All You Need To Know About MBA In Agribusiness

India holds the second largest agricultural land in the world. The soil and the climate here are extremely favourable for farming of various commodities. With over a billion mouths to feed, the domestic demand is high enough to drive the growth of this sector. With the second largest agricultural land in the world, India is also a leading exporter of agricultural commodities. Agriculture still remains the primary source of livelihood for the majority of Indian population. There’s a huge skill gap and the advancement of technology and methods has increased a demand for educated professionals in this sector.

What is an MBA in Agribusiness?

An MBA in Agribusiness helps in creating a strong foundation of management concepts and business competencies with a focus on the agriculture sector. It imparts knowledge and skills that would prepare the candidates in making decisions and solving problems related to an agribusiness.

Who is it suitable for?

To make a successful career in the field of Agriculture in India, it’s very important to have a keen interest in this field. With a high dependency on external factors such as climate, ecosystem, government policies, etc., this sector is extremely dynamic and challenging. It often involves dealing with uneducated farmers, getting exposed to rural India and working in an informal setup. A career in agribusiness is suitable for candidates who can tactfully deal with farmers and know the local language. It also requires a problem-solving approach for sustaining in this sector.

Which schools offer this specialisation?

The following courses are offered by institutes in India:

• PGP in Agri-Business Management- Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Lucknow

• PGP in Food and Agri-Business Management- Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Ahmedabad

• MBA in Agri-Business - Symbiosis Institute of International Business

• MBA in Agri-Business Management- MIT College of Management

• PGDM in Rural and Agri-Business Management - Welingkar Institute of Management Development

What to check at these schools?

• Pedagogy - No amount of theory can prepare one for the challenges faced in this sector. It is very important to look for case study methodology and practical project work in this course.

• Recruitment companies - If you are looking for a job opportunity post this course, look for the profiles of companies that came for placements in the past and the kind of job profiles and packages that they offered.

• Alumni reports - Look at the profiles of alumni from the Institute and try to get a feedback from them about the course.

What are some of the unique subjects taught exclusively in this course?

• Agricultural and Food Policy

• Risk Management in Agri-Business

• International Trade in Agricultural Products

• Agricultural Finance

• Contract Farming

• Management of Technology for Sustainable Agriculture

• Rural Dynamics

• Carbon Finance

What are its future prospects?

This is a sector that caters to the basic need of human beings of food. It will not become redundant unless we invent an app to download food from the internet. Every individual is directly or indirectly dependent on agriculture. The career prospects in this sector are endless. With technological advancement, there are a lot of opportunities in this sector. It’s no longer a sector for the uneducated. Many educated people have left their well-paying jobs to pursue entrepreneurship in agriculture. Government policies also encourage entrepreneurship in this sector. Private companies have also invested in contract farming. Government and private companies have been undertaking agricultural research and many companies have introduced innovative and sophisticated technology to increase yield and profits.

India being the largest exporter of spices and many other agricultural commodities, many export houses need professionals with knowledge of agriculture sector in India. There’s a huge potential for growth in this sector. With the current systems in place, there’s a lot of scope for improvement as well. Many organisations are dedicated to introducing new systems to increase the efficiency of the business and help farmers increase their profits.