NATIONAL OPEN UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA

UNIVERSITY VILLAGE, PLOT 91, CASDASTRAL ZONE, NNAMDI AZIKIWE EXPRESS WAY, JABI, ABUJA.
FACULTY OF SCIENCES
JANUARY 2021 EXAMINATION

COURSE CODE: DAM462
COURSE TITLE: AGRICULTURAL DATA SYSTEMS
CREDIT: 2
TIME ALLOWED: 2HOURS
INSTRUCTION: Answer Question One (1) and any other three (3) Questions

QUESTION ONE (25MARKS) COMPULSORY
a. Define the terms “Agricultural system” and “Artificial system”. 3 MARKS
b. State the two areas where knowledge of farming is sparse or missing during modeling agricultural systems. 2 MARKS
c. Identify the four primary purposes of system models and briefly describe any one. 3 MARKS
d. In a single sentence each, state the basic meaning of the first 3 levels in farm level systems and their interpretations. 3 MARKS
e. Briefly explain both the Simulation and Optimization techniques of mathematical modeling of agricultural systems. 3 MARKS
f. Define Decision Support System (DSS). 2 MARKS
g. Itemize four (4) benefits of applying DSS in Agricultural Systems. 2 MARKS
h. Define an expert system. 1 MARK
i. Mention four means of information dissemination in agricultural extension and explain any one. 3 MARKS
j. Explain the various series of activities in agricultural science and technology database from Requirement to Physical Design Phase. 3 MARKS

QUESTION TWO (15 MARKS)
a. Explain any three (3) significant roles of IT in Educational sector during this pandemic. 6 MARKS

b. Information Technology has been around for a long time. Formulate a table depicting the various IT ages, Means of Information Technology (IT), examples of invention. 5 MARKS

c. Discuss the potential of Information Technology as a tool for “direct contribution to agriculture”. 4 MARKS

QUESTION THREE (15 MARKS)

a. Describe “Design method” and “Modular design method” as conceptual IT modeling framework. 6 MARKS

b. Discuss the “explicit or implicit” concept of agricultural systems. 4 MARKS

c. What actually is “Descriptive Agricultural Systems”? 5 MARKS

QUESTION FOUR (15 MARKS)

a. List five important trends that have become necessary for Database Development and Management in Agriculture in Nigeria. 5 MARKS

b. As an Information System Analyst, explain to a group of farmers on the need of experts for technical information transfer in agriculture. 6 MARKS

c. Briefly discuss any three (3) basic information transfer problems in agriculture in using traditional systems. 4 MARKS

QUESTION FIVE (15 MARKS)

a. Give an example each on how knowledge based expert system has been applied in solving the following agricultural problems.

i. Diagnosis of Soyabean disease 2 MARKS

ii. Apple Orchid Management 2 MARKS

iii. Cotton crop Management 2 MARKS

b. Distinguish between the first generation and second generation expert systems methodologies. 5 MARKS

c. In modeling expert systems in agriculture, explain two (2) principles that emerged in AI. 4 MARKS