The multiplication of career prospects in agribusiness management has inspired young science graduates to explore emerging professional avenues…
Post News Network
Agriculture is the backbone of the Indian economy and, experts believe, that to boost the sector the focus ought to shift from production growth to management.
The concept of agribusiness management has gained considerable ground of late. In simple terms, it means the business transaction of agricultural products that is the commercial part of agriculture, said Deepak Kumar Ram, head of the Centre for Agri Business (department of business administration), Utkal University.
Integration of all the stages from investment in agri production to marketing of the products is called agribusiness, pointed out Ram.
Today, agriculture is not limited to food production. It plays an important role on the business front. As changing trends indicate, the requirement for qualified human resources in the sector is increasing. With increasing business options in the sector, agribusiness management is turning out to be an attractive career choice for youth. A lot of agriculture students are now opting for it. Anyone with a degree in agriculture or related fields like dairy, food, agricultural engineering or forestry and a passion for agriculture can enroll in agribusiness management courses.
Career opportunities in the sector is expanding fast with many private, government and multinational firms are keen to invest in the sector. A qualified student can land a job both in India and abroad. Even in Orissa, there is increasing scope for enthusiasts. In the metro cities like Hyderabad, Mumbai, Bangalore and Baroda, a slew of companies are offering lucrative jobs to those with the requisite credentials, Ram added.
“Companies involved in business transactions with farmers come under the agribusiness sector. Government and private bodies that provide agriculture loans, insurance, and those that deal with stocking agri products, transportation, packing, processing and distribution also are a part of the sector. The companies that deal with production and supply of seeds, pesticides, fertilizers and agricultural equipment require skilled manpower. But we must admit that there is shortage of skilled manpower in the country,” said Sushant Kishore Khuntia, associate professor at the Centre for Agri Business.
Khuntia further pointed out that those who have completed a course can join warehousing, retail and seeds companies, fertilizers and pesticides companies, banks as well as the insurance sector. They can join agro-based industries as management experts and policymakers in financial firms, or choose teaching and research as an alternative career option. They can also look for a career in agriculture consultancy, agri banking, hi-tech farming and agricultural engineering.
Furthermore, they have the option of setting up independent firms in the field of poultry, dairy, vermicompost, mushroom farming, poly house, apiculture and pisciculture.
Due to the multiplication of opportunities worldwide, agribusiness management students are starting their careers with handsome pay packages, while salary is based on a candidate’s qualifications, experience and expertise.
A slew of central agricultural universities have taken up the responsibility of providing qualified human resources for this sector, IIM Ahmedabad has been ranked No-1 worldwide for the last 7-8 years, while ESSEC of France has been rated No-2. Other reputed institutes that offer the course include IIM Lucknow, MANAGE, Hyderabad, NIAM Jaipur and Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar. Apart from Utkal University and OUAT in Bhubaneswar, Sri Sri University of Cuttack also offers the course. While Utkal University and OUAT offer 60 seats each, Sri Sri University offers 16 seats, said Khuntia, adding that more and more institutions should come up to offer the course to instill business management skills in the field of agriculture.
“The profession gives me immense satisfaction. Along with working to meet the organisation’s needs and requirements and getting a fat pay cheque, I also get the opportunity to support the farmers and help them boost their income,” said Abhilas Dwivedi, sales executive with a Switzerland-based company posted in Berhampur. Abhilas, an Utkal University alumnus, landed his job at an off-campus recruitment drive in January this year.
Almost all students today are opting for I-T-based courses and the field, therefore, is highly saturated. Thus, career opportunities are limited. But as a new concept, the career prospects of agribusiness sector are emerging fast. Many MNCs are targeting India for setting up firms considering the agriculture-based economy of the country. A biotechnology graduate, Abhilas opted for agribusiness management as he had an urge to work for the farming community since childhood and the promising career opportunities lured him into selecting the field.
Dwelling on his current package, Abhilas said the salary he gets today is the highest among his friends who were pursuing biotechnology with him at the graduation level. Now, he is working hard to achieve the goal of his company – feeding millions across the world.
Debashish Ghadai, sales unit head of a Israel-based agribusiness company, said the scope in this sector is different than that of other sectors. While all the other sectors are nearly saturated, there are lots of opportunities for innovation in agribusiness. The sector has to cater to the needs of at least 65 per cent of people who are directly or indirectly involved with the field. Debashish, who got the job during a campus placement drive, added the agribusiness department at Utkal University is one of the best in the country when it comes to churning out qualified managers.
