Web and hybrid application based decision support system for farm machinery cost estimation

A web and hybrid application Decision Support System, namely Farm Machinery Decision Support System (FarMeD) for estimation of overall farm machinery costs was developed. The application can calculate the break-even units, custom hiring charges, net profit, and payback period in addition to the fixed and variable costs. The application is free with a user-friendly interface and can be accessed online from any computer or mobile phone with an internet connection. The application can also be deployed by using standalone packages for offline use on Windows-based PCs or as a standalone app on any Android device to work in the absence of internet connectivity. The user can make subsequent calculations by varying the various input parameters and compare the results to make decisions regarding whether to purchase a machine or to go for custom hiring and also to determine custom hiring rates in case he intends to offer his machine for custom hiring.