This study aims to develop an online prototype system for recording costs and returns of Arabica coffee production in Thailand and the Lao PDR. Coffee has become a crucial economic crop with significant income and export potential for both countries. However, the industry still lacks an effective data management system, limiting farmers’ ability to accurately analyze production costs and evaluate returns. To address this gap, the research designed and implemented a Management Information System (MIS) in the form of a web-based application supported by a relational database. The system encompasses modules for recording initial investments, annual operating costs, yields, and returns, as well as generating statistical and graphical reports to support decisionmaking.
The study employed purposive sampling of 30 smallholder coffee farmers in Thailand and Laos. Data collected through the system were analyzed and compared between the two countries. The findings reveal differences in labor costs, production inputs, and infrastructure constraints, with Lao farmers facing greater limitations in access to markets and resources. Nevertheless, the developed system successfully functions as a centralized platform for accurate data storage, analysis, and integration, enabling more effective farm management and production planning.
In conclusion, the prototype system reduces complexity in farm data management, enhances farmers’ decision-making capacity, and strengthens the competitiveness and sustainability of Arabica coffee production in the region. Moreover, the system holds potential as a standard model for managing cost and return data of other economic crops in the future.