Environmental Engineering and Management Journal January 2013, Vol.12, No.

1, 41-48
http://omicron.ch.tuiasi.ro/EEMJ/

“Gheorghe Asachi” Technical University of Iasi, Romania

IMPROVING FOOD SECURITY USING GIS DATABASE

FOR MECHANIZED RICE FARMS MANAGEMENT
IN NORTHWESTERN COTE D’IVOIRE

Arthur Brice Konan-Waidhet1,3, Brou Dibi1,3, Konan Emmanuel Kouadio2,

Issiaka Savane1, Valentin Nedeff3, Gabriel Lazar3,
1
University of Abobo-Adjamé, Abidjan, 02 BP 801 Abidjan 02, Côte d’Ivoire
2
University of Cocody, Abidjan, 22 BP 582 Abidjan 22, Côte d’Ivoire
3
“Vasile Alecsandri” University of Bacau, Calea Marasesti 157. 600115, Bacau, Romania

Abstract

Agriculture is an axis of socio-economic development of the area of Denguele, Cote d’Ivoire. The evaluation of a project carried
out as part of an agricultural campaign requires the handling of large amounts of heterogeneous data for effective monitoring. The
design of an appropriate management tool is needed to organize and communicate information useful for decision making.
The aim of this work is to provide a useful tool for a better management of information related to mechanical and motorized
equipment used for rice cultivation capable to assure the food security in the application area. The solution involves the use of a
geodatabase, which implicates the design and implementation of data in a relational database system. The data were modelled
according to the Entity-Relationship formalism based on the MERISE method. The implementation of GIS under ArcGIS
platform is used to display and map requests.
The result of this work is a user-friendly interface that allows easy entry and querying the database for better decision making.
This tool highlights the benefits of implementing a GIS application coupled with a relational database management system as part
of a motorized agricultural campaign.

Key words: Cote d'Ivoire, Denguele, GIS, relational database, rice culture

Received: September, 2012; Revised final: December, 2012; Accepted: December, 2012

1. Introduction one of the main elements that can contribute to the

Cote d'Ivoire has decided to diversify its
agricultural production by adding traditional food
crops to crops exports. The battle for self-sufficiency
in the food production brought by the State could
have several important implications. Indeed, under
the pressure of mechanized agriculture, the land
ownership will tend to become larger, more
individual and private (Barrachina et al., 2012;
Camara, 1984; Tenu et al., 2011). The State of Cote
d'Ivoire has opted in its development strategy for the
development of rural areas based on medium and long
term plans. The development of agricultural policy is
socio-economic development of a region with high
agricultural potential (Gruia, 2011; Houet et al.,
2009).
Food crops occupy a prominent place in the
region of Denguele; the most important cultures are
yam, plantain, cassava, maize and rice. Rice
production, like certain food crops, is not well
organized because of lack of reliable data, and as they
exist, the data differ significantly from one source to
another. Many projects have been developed in this
issue at the region level. There is opportune to
mention some of them: the Support Programme for
Rural Development in the Northern Region (SPRD


Author to whom all correspondence should be addressed: e-mail: glazar@ub.ro; Phone +(40)234542411
 Konan-Waidhet et al./Environmental Engineering and Management Journal 12 (2013), 1, 41-48
North), the National Program of Rural Management
Area in Savannah Region (NPRMAS-North), the Rice
growing project in the North (Rice North Project) and
the Sector Programme of Rural Development
(SPRD). These projects are expected to be modified
over time and space. In addition, the numeric and
alphanumeric data generated during the projects
implementation are managed in a heterogeneous
manner. Sometimes the data do not exist because of
lack of adequate means for their collection.
Consequently, the decision on the renewal of an
operation poses enormous difficulties and a very long
search time. Another supplementary problem is that
of data collection after the end of the project. To solve
all these problems it seems appropriate to organize an
information system to facilitate decision making.
For Peng et al. (2011), an information system
for effective data management is faced with several
challenges. According to Bajcsy and al. (2010), in
addition to the necessity of documentation,
preservation and reconstruction of the computer
assisted decision process, there is a demand to assess
and anticipate the needs for documentation computing
and storage and for reconstruction process over time.
As a possible solution, spatial information systems
are a useful approach for the integration,
manipulation and visualization of large amounts of
data (De Freitas and Tagliani, 2009).
The aim of this work is to provide a tool in
response to the need for better management of
information related to a campaign of motorized rice
culture. To carry out this study, the conceptualization
of the database was performed starting from the
MERISE method that allows the integration to any
Relational Database Management System (RDBMS).
Given the spatial data, the chosen data model
is a personal geodatabase that allows the storage and
Fig. 1. Location of the area of Denguele
42
management of geographic information in Tables of a
Database Management System (DBMS) standard.
2. Materials and methods
2.1. Area of study
Denguele’s region is located in north-western
Côte d’Ivoire, between 7° and 8°15' W longitudes and
9° and 10°25' N latitudes (Fig. 1). It has a humid
tropical climate with two main seasons: a long dry
season from November to May and a big rainy season
from June to October. The rainfall varies between
1400 and 1600 mm. The terrain consists of ranges of
hills that are a continuation of the Guinea dorsal.
Elevations are those of a semi mountainous terrain
that often exceed an altitude of 800 m. The ground is
largely covered by a very diverse savannah (woody,
tree, shrub and grass).
The hydrographic network is made up of two
major rivers: Baoulé and Kouroukelé. The
hydrographic regime is characterized by floods in
August, September and October followed by a rapid
depletion in November and December.
2.2. Materials
The materials used for this study consist of
data and software. The design of this application
required the use of a topographic map at 1 / 200 000,
provided by the Centre for Cartography and Remote
Sensing (CCRS) in Abidjan, and descriptive data
from the work of Bonnefond (1973), Ministry of
Agriculture and the National Institute of Statistics.
The used software was Microsoft Access 2003 for the
treatment of descriptive data and ArcGIS 9.3 to map
spatial data.
 Improving food security using GIS database for mechanized rice farms management in Northwestern Cote d’Ivoire
2.3. Methods
2.3.1. Design methodology of database development
Pantazis and Donnay (1996) have defined a
database as a collection of non-redundant data stored
in a structured manner on a same support type, with
the management and storage process provided by a
software named Databases Management System
(DBMS). The efficient database construction and the
combination of project-relevant datasets into a single
application reduce the instances of data redundancy,
error, and computational lag time (Martin et al.,
2004). The first phase of work allowed an inventory
of existing, being acquired and available data about
the region. Then, the available and collectible data,
relevant for the development of a database on the
covered topic, were retained. Fig. 2 presents the
conceptual framework that guided this work.
Once the needs expressed, has proceeded to
accomplish the following actions:
- setting up a database that includes all the tables
from the existing system;
- proposition of an interface that allows the retrieval
of data;
- creation of queries and finally the map display of
these information.
Thus, the final step in the conceptualization of
the database (relational model) allows the integration
of tables in a RDBMS. Since this is a personal
geodatabase, its creation is carried out under ArcGIS.
2.3.2. Data Modelling
Modelling the database consists of two main
phases: the first concerns the conceptual modelling of
data, while the second relates to modelling logical and
physical data.
Fig. 2. Conceptual diagram of the database
Conceptual modelling means to build the
database with a solid structure that will optimize data
exchange between applications in an efficient manner.
The real-world objects are identified as entities with
two types of attributes: the attributes that give an
alphanumeric description of the object and the
graphical attributes that describe the geometry of the
object. Like Carrion et al. (2009), the conceptual
model was designed as an Entity-Relationship
diagram, and a primary key was defined as a unique
identifier for each entity.
Entity-Relationship formalism uses a simple
graphical language to release a summary description
of phenomena and their structural links. Its purpose is
to generate a data structure that is independent of
computer tools to allow the verification by the various
entities involved, before making the information
system. In other words, the conceptual model presents
a concise, schematic, and univocal description of the
organization of the data to be archived in the database
(Carrion et al., 2009).
2.3.3. Logical and physical models
The modelling phase consists in the
achievement of a logical representation of data
according to the data model of the DBMS kernel of
GIS, namely the relational model. The physical model
expresses the logical structure of the database and
provides a transition from conceptual description to
the physical implementation of the database.
The physical model of the data was
automatically generated from the conceptual model,
making the necessary adjustments to adapt it to the
needs of our GIS.
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 Konan-Waidhet et al./Environmental Engineering and Management Journal 12 (2013), 1, 41-48
2.3.4. Implementation of GIS
First, a collection of geographic data available
on site was made, to analyse the geographic and
environmental background of the agricultural
exploitations. Once inventoried, selected, sorted and
organized to address the general problem, the data
were homogenized, georeferenced and structured
following the development of the conceptual data
model. Used as a tool for reflection and decision
support, these data provide a clear vision of the
territory by identifying and spatializing potential
resources of the region. Field work was carried out to
complete the database.
The geodatabase data model for ArcGIS is a
vector type object-oriented model. In this model,
there are classes of objects called simple (non-spatial
objects), geographic entities (spatial objects), network
entities (entities geometrically connected together),
text entities or labels, and also other more specialized
entities. All geodatabase elements are managed in
standard DBMS tables using standard SQL data
types. The files with extension ".shp" imported into
the geodatabase become feature classes. The
descriptive tables are created in Microsoft Access.
3. Results
3.1. Structure of the database
The set of associations between feature classes
and tables was created and managed in Access
respecting the principle of referential integrity. Fig. 3
shows the structure of the database showing the
relationship between the various entities and their
attributes.
Fig. 3. Structure of the database
44
A total of 17 Tables were used. These various
tables have been grouped into three topics (operating
account, renting and exploitation) that will form the
control keys on the main menu of the application.
The Table Operator (Exploitant), which
provides information about each farmer, is the main
element of the database management system.
To this central point are attached tables related
to the management of operating accounts and to the
work done by tractors in the agricultural lots as far as
these machines are used both by their owners and by
customers.
Applying the rules for designing relational
database to reorganize and enlarge the GIS data
archive, an integrated database was obtained
containing consistent data that can be used
automatically and efficient, allowing to perform
selections and to answer queries about both spatial
and alphanumeric data. These requests are used to
synthesize the generated data and to provide analysis
elements.
3.2. Presentation of the application
Fig. 4 shows the main screen of the database.
For efficient operation of the database, we propose its
use via an interface with the basic menu consisting of
several modules that allow consulting, editing and
updating of GIS data.
It can also monitor the financial management
of operations and the monitoring of works made by
motorized vehicles on various agricultural lots. The
system's role is to organize the specified data in tables
(Wu et al., 2004).
 Improving food security using GIS database for mechanized rice farms management in Northwestern Cote d’Ivoire
The application offers three distinct modes of
interrogation: "operating account" (compte
d’exploitation), "renting" (travaux de location) and
"exploitation".
These different methods of interrogation are
not restrictive and are done in read mode only. The
different aspects of querying the database are:
- "operating account" mode; it is possible to query the
database according to four distinct components: query
the database by "funding agencies" (organismes de
financement), "management structures" (structures
d’encadrement), "providers" (fourniseurs) or by
"financial expenses" (charges financieres).
- "renting" mode; it is possible to query the database
according to three distinct aspects: "equipment for
rent" (equipement en location), "customers" (clients)
and "yield" (rendements).
- "exploitation" mode; it is possible to query the
database according to five distinct components: by
"farmer" (exploitant), "agricultural operation"
(operation agricoles), "agricultural lots" (parcelle),
"farmer with tractor" (exploitant-tracteur) or
"farmers’ yield" (rendement-exploitants).
Fig. 4. Main screen of the database
The application provides the user with a series
of functions enabling it to establish dynamic links
between ArcGIS and Microsoft Access.
Other functions within the database allow
users to find and make updates. Microsoft Access can
also automate the queries. The results of queries and
reports will help users to focus, review and separate
resources without having to understand the subtlety of
individual tables.
The goal is to help users to find existing data
types and to provide the tools for editing and
extracting relevant information that will allow the
maintenance of documentation related to each farmer.
In order to maximize the use of available data,
many queries can be performed and viewed with
ArcMap module of ArcGIS. Thus, the two following
examples of queries illustrate the ability to access
geographic information.
The first example relates to spatial distribution
of the works with motorized vehicles either to owner,
to customer, or in both situations. The result of this
query is shown in Fig. 5. In this study, 60 owners
with 71 tractors have been identified. Many possible
situations were identified. Each owner has worked for
himself in one or more locations.
Fig. 5. Spatial distribution of the work done by motorized
vehicles to their owner, to customers, or in both cases
Generally, each owner has worked in total in a
number of different locations either for him or for his
customers. In some cases, the tractors who worked on
the same village lots belonged of various owners.
Finally, note that the owners may or may not live in
the village corresponding to one of their places of
business. Each owner worked for a customer in one or
more locations.
The second request concerns the location of
farmers with a yield of more than 1.5 tonne/ha (Fig.
6). It is very interesting that the yields are higher for
small areas than for large ones. We have two possible
explanations for this result: either those with large
areas cannot maintain them properly (they cannot
properly remove the weeds) resulting in low yields, or
those who claim large areas exaggerate the surfaces,
having as effect a reduction of the specific efficiency.
It is difficult to decide between these two
explanations that can also act very well together.
Rice is grown on the plateau (upland rice) or in
the lowlands (wet rice). Farmers make a mechanized
and intensive farming using tractors and chemical
inputs. Their activity is commonly supervised by
SODIRO Company, a company that produces
improved seeds for farmers and supports them by
providing with agricultural equipment at low costs.
According to Hirsch’s study (1993), profound
regional differences in rice production are observed in
Côte d'Ivoire.
Indeed, rice is the first food crop in west, its
production is important in north and central-west, but
remains a minor crop in north-east and south-east.
45
 Konan-Waidhet et al./Environmental Engineering and Management Journal 12 (2013), 1, 41-48
Hirsch (1993) notes that rice production has not
experienced a really strong growth with the exception
of the period 1974-1977 characterized by the rise of
the Rice Crop Development Society (SODERIZ)
together with the development of mechanized
agriculture promoted by the Society for Motorization
of Agriculture (MOTORAGRI).
Fig. 6. Spatial distribution of farms with a yield > = 1.5 t/ha
In fact, from 1993 to 1996, the performance of
the regional rice crops shrunk at a rate of 2% per
annum. This yield reduction was due to reduced
rainfall, the main determinant of traditional
agriculture. In this period, the level of rain per year
never reached 1600 mm that were previously the
regional average. The increase of approximately 20%
of the annual level of rainfall starting with 1996
accounts for the significant improvement in
performance recorded since then. This result also
appears to be due to the diffusion of improved seeds
by the West Africa Rice Development Association
(WARDA) and the National Centre for Agronomic
Research (NCAR).
In short, this application has the ability to
identify and access information on work with tractors
either to owner, to customer, or in both situations.
The database provides complete requirements for a
better understanding of the information system and
includes the following features:
- visualization of the spatial distribution of tractor
drivers;
- identification of the most active communities;
- display yields;
- comparison of yields for the same area;
- management tool and powerful decision support
for identifying and prioritizing the needs of
46
financial operators, planning training systems, and
evaluate the use of available funds and materials;
- can be seen as an “information bank” that can
provide support to decision, contributing to the
development of the region.
4. Discussion
This study demonstrated the value of
implementing a GIS application coupled with a
relational database management system, component
of the "management of a motorized agricultural
campaign". For Satti and Jacobs (2004), such a
system provides an easy interface to access data. Two
types of information systems underlie this
application: a GIS and a database management system
(DBMS). According to Martin et al. (2004), GIS is an
information technology used to maintain and analyse
geographic data that can be organized in layers and
connected together by geography, while DBMS refers
to software that collects, manipulates, queries, and
retrieves tabular data. Thus, the construction of an
efficient database and the combination of all the data
from relevant projects in a single application reduces
the case of data redundancy, errors and latency of
calculation. The data tables are organized into form.
Wu et al. (2004) indicated that most organizations use
forms to submit data and to communicate with their
affiliates. Several authors have reported that the forms
are the central structural abstraction for data
collection, storage, retrieval and update in an
information system (Shu et al., 1982; Tsichritzis,
1982; Yao et al., 1984). The data in forms are often
well organized and can easily be formalized
(Choobineh and Venkatraman, 1992). In addition, in
databases design and system analysis, application
forms are also useful for presenting information to
facilitate decision support.
In fact, besides the large number of difficulties
that institutions often meet to acquire information and
other necessary documents, all kinds of information
relating to agriculture and rural development are
available in various formats (monographs, journals,
journal articles, illustrated documents in the large
circulation). Priority research of information about the
development and financing programs, local markets,
the various networks involved in agriculture and rural
development, has greatly increased. The main
challenge is to ensure the integrity between
geographic and relational data that are physically
separated (Barbier et al., 2009). Geodatabases were
widely used in various application areas, ranging
from the medical, environmental management of
water, agricultural and mineral resources, to urban
changes monitoring (Busgeeth and Rivett, 2004;
Mathiyalagan et al., 2005; Petrisor, 2010; Yang et al.,
2011; Doxani et al., 2012). Thus, for Jarupathirun and
Zahedi (2007), the performance of decision of such an
application is received through the proper use and
user satisfaction. For this purpose, the evaluation of
users about the quality of decisions and their
effectiveness reflects the extent of the confirmation of
 Improving food security using GIS database for mechanized rice farms management in Northwestern Cote d’Ivoire
their expectations. According to DeLone and McLean
(1992), satisfaction is influenced by the quality of
information and quality of the system, another result
supported by McKinney et al. (2002). Goodhue
(1998) identified information quality, system
reliability, and speed of production as the dimensions
of a good system for decision support.
To ensure better terrain knowledge and
sustainability of data compiled in this study, the
development of some automated modules will
improve the use of this application.
5. Conclusion
In this study, we used heterogeneous data to
design a system of spatially referenced information to
respond to attempts to manage information after a
development project. In particular, we opted for the
geodatabase model that allows the storage and
management of geographic information in tables of a
Relational Database Management System (RDBMS).
Thus, the couple Microsoft Access-ArcGIS has
proved effective in such an approach. The resulting
application allows easy use of different data and gives
scalability for the integration of future studies.
The user interface comprises three distinct
modes of interrogation namely "operating account",
"renting" and "exploitation" to meet the management
requirements of the work performed during a
motorized rice campaign. Queries allow visualizing
and mapping the spatial data. The tool is open to the
development of other applications.
Using this database system continuously will
allow having a powerful management tool that will
facilitate the development of the inventory of projects
and their evaluation for a better assessment of future
crop.
Acknowledgments
The paper was written during the research stage financed by
Romanian Government through the “Eugen Ionescu”
scholarship.
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