A Model for a Web-based Agricultural MIS for Lamu County of Kenya

Makau Nzoka, Technical University of Mombasa, joshua.jkuat @gmail.com

Fanon Ananda, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, fananda@jkuat.ac.ke
Abstract
Web Based Management Information Systems have been on the increase since the introduction
of Web 2.0 technology. Various fields such as Human Resource Management (HRM), Social
Networking, Banking, Messaging and Communication, Teaching among others have
implemented different solutions that rely on the internet and web technology. This comes with a
number of advantages over the traditional desktop based management information systems with
the most notable being that accessibility of a Web Based MIS is not limited to the office
workstation and a user can operate it from any location and at any time provided that there is a
reliable internet connection. Update and maintenance can as well be done remotely thus
eliminating the need for the system developer to travel to the installation site.
This paper presents a model for achieving a customized web based management information
system for the department of agriculture and uses the Department of Agriculture in the County
Government of Lamu as the case study. The paper presents and discusses the features of the
prototype Web-based Agricultural MIS developed for the department. Departments of agriculture
and irrigation in other counties of Kenya can benefit by reviewing and learning from this pilot
solution as it seeks to streamline the management and dissemination of Agricultural information
which is a key component in these departments.

Keywords: MIS, Agriculture, Technology, Lamu County, Information Systems

I.

INTRODUCTION

Management Information Systems refers broadly to a computer-based system that provides

managers with the tools for organizing, evaluating and efficiently running their departments
[National Open University of Nigeria, 2014]. Essentially, an MIS serves as an analytical tool
that enables integration of data from different business applications, internet, business modules
and functions to enable them to make effective decisions. Isabella Mertha (lacks proper
reference), University of Missouri notes that today the internet and the world wide web support
applications from small-scale, short-lived services to large scale enterprise applications
distributed across the Internet and corporate intranets and extranets [Isabella Mertha,2006]. The
County Government is an Administrative unit in Kenya emanates from the devolved system of
governance brought about by the promulgation of a new constitution in 2010. As such the
Republic of Kenya consists of forty seven (47) county governments each tasked with promoting
development agendas of the central government at county levels. As such the various existent
sectors have been placed under the mandate of these County Governments managed as
departments under County Executive Chiefs. The Agricultural sector is one of the departments
within the county governments.
II.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION AND PROBLEM STATEMENT

Lamu County is a county in the Northern Coastal region of Kenya with a total population of
101,539; 22,184 households and covers an area of 6,273.1 sq km (reference). Geographically
Lamu is a vast county consisting of mainland, an archipelago of over ten islands.
Administratively Lamu is divided into Lamu East and Lamu West sub counties with Lamu West
forming the vast mainland and Lamu East consisting of the islands and part of mainland
bordering Somalia. Transportation across the Islands is usually by means of motor powered boats
and a single trip would normally cost ten thousand Kenya shillings on a hired boat. This makes it
difficult to coordinate between the county head office and the agricultural field officers. As such
a web based management information system herein documented will help streamline flow of
communication and provide coordination for the department.
III.

METHODOLOGY

As web based management information systems and applications have been growing more and
more complex, the concept of web engineering 1 begins to prevail. It encompasses diverse
principles from multiple disciplines areas including hypermedia, software engineering, human
computer interaction, conceptual modeling, information retrieval, networking, etc. Therefore the
design, development and deployment of WbMISes (introduce this acronym) should follow
structured methodologies. There are currently several proposed development life cycles for Webbased Management Information Systems. Some of these methodologies are: Ginige's WbMIS
development process 13, Pressman's framework of activities for Web applications14,Takahashi's
and Liang's flow of analysis and design for Web-based information systems 15, and Fraternali's
Life
cycle of
a
Web
Application[Isabella
Mertha,2016].
All four models have a similar basic framework, including an analysis phase, a design phase, a
Web site construction phase, and a maintenance phase. In order to address the evolutionary
nature of Web-based information systems and to ensure the generation of complete requirements
specifications, all of the above frameworks include some form of iterative approaches. Ginige
suggests using the Spiral Development Process, Fraternali advocates Prototyping, Takashi and
Liang propose an iterative process between scenario analysis and architecture design, and
Pressman warns that his framework's "activities are applied iteratively as a Web-based system
evolves. However, the choice of a methodology also depends on the complexity and size of a
Web-based Management Information System, as well as on the types of Web applications being
considered. For example, Ginige advocates the Waterfall model for simple Web sites that do not
require an iterative approach.
The methodology chosen for the development of this solution was Fraternali prototyping model.
The choice of the methodology was based on the researchers past experience with the
methodology in previous projects and secondly it was easier to communicate requirements with
the users of the system.

1 Web engineering refers to a field concerned about the employment of systematic

and disciplined approaches to the development and management of web sites and
web applications (Lowe 1999, Murugesan et al. 1999).

Figure 1 Fraternal/Ginige-Lowe Process Model

(organize this steps using roman numbers)

Requirements analysis: The developer(s) determine the mission of the software application,
identifying prospective users and defining the nature of its information base.
Conceptualization: The application is represented through a set of abstract models that
characterize the main features of the application: structure, navigation and presentation.
Prototyping and validation: The user(s) evaluate(s) reduced versions of the application using a
prototype that simplifies the architecture of the solution. The user's evaluation provides valuable
information prior to design. As this was the case involving hypermedia applications, the
prototyping has more relevance than in traditional software development because the complexity
of the contents and the GUI are greater than in other applications and also need to be evaluated in
detail by the user.
Design: The developer(s) transform (s) the abstract schemas provided by the conceptualization
phase into lower-level representations, closer to the demands of the implementation. Also at this
point, developer(s) determine (s) the architecture of the solution, for example using patterns like
those provided by Rossi et al. (1999b).
Implementation: Developer(s) build the application and provide the contents at the
implementation stage. Naturally, the contents must be represented according to the selected
architecture.
Evolution and maintenance: developer(s) modif(ies) the application in response to changes in
software requirements, and solve the bugs and problems that might eventually appear in the
application. These changes may force modifications in the structure, navigation or presentation
of the application and for that reason is best managed by a recursive application of the process
model.
IV. RESULTS ( this should be the major topic before you start explaining the
system) --NB This document requires serious formatting before final submission
Web-based Agricultural MIS: Functional Features

This section introduces the functional features of the prototype MIS developed for the County
Government of Lamu. Each feature represents an entity whose record is of importance to the
department of Agriculture and Irrigation.
You need to show the database design.
You need to show at least one diagram the shows the process and flows. Iwould suggest a use
case diagram. Then afterwards now the interface.
MIS CRUD Interface

Figure 2 Crop Production Record management

The MIS provides a web based interface for managing CRUD functionalities of creating new
records, retrieving previous records, updating existing records and deleting records
Available records are records on Programs that are currently being implemented in partnership
with the department, Food Stocks, Baseline Data, Farm inputs records, Rainfall data, assets
records management and Staff management.
The reporting section provides an interface capable of filtering records annually, quarterly and
based on seasons. Such reports are exported as spreadsheet documents for further analytical
treatment by the users.

Figure 3 Ms Excel section of an Exported Report - This is not relevant. You have not told us
how it is used. Always refer to your figures and tables in the main text.

Figure 4 A Section of the Database Schema - show clearly as an ERD in the document. This
is not relevant.

IV.
NON FUNCTIONAL FEATURES
i. Simple interface: The system provides an intuitive easy to use interface that can be
accessed by authorized users
ii. Fast loading
The system loads fast and can work even when connectivity speeds are low
iii. Security
The system is password protected and only authorized members can access its functionalities.
iv. History Logging : For auditing and tracking purposes, changes, logins and logouts are
recorded in a database table is displayed as a report under the section of History Log
V.
SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
The system has been developed to target computing environment with the following
specifications.
Software
i.
Operating System Red Hat Linux 8.0
ii.
Web Server Apache 1.3.34
iii.
PHP Version 4.4.1
iv.
MySQL Version 4.0.27
v.
Mail Sever: Zimbra
vi.
SMS Gateway Frontline
Hardware
i.
ii.
iii.
iv.

80 GB of hard disk space

Windows compatible mouse
256 MB RAM
SVGA card with mono or colour monitor

v.
CD-ROM Drive for installation
vi.
CPU Dual 2.4 GHz Xeon
vii.
Primary Hard Drive 73 GB SCSI
viii.
Backup Hard Drive 120 GB EIDE
Design and Implementation Constraints
The system was designed and tested in the following computing environment:
2 GB RAM
1.66 GHz
PHP VS 5.3
Windows 7 Professional
Have a section that explains the key functionalities of the system.
What can you do? What are the key innovations?
What functions?
VI.

RECOMMENDATIONS AND AREAS FOR FURTHER RESEARCH

i.
Mobile optimization
Many people are buying mobile phones and handheld devices that are capable of accessing the
internet. This means that systems need to support Wireless Mark Up Language (WML) standard
to facilitate access via these wireless devices.
ii.
Geographical Information Systems
There is always the need for developing location aware devices. Web Geographical Information
Systems are finding significant use in the present day internet community. Future improvements
along this line involve providing location awareness and geographical information in the system
iii.
Social Network Optimization
Another area for improvement is social network optimization in order to appeal to the millions of
Kenyan residents who are on the social network as Facebook twitter and Digg.
iv. Data mining
Another area for future research is to utilize data mining techniques to build system intelligence.
VII.
CONCLUSION
The internet provides an effective avenue for communication which can be exploited to improve
service delivery in the Agricultural Departments of the County Governments in Kenya.

BOSS THIS PAPER IS TOO SHORT. I HAD NOT LOOKED AT IT IN DETAILS

ASSUMING THAT YOU WILL ADHERE TO OUR USUAL STANDARDS. MAKE THE
CORRECTIONS AND WE ARE GOOD TO SUBMIT.

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