of farming where they hired employees to work on
their farm.

Hence this project will support the following areas;

1. The project will support record-keeping on all the sales, profits and losses, and levels of
production on farms in Kenya.
2. The project will ensure financial farm management.

3. The project will ensure easy control of the thousands of livestock and crops on a farm
since they will be in the database.

During the research, we noticed that due to time constraints, we couldn’t investigate another
farm of the problems and challenges that they are facing. There were also low levels of
cooperation by the management of other farms since they were not willing to share information
on their farms.

Farmers may neglect to use the system that we will develop due to not having trust with
technology and embracing the new computerized system that we will develop using this project.

1.6.1 Project Limitation

The proposed system will only be favorable for those who have digital knowledge and can be
able to use the system. One should be able to access data and a smartphone, laptop, or desktop
computer, and the users will be required to have access to electricity or solar panel and an
internet connection.

1.6.2 Assumptions
We made the following assumptions; All the farmers have shifted to digital systems that this is
like any other system only it’s easier to use. All the farmers need to manage not only their farms
digitally and by the guide of data entered or collected. Farmers would like to estimate the

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number of finances they input to know the worth of output. Every farmer would like to know
how to use this system to manage their farm. All farmers would like to manage and back up their
data.

1.6.3 Summary Of The Chapter

In this chapter, the research has presented the background of the study, objectives, scope study,
problem statement, objectives, research questions, assumptions of the study, and limitations of
the study. In the following chapter, the research and the literature are reviewed for the study.

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 CHAPTER TWO

LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1 Overview
A literature review is a body of text that aims to review the critical points of current knowledge
including substantive findings as well as theoretical and methodological contributions to a
particular topic.

This chapter is reviewing existing literature on the subject being researched. The matter
contained in this chapter relates to past studies on theoretical concepts. Research work earned a
critical review of the existing literature alongside establishing the independent variables much
more briefly with regards to how this proposed system can impact the management of farms
effectively.

2.2 Ancient History Of Farming And Agriculture

According to the Agrarian revolution, the Neolithic revolution (10000 BCE), there was the initial
transition from hunting and gathering to settled agriculture in prehistory. It is commonly referred
to as the first agricultural revolution. The Arab Agricultural Revolution is a term coined by the
Historian Andrew Watson postulating a fundamental transformation in agriculture arising from
the diffusion of crops through Islam. The British Agricultural Revolution (17th-19th Century), was
an increase in agricultural productivity in Great Britain that helped drive the Industrial
Revolution. It was characterized by the enclosure of common land and the introduction of
technological innovations such as the seed drill and the rotation of crops. The Scottish
Agricultural Revolution (18th-19thcentury) in Scotland specifically led to the lowland clearances.
The Green Revolution was a series of research, development, and technology transfer initiatives
that increased industrialized agriculture production in India and other countries in the developing
world (the second Agricultural Revolution). The Ancient Egypt farmers farmed, relied upon, and
irrigated their water from the Nile. Farming has been dated back as far as the Neolithic era by the
Bronze Age they domesticated crops such as emmer and einkorn wheat, this took 3000 years,
and the Sumerians had an agricultural specialized labor force by 5000-4000 BC and heavily
depended on irrigation to grow crops. They relied on three-person teams when harvesting in
spring. Animal husbandry, the practice of rearing animals specifically for farming purposes has

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existed for thousands of years. Dogs were domesticated in 8000 BCE in Asia. Swine or pigs
were domesticated by 7000 BCE in the Middle East and China. The Earliest evidence of horse
domestication dates to around 4000 BCE[ Life Science Journal, 11(4), 433-437.]. Agriculture has
undergone significant developments since the time of its earliest cultivation. The Fertile Crescent
of Western Asia, Egypt, and India were sites of the earliest planned sowing and harvesting of
plants that had previously been gathered in the wild. Independent development of agriculture
occurred in northern and southern China, Africa’s Sahel, New Guinea, parts of India, and several
regions of America. Agricultural practices such as irrigation, crop rotation, fertilizers, and
pesticides were developed long ago but have made great strides in the past Century. The Haber-
Bosch method for synthesizing Ammonium Nitrate represented a breakthrough and allowed crop
yields to overcome previous constraints. In the past Century, Agriculture in the developed
nations, and to a lesser extent in the developing world, has been characterized by enhanced
productivity, the replacement of human labor with synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, selective
breeding, and mechanization. The recent history of Agriculture has been closely tied with a range
of political issues including water pollution, biofuels, genetically modified organisms, tariffs,
and farm subsidies. In recent years, there has been a backlash against the external environmental
effects of mechanized agriculture and increasing support for the organic movement and
sustainable agriculture. The Oasis hypothesis was (proposed by Raphael Pumpelly in 1908) and
popularized by (Vere Gordon Childe), this hypothesis states that as the climate got drier,
communities contracted to oases where they were forced into close association with animals
which were then domesticated together with planting of seeds. In 1910, Carl Bosch while
working for German Chemical Company BASF, successfully commercialized the process,
Norman Borlaug and other scientists began developing crops for yields in the 1940s in Mexico.
The Hilly Flanks hypothesis, proposed by Robert Braidwood in 1948, suggests that agriculture
began in the hilly flanks of the Taurus and Zagros Mountains, and it developed intensive focused
grain gathering in the region. The Feasting model by Brian Hayden suggests that agriculture was
driven by ostentatious displays of power, such as throwing feasts to exert dominance. This
required assembling large quantities of food which drove agricultural technology. Since the
1970s, Western farmers and consumers have become increasingly aware of and in some cases
critical of, widely used intensive agricultural practices. This growing rate has increased levels of
production over the years and interest in Agriculture. The Levantine Primary Model was

7
developed in the 1980s by Offer Bar-Yosef and his collaborators. This provides a cultural
ecology explanation, based on the idea that some areas were better favored with domesticable
plants and animals than others (Paige. 1978).

2.3 Technological And Biological Advancements Changing The Agricultural Industry

Over Centuries, agricultural technology has created huge changes in the way people live and the
stakes for technological progress have never been higher. Mechanization began in the middle of
the 19th century. New farming techniques depended on scientific advances and the industrial
production of inputs, manual labor, and animal power was replaced by steam power and later by
the internal combustion engine (Semin & Namyitova, 2019, pp 1515-1521). Tractors were used
to pull plows or the reaper binder; which was later replaced by the combine harvesters. Milking
machines, Cotton gins, Sugar beet harvesters, and tomato harvesting machines all have greatly
reduced the need for manual labor. (Scientific farm production). Agriculture has gone from
traditional hybrids into genetically modified crops said Illinois State University experimental
farms department chair Rob Rhykerd. He explained that efficiency has improved, using
fertilizers that have been a major advancement. Combines have changed a lot over the year. They
have ballooned from harvesting two or four rows to sixteen and planters of seeds at a pass. The
use of GPS and yield monitors to measure productivity is standard. ISU agriculture professor
Dick Steffen said that it has been slower to develop than originally envisioned. He said true
interactive precision is closer to reality now. Cameras on booms can allow a computer to
distinguish weeds from crops so that as it goes along through the field if it spots a weed, it
activates the spray nozzle just where the weed is rather than spraying the whole field. He also
said that what amounts to robotic farming is coming. There are several pieces of equipment in
research labs and in trials to investigate whether it is possible and can work. Professor Steffen
said when small farmers had a lot of time on horse-drawn implements; they knew their land
intimately by the inch thus using the new information technology systems would allow them to
record data at a lot of different points (Semin & Namyitova, 2019, pp 1515-1521).

Agriculture continues to dominate Kenya’s economy, although only 15-17 percent of

Kenya’s total land area has sufficient fertility and rainfall to be farmed on, and only 7-8 percent
can be classified as first-class land. Research and investigation show that by 2006, almost 75

8
percent of working Kenyans made their living by farming. Agriculture is also the largest
contributor to Kenya’s gross domestic product (GDP), earning over 24.2 percent of the country’s
$33 billion GDP. Farming is the most important economic sector in Kenya. Kenya is a leading
producer of Tea and coffee, as well as the third-leading exporter of fresh produce such as
Cabbages, Onions, and Mangoes. In Kenya, small farms grow most of the corn and also produce
potatoes, bananas, beans, and peas.

Agricultural research by government institutions such as The Kenya Agricultural Research

Institute (KARI) is mandated with the task of undertaking research programs in food crops,
horticultural and industrial crops, livestock and range management, land and water management,
and socioeconomics. KARI was established in 1979 as a semi-autonomous government
institution. The new institute continued research activities from the East African Agricultural and
Forestry Research Organization (EAAFRO), East African Veterinary Research Organization
(EAAVRO), and the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development. In 1986, the Kenyan
Government recognized the challenge to meet long-term food production constraints in the
country. The Kenya Veterinary Vaccines Production Institute (KEVEVAPI) and the Kenya
Trypanosomiasis Research Institute (KETRI) have been integrated into KARI more recently.
This was due to the recognition of the need by the Government to further strengthen its
agricultural research system to create an institutional framework to effectively manage,
reorganize and consolidate agricultural research within the Country.

KARI supports and promotes technology in agriculture through the introduction of Information
Technology systems that ensure food security for the nation through improved productivity,
environmental conservation, and appropriate record-keeping of the stock of food they have in
store easily.

2.4 Agricultural Information Technology (I.T) In Kenya

Innovation in agricultural IT is concentrated in two areas. The first is delivered via mobile phone
information such as market prices and tips to improve crop and animal husbandry. The second is
the extension of financial services, such as M-pesa’s mobile money system. These innovations
have greatly improved access to market information and financial services. Farmers have

9
benefited from this information and communications technology innovation by boosting their
earnings. Access to market information through cellphones led to an increase in farmers’
incomes of between 16.5% and 36% in Uganda and 10% in Ghana, according to a 2012 World
Bank report. A recent Vodafone report estimates a potential increase of $ 48 billion in
agricultural income in Africa by 2020 due to the spread of technology.

M-farm offers farmers the chance to sell their crops collectively and to buy their seed, fertilizers,
and other inputs together, simply by using their mobile phones or logging on to the M-farm
website. Farmers can then use a free mobile app or send an SMS request to see the latest
information on specific crops. Another service is Icon One its products help beef farmers track
their cows’ gestation periods to increase livestock numbers. Farmers use an SMS code to register
their cows and their insemination date. The service then sends SMS prompts to its suppliers and
respective production companies. In my research I intend to come up with a system that will
incorporate all the functions of the farm and also ease the workload concerning the variables
mentioned below:

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Farm structure:

GENERAL MANAGER (FARM OWNER)

FARM MANAGER

FARM SUPERVISOR

ANIMAL DEPARMENT CROP DEPARTMENT

FARM WORKER FARM WORKER (junior supervisor

Cows Goats Chicken Cash Crops Subsistence crops

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Dairy Beef Hides Milk Beef Poultry Broiler

Sugarcane Tea Coffee Maize Tomatoes Onion

Figure 1 Farm Structure

Challenges faced by Farms in Kenya

The first challenge addressed by many farm management information systems is the need for
farms to be able to convert thousands of paper documents- from leases to contracts-into a secure
digital form. The information needs to be linked to the company’s other applications for fixed
assets, maintenance, and repairs. The farmers and employees on the farm neglect to use the new
database due to a lack of knowledge of using the system and also avoiding using the system due
to their adaptive use of the manual systems.

2.5 Summary
In this chapter, the researcher has reviewed relevant literature to demonstrate how IT could be a
solution to the problems we are facing in farming. The chapter is divided into ancient the history
of farming and agriculture, technological and biological advancements changing the agricultural
industry, agricultural information technology (I.T) in Kenya, Farm structure, and Challenges
faced by Farms in Kenya.

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 CHAPTER THREE

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
3.1 Overview
The methodology is derived from the word “methods”. In general, a methodology is described
as a body of methods used in a particular branch of activities. The research methodology that
will be used serves as a guide for how the researcher will approach addressing the research
questions. It comprises the research design, data gathering procedures, sample and sampling
strategies, and data analysis techniques. The quantitative research approach is the principal
strategy employed. It is linked to the positivist paradigm, which often entails gathering data and
transforming it into numerical form so that statistical computations may be performed and
conclusions reached. This effort aims to demonstrate that computerized systems are consistent,
superior, and dependable. Questionnaires, in-person interviews, and observations are all tools
used in data collection. A case study was the type of research methodology used in this project.
The case study approach made it possible to investigate farms in-depth, understand the issues
with the current system, and then create a superior system to enhance the functionality of the
current system.

3.2 Project Design

The research design used for this study is descriptive. Determining the frequency with which
something occurs or the relationship between variables is the focus of a descriptive study. A
legitimate strategy for examining particular topics and serving as a prelude to quantitative studies
is the descriptive research design. In this instance, the operational difficulties affecting farms
were the research issues. As a result, this strategy was appropriate for this study because it
contributed to the description of the situation as it was without the use of variables. Given that it
was based on quantities and produced more reliable results, a quantitative approach to the study
was appropriate.

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3.3 Target population
The research was carried out on farms in Kiambu County. With a population of 100 farms, the
sample population of 55 people from various farms spread across Kiambu County.

The sample population was as follows;

Buyers 30 per farm

Farmers 25 of the farms

The total sample population was 55.

3.4 Sample and the Sampling procedure

Data and information from farmers and buyers from various farms were gathered using a
straightforward random sample technique. Every tenth farmer on the list was randomly selected
by the farm's current records, which were then called each them. Additionally, the researchers
chose a few buyers at random and conducted in-person interviews with them. Finally, the farms'
location and method of operation were demonstrated, along with the distribution of
questionnaires that greatly aided in gathering additional data about the farms and providing a
more detailed understanding of the activities that occur across the board.

3.5 Data Collection Instruments And Procedures

In conducting this study, a questionnaire was used as the main instrument for data collection
assisted by face-to-face/oral interviews and observations. A questionnaire consisted of a set of
questions that have been drawn to extract the facts necessary for the study. Therefore there were
some simple questions posed to the respondents in a structure of a form to which the respondents
were expected to respond to. Thereafter, an analysis was done to conclude. Here the research
provided a brief description of the data collection techniques that were used in this project
including:

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3.5.1 Interview
The qualitative data were ascertained through oral interviews. These unstructured interviews
gave us the chance to learn more from individuals who had been a part of the process for a very
long period. These interviews provided information such as:

 Activities involved in process of farm management.

 Limitations of the existing system.
 The current mode of payment.

Reasons for conducting the interview

 To collect requirements and analysis of the new system
 Establishing a report with the interviewee hence the interviewee has the feeling of having
actively contributed to the system project
 The interview provides direct feedback from the interviewee

3.5.2 Observation
This involved visiting the farms to observe and get meaningful information on how they conduct
their farming. The information greatly assisted in the creation of an efficient system.

Advantages of observation

 The data gathered was highly reliable. Since information is recorded from what the
viewer sees.
 The researcher sees the actual activities taking place and denotes them resulting in
firsthand information.
 It is cheap compared to the Interview method since not much expense is incurred in the
printing of questionnaires.
 The researcher can identify what may be left out or inaccurately described and ask for
clarification.

Disadvantages

15
  Data may be compromised since one may change their behavior to suit the expected
behavior.
 Scheduling inconveniences for both the resource person and the researcher.
 The information recorded under this method may be biased since the researcher may only
include what pleases him/her.

3.5.3 Questionnaires
This was meant to capture data from the respondents. The information obtained by self-
administered questionnaires was coded tabulated and analyzed. The questionnaires were
designed to concentrate on specific issues raised in the problem statement and establish the ways
of improving the current record entry system and enhancing this advanced system. The
questionnaire consisted of open-ended questions. Open-ended questions allow and encourage
respondents to offer their opinion on the languages they fully understand and are comfortable
with.

Questionaire sample

16
Those who responded:

17
Graph representation

3.6 Data Analysis and Presentation

At the end of information collection, proper analysis was done as a way forward in the creation
of the system.

3.6.1 Methods of Data Analysis

Concluding that this is a quantitative type of research, after collecting data, the questionnaires,
interviews, and observation data were analyzed. The information obtained from the analysis of
the data was used to develop diagrams informing of use cases, data flow diagrams(DFD), and
entity-relationships diagrams (E-R) that were interpreted to develop the conceptual and physical
model for the system which were used to develop the code that implemented the functions found
in the computer system.

1. Input analysis
Data analysis and restructuring were based on the identification of the basic needs and
the structure required for the project. The information gathered was analyzed and
restructured such that the subsystems and the modules were achieved effectively.

18
 2. Process analysis
The information gathered was processed into a well-designed meaningful format for
entry into the system.
3. Output analysis
The output from the system design was generated as the system inputs.

3.7 System Development Methodology

PHP was used to code the system. Agile methodology is a way to manage a project by breaking
it up into several phases. It is a process that involves constant collaboration and working in
iterations. It works off the basis that a project can be continuously improved upon throughout its
life cycle with changes being made quickly and responsively.

This methodology is advantageous because of its flexibility, adaptability to change, and high
level of customer input. it also includes the process of planning, executing, and evaluating.

The agile manifesto includes four main values.

• Individuals and iterations over processes and tools.
• Working software over comprehensive documentation.
• Customer collaboration over contract negotiations
• Responding to change over following a plan.

19
 CHAPTER FOUR

REQUIREMENT SPECIFICATIONS AND SYSTEM DESIGN

4.1 Overview
For effective implementation of the project, software and hardware requirements used were as
presented.

4.2 System Design

This is the process or art of defining the architecture, modules, interfaces, data, and components
for a system's specified requirements. It can be explained as the application of system theory to
product development.

4.2.1 Conceptual Framework

INPUTS
PROCESS

Famer and Buyer Registration Sign up

Details
Log in
Famer login Details
Famer Registration
Buyer Login Details Details

Buyer Registration
Details

OUTPUTS

Farmers Profile

Buyers Profile

Products Details

Figure 2 Conceptual framework. Chart

20
4.2.1.1 Dataflow Diagram
Here, we've gone into further detail about the farm's top-level procedure. A fundamental
overview of the entire Farm Management System is provided. It is intended to provide a quick
overview of growth and login, showcasing the system as a single high-level process and its
connections to external entities like farms, orchards, and orchard products. We have presented
are high-level flow of the Farm system, which should be easily comprehended by a large
audience, including Farm, Vegetables, and Growth in zero level DFD of the Farm Management
System.

High-level Entities And Process Flow of Farm Management System:

 Managing all the Farm

 Managing all the Vegetables
 Managing all the Login
 Managing all the Fruits
 Managing all the Employees
 Managing all the Treatment
 Managing all the Medicine

21
 Farm

Management

Employees Plants

Management Management

Farm

Management

System

Growth Treatment

Management Management

Medicine

Management

Zero Level DFD- Farm Management System

Figure 3 Data Flow Diagram

22
4.2.1.2 Use case Modeling.

A use case should produce a benefit for either the initiating actor or for a different actor.
(Schmuller, 2002) The use case modeling we produced for this project comprised two compo-
nents: a use case diagram and a documentation use case. Hence, the use case diagram can explain
how our system functions based on the needs of the customer. Users can be anyone with access
rights to the system, such as those who have passwords and user names. They are permitted to
engage in a variety of transactional activities, including a database program. Administrator: An
administrator is a person in charge of overseeing all data. As an administrator, he or she has the
authority to view all data, edit it, remove it, print it, add details, and print the contents of the en-
tire system.

Table 4.1 use case description

Task Requirements Actor Use Case

1 The database system verifies the ID Normal User Vendor View records
and rights of the user
or administrator

2 The database system shows the data Administrator and Records

checked by a user and allows the user
user to print the data

3 The system permits the administra- Administrator Modify records

tor to modify the database

4 Print Items from the database Administrator and Print

normal user

5 An administrator is allowed to Delete records Delete

delete items from the database

Registration

23
 View/update
profile

Farmer
Buyer
Add crops

Crop view

Request order

Admin
Delete/modify records
records

Print Records

Transactions

Figure 4 Use Case Modelling

GUI DATABASE SYSTEM

24
D
LOG IN Authorized User

Validate User

Send request
View

Send proper data back

Press button

closed

Figure 5 UML Modelling

4.2.1.3 Entity Relationship Diagram

25
Figure 6 Entity Relationship Diagram

4.2.2 Module Design

Admin

The Administrator logs in using the admin login. In this module two operations are done. During

login, the username, and Password verified with that in the database.

The system is classified into subsystems such as

Home

Mycart

Login

26
Digital Market

Blog

4.2.3 Database System Design

Database management system design Sivasankar (2010) suggests that a” database management
system is a collection of programs that enables a user to create and maintain a database.” To
illustrate the above information, we decided to create the database management system (DBMS)
in this application. The purpose of the DBMS was to receive requests from applications and to
translate those requests into reads and writes on the database files. Not only receive requests
from the application but DBMS also provided persistent storage for program objects and data
structures.

4.2.3.1 Analysis By Database System

A database system is a purpose to store information and to allow users to retrieve and update the
information needed. On the other hand, a well-designed database produces a system that
provides the correct information for the decision-making process to succeed, in an efficient way.

1. Authentication

Table 1 Authentication
Field name Data type Field size

P.K Username Varchar 22

Password User-level 22

User level Varchar 22

27
4.3 Graphic user interface
In the previous section; the user requirement were analyzed and discussed from the designer’s
point of view. In this section, we will be discussing the User Interface Specification. Observe
how the interface will work and the description of the Graphical user interface.

Splash Screen

28
This form appears when the system is loaded.

29
Main Form

This is the main panel where it has different modules in the system.

The user can access different modulonepending on the user level. There are the admin level and
user level.

30
Login Form

The user is required to enter the correct username and password in the fields provided. Enter
username and password which have been initially recorded in the system by the administrator.

31
Registration Form

This module allows the system administrator to add and save new suppliers in the system

4.4 Tools And Techniques

Web browser
A web browser is an application used to access and view websites. This enables web developers
to create highly interactive websites. In this project, the web browser will be used to develop a
website where farmers will be able to interact with the farm management system where farmers
and customers will be able to sign up and log in to their accounts where they will be able to
interact.

HTML

HTML (Hypertext Markup Language) is the set of markup symbols or codes inserted in a file in-
tended for display on a World Wide Web browser page. The markup tells the Web browser how

32
to display a Web page's words and images for the user. The idea behind Hypertext Markup Lan-
guage (HTML) was born at the European Laboratory for High-Energy Physics (CERN) in
Geneva, Switzerland, as early as 1989. One year later, the World Wide Web project was also
started there.

CSS

Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) is a style sheets language (style language) introduced by W3C.
Cascading refers to the process of determining the priority of styling rules. CSS is used to define
the presentational semantics of structured documents. It provides control over the visual charac-
teristics of HTML and XHTML documents and their elements. Some typical features are an ex-
ample, fonts, colors, backgrounds, margins, borders, and layers.

PHP

This is a general-purpose scripting language geared toward web development. It was created by
Rasmus Lerdorf in 1994. Its stands for Hypertext Preprocessor.

Mysql server database

This is software that enables the creation of databases that manages information stored. This
database will be used to record the data entered by a farmer.

33
 CHAPTER FIVE

CODING AND TESTING OF RESULTS

5.1 Introduction
The user manual describes a basic way in which the user would interact with the system. In this
phase, documentation is in the process of testing both the user interface and the system, to ensure
effectiveness, efficiency, and ability to function as stipulated in the requirements.

Testing the User Interface

5.2 Login Test

The login form was tested to see if it allowed unauthorized persons to access the system using
empty fields and incorrect passwords.
The login form

34
Incorrect username or password test
The login form was also tested for incorrect username or password.

Procedure
Enter any details in the text field
Results
The form returned a dialogue box that indicated that the details entered were not correct or
In existence in the database.

35
If the user inputs correct details (username and password)it displays the following.

5.3 Functionality Test

Functionality testing involved testing the interface pages, links, buttons, and the database.
During this test, users tested the core functions of the system, including the synchronization of
data. The application was tested for input functions in the field provided for field entry. The
required test fields were the input text box that was supposed to receive data from the user. A
brief description of the participants is shown in the diagram below.

Data was filled in the text box provided to test if the fields accepted data and in a language that
was well understood by the user. The save button was also clicked to see if the data was stored in
the database. Empty fields were also tested to see if it was possible to save empty data in the
database.

36
Results
The text box allowed required data to be filled in the text box provided. Fields with numeric data
did not allow data to be filled in the numeric data fields.

37
 CHAPTER SIX

SUMMARY OF FINDINGS, CONCLUSIONS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS

6.1 Findings and Limitations
Despite having a successful Farm management system, this system is faced with various
challenges. These challenges include the following.
The need for digital literacy and the internet to access this system.
6.2 Conclusion
The desired result of this Farm management system is to produce a successful Farm management
information system. The new system is expected to eradicate the manual record entry of book
information manually and eliminate any cases of unaccountable losses Retrieval of book
information from the database will be performed with a click of a button. The amount of time
used in record keeping and any other operation is expected to reduce drastically. Objectives of
this system show that the Farm information system is a success on the developer and the end user
side. The Farm information system is developed to accommodate the registration of buyers,
registration of farmers, entry of records, issuance of book records, and management of farm
produce by giving a platform for interaction between the farmer and buyer. The new system has
consisted of a user login that restricts unauthorized people from accessing the system. The right
of each user can be stretched properly to manipulate the improved system. This application
system permits the users who have the right to access the systems. Therefore not all the users can
make changes or access all the data. Data access is a hierarchy system arranged by the system
administrator. The only person who can add, edit and delete user login mode is the system
administrator.

38
REFERENCES
Abyllkasymov, Y. T., & Mirzaliyev, B. S. (2014). Prospects of agricultural management based
on the creation of the Kazakhstan innovative venture system in the agroindustrial complex
(Management of industrial-innovative development of the agroindustrial complex). Life Science
Journal, 11(4), 433-437.

Cai, Y., Rong, Q., Yang, Z., Yue, W., & Tan, Q. (2018). An export coefficient-based inexact
fuzzy bi-level multi-objective programming model for the management of agricultural nonpoint
source pollution under uncertainty. Journal of Hydrology, 557, 713-725.

Evenson, R. E., & Gollin, D. (2003). Assessing the impact of the Green Revolution, 1960 to
2000. science, 300(5620), 758-762.

Gottwald, F. T., Seidl, I., & Zahrnt, A. (2021). Meaningful activities in agriculture: Agro-culture
as a guiding principle. In Post-Growth Work (pp. 122-133). Routledge.

Kang, B. T., Reynolds, L., & Atta-Krah, A. N. (1990). Alley farming. Advances in Agronomy,
43, 315-359.

Lacombe, C., Couix, N., & Hazard, L. (2018). Designing agroecological farming systems with
farmers: A review. Agricultural systems, 165, 208-220.

Meuwissen, M. P., Feindt, P. H., Spiegel, A., Termeer, C. J., Mathijs, E., De Mey, Y., ... &
Reidsma, P. (2019). A framework to assess the resilience of farming systems. Agricultural
Systems, 176, 102656.

Nehrey, M., & Zomchak, L. (2022). Digital Technology: Emerging Issue for Agriculture. In The
International Conference on Artificial Intelligence and Logistics Engineering (pp. 146-156).
Springer, Cham.

Odini, S. (2014). Access to and use of agricultural information by small-scale women farmers in
support of efforts to attain food security in Vihiga County, Kenya. Journal of Emerging Trends
in Economics and Management Sciences, 5(2), 80-86.

Paige, J. M. (1978). Agrarian revolution. Simon and Schuster.

Rawat, B., & Purnama, S. (2021). MySQL Database Management System (DBMS) On FTP Site
LAPAN Bandung. International Journal of Cyber and IT Service Management, 1(2), 173-179.

39
Semin, A. N., & Namyatova, L. E. (2019). Land as a factor of production in agriculture and
features of agricultural practices. International Journal of Mechanical Engineering and
Technology, 10(02), 1515-1521.

Stoskopf, N. C. (1981). Understanding crop production. Reston Publishing Company, Inc...

Reston Publishing Company, Inc.

40
APPENDICES

APPENDIX 1
Project Budget
For the development of the farm management system, the following budget will be considered

Farm Management System research budget.

Table 2 Project Budget

Item Quantity Description Cost in Ksh

System unit 1 Pentium(IV) , 2GB 23,000.00

RAM, 3.00GHz

Resolution(TFT 21 1 1024*768 or higher 13,000.00

inches)

Portable USB Disk 1 Transcend 500GB 8,000.00

Keyboard and Mouse 2 Input devices 1,000.00

Modem 1 3G 4, 500.00

Miscellaneous _ _ 2,000.00

Total 38,500.00

Table 1.1

41
APPENDIX II
Project Activities
The activities that were carried out in the development of the proposed system are shown in the
table below. These activities helped us in managing our time in the development of the proposed
system at the required time.

Table 3 Project Activities

Activity Duration

feasibility study 2 week

Study 2 week

System Analysis 4 weeks

System Design 4 weeks

Coding 4 weeks

Testing 2 week

Implementation 2 week

Documentation and Implementation 2 week

Total 22 weeks

Table 1.2

42
APPENDIX III
Gantt chart
The Gantt chart below shows the project schedule timelines and activities used for developing
the proposed system.

Table 4 Gnatt Chart

Activities 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20

Feasibility

studies

Study

System
Analysis

System Design

Coding

Testing

Implementation

Documentation

Table 1.3

Actual Times

43
APPENDIX IV
REQUIREMENTS
Table 5 Requirements
SOFTWARE REQUIREMENTS HARDWARE REQUIREMENTS

 Windows 10 operating system.  Standard Pentium Processor computer

 Ms Office 2019.  300 GB HDD
 Ms Visual Studio 2020  4 GB RAM
 Database Management System(MySQL  Uninterruptible Power Supply(UPS)
SERVER).  CPU 2.4 GHZ
 Crystal report generator.

Table 1.4

44
APPENDIX V
Program source codes
<?php

session_start();

require 'db.php';

if(!isset($_SESSION['logged_in']) OR $_SESSION['logged_in'] == 0)

$_SESSION['message'] = "You need to first login to access this page !!!";

header("Location: Login/error.php");

$bid = $_SESSION['id'];

if(isset($_GET['flag']))

$pid = $_GET['pid'];

$sql = "INSERT INTO mycart (bid,pid)

VALUES ('$bid', '$pid')";

$result = mysqli_query($conn, $sql);

?>

<!DOCTYPE html>

<html lang="en">

<head>

<meta charset="UTF-8">

<title>AgroCulture: My Cart</title>

45
 <meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" />

<meta name="description" content="" />

<meta name="keywords" content="" />

<link href="bootstrap\css\bootstrap.min.css" rel="stylesheet">

<script
src="https://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/jquery/1.12.4/jquery.min.js"></script>

<script src="bootstrap\js\bootstrap.min.js"></script>

<!--[if lte IE 8]><script src="css/ie/html5shiv.js"></script><![endif]-->

<link rel="stylesheet" href="login.css"/>

<script src="js/jquery.min.js"></script>

<script src="js/skel.min.js"></script>

<script src="js/skel-layers.min.js"></script>

<script src="js/init.js"></script>

<noscript>

<link rel="stylesheet" href="css/skel.css" />

<link rel="stylesheet" href="css/style.css" />

<link rel="stylesheet" href="css/style-xlarge.css" />

</noscript>

<!--[if lte IE 8]><link rel="stylesheet" href="css/ie/v8.css" /><![endif]-->

</head>

<body class>

<?php

require 'menu.php';

function dataFilter($data)

46
 {

$data = trim($data);

$data = stripslashes($data);

$data = htmlspecialchars($data);

return $data;

?>

<!-- One -->

<section id="main" class="wrapper style1 align-center" >

<div class="container">

<h2>My Cart</h2>

<section id="two" class="wrapper style2 align-center">

<div class="container">

<div class="row">

<?php

$sql = "SELECT * FROM mycart WHERE bid = '$bid'";

$result = mysqli_query($conn, $sql);

while($row = $result->fetch_array()):

$pid = $row['pid'];

$sql = "SELECT * FROM fproduct WHERE pid = '$pid'";

$result1 = mysqli_query($conn, $sql);

$row1 = $result1->fetch_array();

47
 $picDestination = "images/productImages/".
$row1['pimage'];

?>

<div class="col-md-4">

<section>

<strong><h2 class="title"
style="color:black; "><?php echo $row1['product'].'';?></h2></strong>

<a href="review.php?pid=<?php echo

$row1['pid'] ;?>" > <img class="image fit" src="<?php echo $picDestination;?>" alt="" /></a>

<div style="align: left">

<blockquote><?php echo "Type : ".

$row1['pcat'].'';?><br><?php echo "Price : ".$row1['price'].' /-';?><br></blockquote>

</section>

</div>

<?php endwhile; ?>

</div>

</section>

</header>

</section>

48
 </body>

</html>

49