Integrated
Fertilizer MIS [IFMIS] - Background
10.1
The Department of Fertilizers
(DOF) in collaboration with National
Informatics Centre (NIC) has introduced
computer-based methods for decision
support. The database covers the
areas of Production, Imports and
Distribution of Fertilizers. An
Integrated Fertilizer Management
Information system (IFMIS) is
under implementation in the Department
of Fertilizers. The Integrated
Fertilizer Management Information
system (IFMIS) with major objective
to evolve an evaluation system
which would ensure a uniform system
of planning and control mechanism
with signalling system to highlight
deviations from the desired performance
indicators by plants and organisations
is being executed by NIC. The
project covers Requirement Specifications,
Analysis & Design of Database,
Application Design, Coding, Testing,
Documentation and Implementation.
The software development and implementation
is in final stage. An amount of
Rs.1.70 crore has been made available
to NIC by Department of Fertilizers
for setting up of computer and
communication infrastructure including
application software and training
under this project. Further, with
a budget provision of Rs.24 lakhs
for the year 1998-99, the computer
and communication infrastructure
has been maintained / strengthened.
Computer
and Communication Infrastructure
10.2
DOF has established with
the assistance and support of
NIC state-of-the-art Information
Technology tool viz. Local Area
Network (LAN) with lnternet capability.
This includes operationalisation
of LAN at Shastri Bhavan (extended
to Krishi Bhavan) with Frequency
Time Division Multiple Access
Very Small Aperture Terminal (FTDMA
VSAT) at Department of Fertilizers.
Radio Frequency Link (RF Link)
connectivity has been provided
at FICC Office, Sewa Bhavan which
is being made use of through Ethernet
LAN. Other sites of the Department
i.e. Janpath Bhavan and Super
Bazar Building have been provided
the dial-up connectivity. Presently,
more than 80 interactive terminals
and 45 PCs are in use in the Department.
Further, intelligent PCs are being
provided in a phased manner to
work in client server environment
for various officials. E-mail
services and INTERNET access have
been operationalised.
Training
10.3
A series of In-house training
programmes on UNIX Based Office
Productivity Tools were conducted
for the Department of Fertilizers
to cover more than 200 officials.
10.4
Further, 140 officials have also
been trained on File Monitoring
System. In addition, Need based
Hands-on training on usage of
Windows-95, MS-Office and E-mail/Internet
were provided to the concerned
officers to make use of 45 client
systems installed in the Department.
Two training programmes on "Computer
Based Office Productivity Tools"
conducted during January 18-25,
1999 and February 15-19, 1999
respectively.
Information
Facilitation Counter
10.5
The WEB database created in the
Department for Public Information
and Facilitation Centre (PIFC)
is the first step to establish
INTERNET in the Government for
fertilizer sector as a whole in
the country. The setting up of
NICNET based Public Information
& Facilitation Centre in the
Ministry will bring in the complete
transparency of government information
in the area of fertilizer sector
for common man through NICNET
which has got its nodes all over
the country.
Web
Site
10.6
Fertilizer home page has been
created for the Department of
Fertilizers and this will be placed
at the web site of NIC to enable
access for Internet users.
Fertilizer
Network - FERTNET
10.7
FERTNET, a Close-User-Group on
NICNET is meant to serve as a
decision support system facilitates
information exchange, dissemination
and analysis among planners, manufacturers/suppliers,
R&D organisations, promoters
and grass root level consumers.
The existing computer based system/databases/nodes
on fertilizer sector would strengthen
the proposed IFMIS on FERTNET.
FERTNET has been extended to some
of the companies by installing
FTDMA VSATs at IFFCO, NFL, MFL
and GNFC and with Dial-up connectivity
to FCI and HFCL. NICNET connectivity
to other companies (public/ co-operative/
private) of fertilizer sector
will strengthen FERTNET in future.
Information
Technology - Strategy
10.8
The Expert Group for Computerisation
of the Information on Personnel
and Citizen Services in its report
had recommended, inter-alia, that
each Ministry/Department to have
a Five Year Plan for Information
Technology (IT)with a provision
of 2 to 3% of the Department’s
budget. Further, Planning Commission
has also issued guideline, on
the recommendation of the PM’s
National Task Force on Information
Technology & Software Development
(IT&SD). In addition, the
recommendations of the National
Conference on Informatics for
Sustainable Agricultural Development
(ISDA-95), organised by NIC in
collaboration with the Department
of Fertilizers, (Ministry of Chemicals
and Fertilizers) in May, 1995,
were as follows:
i)
IFMIS to be implemented by extending
NICNET facilities to other areas/institutions/
non-governmental organisations
including private sector fertilizer
manufacturers.
ii)
IT based Integrated Nutrient
Management for Sustainable Agricultural
Development to be taken up on
higher priority.
iii)
The strong fertilizer database
on macro/micro level to be built
in view of changing agro-scenario
environment.
iv
) A constant vigil is to be
kept on impact of fertilizers
on agricultural production by
establishing necessary linkages
with the National network of
Information on Agriculture.
The
IT Plan proposal for the Fertilizer
Sector has been formulated on
the basis of these directives/recommendations
.
Thus,
an uniform approach for sectoral
IT development will facilitate
to promote :
(i)
Corporate INTRANET & EXTRANET
over NICNET, by having state-of-the-art
computer communications equipment
such as VSAT, for corporate
office/production units/zonal
marketing/main regional offices,
and connectivity through nearest
NICNET centre for regional/area
offices,
(ii)
On-Line Transaction Processing
(OLTP) through GUI based S/W
in client-server environment,
specifically, Web-Enabled Application
System,
(iii)
Executive Information System,
Model based system and Office
automation system,
(iv)
information sharing for mutual
assistance,
(v)
Training for effective IT, and
(vi)
Public Information and Facilitation.
