This document defines key concepts related to information systems and agriculture knowledge and information systems (AKIS). It describes information as organized facts that have additional value, and defines a system as interrelated components working together. An information system is defined as a set of elements that collect, process, and disseminate data and information to meet an objective. The document then outlines the components of AKIS, including agricultural research, education, extension services, farmers, and mass media. It describes the functions an AKIS must perform to facilitate information flow, and provides examples of government initiatives and portals in India to support AKIS.

2. Concept of Information
System
Information: A collection of facts organized in
such a way that they have additional value
beyond the value of the facts themselves.
System : It refers to a Combination of
components working together. For example, a
computer system includes both software and
hardware.
 A Windows system is a personal computer
running the Windows operating system.
 A desktop publishing system is a computer
running desktop publishing software.

3. System Elements :
 Inputs
 Processing mechanisms
 Outputs
Information System (IS) :
A set of interrelated elements or
components that collect (input),
manipulate (process), and disseminate
(output) data and information and provide
a feedback mechanism to meet an
objective.

4. Schematic model of an information
system
Feedback
Input Processing Output

5. Input , Processing , Output
 Input
 The activity of gathering and capturing
data
 Whatever goes into the computer
 Processing
 Converting or transforming data into
useful outputs
 Output
 Useful information, usually in the form of
documents and/or reports
 Anything that comes out of a computer

6. Components of Information
Systems

7. INPUT : Whatever goes into the computer.
Input can take a variety of forms, from
commands you enter on a keyboard to data
from another computer or device. A device
that feeds data into a computer, such as a
keyboard or mouse, is called an input device.
OUTPUT : Anything that comes out of a
computer. Output can be meaningful
information or gibberish, and it can appear in
a variety of forms -- as binary numbers, as
characters, as pictures, and as printed
pages. Output devices include display
screens, loudspeakers, and printers.

8. FEEDBACK: Output that is used to make changes
to input or processing activities.
Components of Computer-based Information
Systems :
 A CBIS is composed of…Five parts
 Hardware
 Software
 Database
 Telecommunications
 Networks
Together they are…
 Configured to collect, manipulate, store,
and process data into information.

9. Hardware :
-- Computer equipment used to perform input,
processing, and output activities.
 The objects that you can actually touch, like
disks, disk drives, display screens, keyboards,
printers, boards, and chips.
Software :
 Computer programs that
govern/determine/control the operation of the
computer.
 Computer instructions or data.
Database : An organized collection of facts and
information.
 A collection of information organized in such a
way that a computer program can quickly select
desired pieces of data.

10. Telecommunications :
 The electronic transmission of signals for
communications; enables organizations to link
computer systems into effective networks
 Refers to all types of data transmission, from
voice to video.
Networks :
 Used to connect computers and computer
equipment in a building, around the country,
across the world, to enable electronic
communications.
 A group of two or more computer systems linked
together.

11. Concept of Networking
There are many types of computer networks,
including:
local-area networks (LANs) : The computers are
 geographically close together (that is, in the
same building).
 Contains printers, servers and computers.
 Organizations often have several LANS
wide-area networks (WANs) : The computers are
farther apart and are connected by telephone
lines or radio waves.
 Typically use public or leased lines
 Phone lines
 Satellite
The Internet is a WAN

12. Personal Area Network (PAN) :
 Very small scale network
 Range is less than 2 meters
 Cell phones, PDAs, MP3 players.
Network Classification
 By Structure / Functional Relationship
 Client / Server
 Peer to Peer (P2PN)

13. Client/Server network :
 Nodes and servers share data roles
 Nodes are called clients
 Servers are used to control access
 Database software
 Access to data controlled by server
 Server is the most important computer
Peer to peer networks (P2PN) :
 All nodes are equal
 Nodes access resources on other nodes
 Each node controls its own resources
 Most modern OS allow P2PN

14. Network Classification
By Topology / Physical Connectivity
 BUS
 STAR
 RING
 MESH
 TREE

15. BUS
 Also called linear bus
 One wire connects all nodes
 Terminator ends the wires
 Advantages
 Easy to setup
 Small amount of wire
 Disadvantages
 Slow
 Easy to crash

17. STAR
 All nodes connect to a hub
 Packets sent to hub
 Hub sends packet to destination
 Advantages
 Easy to setup
 One cable can not crash network
 Disadvantages
 One hub crashing downs entire network
 Uses lots of cable
 Most common topology

19. RING
 Nodes connected in a circle
 Tokens used to transmit data
 Nodes must wait for token to send
 Advantages
 Time to send data is known
 No data collisions
 Disadvantages
 Slow
 Lots of cable

21. MESH
 All computers connected together
 Internet is a mesh network
 Advantage
 Data will always be delivered
 Disadvantages
 Lots of cable
 Hard to setup

23. TREE
 Hierarchal Model
 Advantages
 Scaleable
 Easy Implementation
 Easy Troubleshooting

26. VPN
 A secure network that uses the Internet as its
backbone but relies on firewalls, encryption and
other security.
 VPN allows employees to securely access their
companies intranet while travelling outside the
office.
 Similarly VPN securely and cost-effectively connects
geographically separate offices of an organization,
creating one cohesive virtual network.

27. Peer to Peer Network
 Networks that connect from one PC to another PC.
 Common use is the downloading and trading of files.
 Advantages:
○ Easy installation
○ Low maintenance cost

29. INTERNET
 A World-wide network of computers allow
people to know information electronically.
 Like a BIG book with many web pages on
different topics.
 Can be accessed anywhere with an internet
connection.

30. Uses of Internet
 To apply for jobs or schools.
 To fill government forms.
 To check bank accounts.
 To communicate with family, friends and co-
workers.
 To do research.
 To learn new skills.
 To read news.
 To watch Videos etc…

31. What is an INTERNET Service
Provider
 A Company that provides Internet access for
customers
[examples: Comcast, Qwest, AoL]
Your computer ISP Internet

32. How to connect to the Internet
 Three main ways to connect to the
Internet
○ Dial-Up
○ High Speed/DSL
○ Wireless Connection (Wi-Fi)

33. Dial-Up Internet Connection
 Dial-Up
○ connection through a phone using your
landline
○ by far the slowest, and not used very often
○ Not the most efficient way to connect to the
Internet

34. Wireless Internet Connection
(Wi-Fi)
 Your computer must be a “Wireless enabled”
device
 Your computer can pick up signals from
different wireless networks
 Some networks require passwords or a
subscription, others are free
 This is what the wireless symbol would look
like if your computer was connected

35. Web Browser
 A web-based program that displays the
Internet
 Common Web Browsers
 Safari: for Apples/Macintosh
 Internet Explorer: for Windows only

36. Other Web Browsers
 Google Chrome: created by Google
Mozilla Firefox: works on Mac & PC

37. AKIS
AKIS- Agriculture Knowledge Information
system.
Elliott [1987] has proposed a model of the
agricultural technnology Management
system.
Within AKIS, farmers are in the central
position.

38. Integrated AKIS System
 Building an integrated system of research,
extension, education and farmers
community is considered to be one of the
key ingredients for promoting agricultural
development.
 Within AKIS, farmers not only are the
central element, but also contributed to the
improvement of research and extension
work, and to the policy formulation process.

39. Elements of AKIS
 Agricultural research that develops
methods and new practices, as well as
their modification in compliance with local
conditions.
 Agricultural education that trains the
extension specialist and directly assist the
short-term training of the farmers.
 Organization of extension services of the
central, regional and local levels, all
separated from the regulatory function of
the ministry of agriculture.
 The rural farming community.
 Mass media, through which information is
spread, may be considered as a sub-
element of this system.

40. Extension contributors in the AKIS

41. Nagel [1980] designed six functions that the
system must perform in order to ensure the
initiation and the continuation of the
information flow process:
1. Identification of problems/knowledge needs at
the producers level.
2. Generation of innovations.
3. Validation under farmer’s conditions/
Operationalisation for utilization.
4. Dissemination.
5. Utilization.
6. Evaluation of experiences

42. New opportunities exist for raising
AKIS/RD effectiveness
Advances in the Agricultural sciences
are crucial but other advances are
also needed
1) Communication and Information
Technologies are advancing rapidly
2) New concepts are emerging for
participation in learning and problem
solving

44.  AGRISNET (Agricultural Resources
Information System and Networking), a
project funded by the Department of
Agriculture and Cooperation, Ministry of
Agriculture, Govt. of India.
 Under this scheme most of the State
Governments are established information
rich agricultural websites.
 For example,
 Sikkim AGRISNET-
(http://www.sikkimagrisnet.org),
 Andhra Pradesh agri-portal
http://www.apagrisnet.gov.in,
 Uttar Pradesh (UP) Agrisnet Knowledge
Portal (http://agriculture.up.nic.in),

45.  AGRISNET – Himachal Pradesh-
(http://203.193.179.168/default.aspx)
- Expert Advisory Services
(http://www.hp.gov.in/expertadvisory/SignUp.aspx).
 AGRISNET projects, pilots for 17 states, have been
approved to provide following services;
 market prices, soil information, crop diseases and
management, good practices for horticulture,
sericulture, etc.
 Twenty three priority services and processes for
reengineering have been identified.
 Several initiatives have been taken by central
government and states such as ASHA in Assam,
KISSAN and e-Krishi in Kerala, Krishi Maratha Vahini in
Karnataka, etc.,
 Aimed at meeting challenges facing the agriculture
sector in the country and have met with varying degree
of success.

46.  Agriculture has been included as a Mission
Mode Projects (MMP) in National e-
Governance Plan (NeGP) and is to be
operationalised by Department of
Agriculture and Cooperation (DoA&C).
 The typical services envisaged in
Agriculture as an MMP include: information
to farmers on seeds, fertilizers, pesticides,
government schemes, soil
recommendations, crop management,
weather and marketing of agriculture
produce.
 The DoA&C has adopted twin strategy to
spearhead implementation of MMP in
Agriculture through AGRISNET & two
portals AGMARKNET & DACNET.