Agribusiness Management: a Golden Opportunity for New Age Agriculturists

For the ones who used to think that agriculture is an activity for rural areas and has no connection with the metro cities need to wake up to a new phase of agriculture which is more professional, organised and technology driven.

Gone are the days when Mother India was the face of Indian Agriculture, today it is managed by highly skilled professionals who are being trained and taught the ideals of management. Yes, the master key of management has unlocked the jeopardy of agriculture sector which was struggling to find a way to stand as a strong pillar of Indian economy. With the advent of technology and involvement of professionals, today agriculture sector is contributing around 15% to Indian GDP.

India possessing one of the most crop yielding lands in the world always had the potential to be the leader in agriculture sector but it took a lot of hard work and time to converge the rural centric profession with the technology and professionalism of cities. Agriculture has always been the mainstay of Indian economy but in the 40s and 50s it was facing a downfall when farmers were tricked by dealers and money lenders. The farmers used to sell their produce to a dealer who would sell in the market at much higher profit resulting in huge losses to farmers. But efforts like Green Revolution and success stories like AMUL made the rural farmers shake hands with the real market. Farmers now started to sell their products directly in the market and began exporting too. The deprived farmer of yesteryears was now selling his crop in a business man’s suit. Also, other sectors of agriculture like fishery, sericulture and selling other products like milk, flesh or wool also witnessed a healthy growth.

It was through direct communication with their consumers and awareness that led to the transformation of agricultural sector into a major industry resulting in the emergence of Agribusiness industry. The sector included managing the food processing industries, cooperatives, farm mechanisation and almost every aspect of agriculture from supply chain management to export and distribution. With the advent of retail industry and increase in export of agricultural goods, the agriculture sector is closely related to retail and foreign trade management too.

Management professionals are required in almost every field today and agriculture has also welcomed management professionals to plough the fields. Though the course in agribusiness management has been introduced recently but is attracting a lot of students. Here is what agribusiness management has to offer…

What the Agribusiness Management Course offers:

A course in Agribusiness management trains students in the following areas:

• Introduction to management
• Managerial effectiveness
• Business communication
• Business economics
• Quantitative techniques
• Basic accounting
• Information systems
• Management in agricultural and allied food processing industries
• Management of cooperatives
• Post harvest management
• Farm mechanization
• Environment & Agribusiness Management
• Seed production technology
• Management of Bio-tech Industries
• Management of Floriculture & Landscaping
• Agribusiness & Rural Marketing
• Research Methods in Agribusiness Management
• Entrepreneurship & Project Management
• Productions & Operations Management
• Materials Management
• Technology Management for Livestock Products

Career Prospects ahead:

Agriculture today is run on a laptop and distributed via internet. Yes, technology and professional skills has altered the conformist profession in to a proficient industry. It not only provides professional opportunities for students but also helps one to achieve his/her entrepreneurial dreams. A professional in agribusiness will be involved in production and distribution of pesticides, fertilizers, seeds, farm equipments, crop yield, poultry, dairy and many more. Agribusiness is a growing industry with sectors like bio fuel, retail, banking, bio fertilizers sector emerging as promising career options for students. One can also get involved in agriculture consultancy, journalism, conservation and engineering.

Institutes offering Agribusiness Management:

Some of the institutes offering the course are:

• International Agri-Business Management Institute (IAI), Gujarat offering MBA in International Agribusiness 
   
• National Institute of Agricultural Extension Management (MANAGE), Hyderabad offering Postgraduate Diploma in Agribusiness Management 
   
• National Institute of Agricultural Marketing (NIAM), Jaipur offering Postgraduate Diploma in Agribusiness Management 
   
• National Academy of Agricultural Research Management (NAARM), Hyderabad offering Postgraduate Diploma in Management (Agriculture)

For students who believe in the slogan ‘Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan’ here is the chance to be the new agriculturist of the nation…