Gourav Sabharwal
Agriculture is the largest sector in India, providing employment to 58% of the country’s population and accounting for 16% of India’s GDP along with allied industries. Unfortunately, the sector has for decades grappled with major challenges such as:
* Heavy dependence on monsoons.
* Lack of access to commercial and technical know-how in rural pockets.
* Inadequate funds and agricultural credit to invest in modern farming techniques and equipment.
* Limited scaling up of agricultural innovations.
While these challenges have restricted the Indian agricultural sector from reaching its maximum potential, it is nonetheless emerging as a promising sector in the coming future. The agricultural sector is poised for a radical transformation due to technology adoption and changing market dynamics. Small and large enterprises, startups, and private and public companies operating in this and allied sectors will certainly see a rise in demand for professionals with agricultural knowledge and background to drive this transformation.
So, if you are keen on becoming a changemaker in the agricultural sector and ready to carve a rewarding career trajectory, you should consider enrolling in an agri-business management program. This will help you get in-depth knowledge of agricultural management concepts such as rural marketing, retail management, retail logistics, micro-finance, risk management, commodity trading, Agri export-import, and World Trade Organization (WTO) norms and will make you job-ready for the tremendous opportunities coming your way in future.
Let’s take you through agribusiness career opportunities you may look forward to in this sector:
Agricultural Manager
An agricultural manager is responsible for planning and supervising farm operations. So, the job involves intensive office and fieldwork. You have to plan the crop cycle as per the season, monitor maintenance of farm equipment, look after sales and purchase of agri-products, handle paperwork, oversee farmers’ work, meet financial targets and comply with government regulations.
Agricultural Law and Policy Professional
Given the importance of the agricultural sector in India’s economy, the government makes conscious and continuous efforts to liberalize and promote this sector through policies, laws, and reforms. As a specialist in this field, you need to liaise with farmers, government bodies, agri-trade and commerce communities, political unions, and many other stakeholders at domestic and international levels. You can either work as an independent consultant or serve as a salaried professional in a law firm or in an agri-enterprise.
Commodity Trader
A commodity trader applies fundamental and technical analysis techniques to buy and sell agricultural products on the commodity trading exchanges. The professional knowledge of the agricultural sector along with a sharp analytical mindset will give you much-needed leverage in this career.
Agripreneur
Several agricultural enthusiasts have launched their startups to modernize this sector through cutting edge technology and revolutionary approaches. There is a tremendous scope to use this technology to help maximize crop production and quality, to improve safe and hygienic methods of food processing and preservation, to share real-time information on farming and weather conditions, unmanned aerial vehicles for land mapping, and livestock monitoring, and harnessing renewable energy for farm equipment, etc. Based on your idea, you can easily get funding from venture capitalists and the government.
Market Analyst
As an agri-market analyst, your job responsibility involves research on customer behavior, economic trends and opportunities, and demand-supply-price dynamics related to the agricultural sector. Your market analysis can be instrumental to governments and corporate enterprises to advocate policy changes, design import-export market strategy, evaluate crop production and quality, etc.
Marketing Specialist
In this role, you formulate and execute marketing strategies for enterprises and farms selling agricultural products like crops, seeds, fertilizers, livestock, farm equipment, and machinery. Your job may also involve handling of media relations, addressing legislative issues, and creating educational/promotional material for end-users.
Logistics and Supply Chain Manager
Logistics and supply chain manager work in the area of crop/food procurement, warehousing, and transportation. The job involves ensuring the quality and nutritional value of crops or food throughout its journey from the farms to the customers. It also looks into planning of the least-cost path for logistics for efficient supply chain management.
Finance Manager
Many small and large banks as well as non-banking financial corporations are extending credit and other financial services to farmers. Finance Manager can help companies formulate loan and credit policies, adhere to financial compliances, audit the financial records, etc. Job also involves working with government agencies to set up financial schemes for farmers.
Given the fact that the agricultural sector will grow by leaps and bounds in the coming years, it will offer ample and fulfilling career prospects going forward. There is no better time than now for the aspiring professional to start working towards this career path.
Government institutes providing degree in abm Studies University of Delhi
* IIM Ahmedabad
* Institute of Management Studies Banaras Hindu University. …
* Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi. …
* IIM Lucknow – Indian Institute of Management etc
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