AGRI-TECH AS A CAREER

Career in agrispace is probably the most divergent compared to other domains. For the right candidate the employers range from the government, non-profit organizations and private industry including multinational companies. One could continue with academics and get employed by government as agriculture / horticulture / extension officer, research scientist, assistant professor etc. One can also choose enriching careers with not-for profit organizations.

There are many sub-sectors and industries offers careers in agrispace include:

• Agri-inputs industry (e.g. seeds, fertilizers, agrochemicals, irrigation, farm machinery, agri-biotech, poultry feed, dairy feed, aqua and fishery feed and equipment, food ingredients etc.)
• Production and industry (e.g. FCI, NCMSL, NBHC, state and central warehousing corporations, floriculture and greenhouses, etc.)
• Agri-finance industry (e.g. Crop and weather insurance, micro finance, priority sector lending operations)
• Trading industry (e.g. procurement of edible oils, grains, spices, fruits and vegetables, meat and aqua; exports and imports, etc.)
• Processing industry (e.g. primary processing - milling, edible oils, dairy, fruits and vegetables, sugar; high value processing - confectionary, bakery, beverages, dairy etc.)
• Food Retail and food services (e.g. super markets, hyper markets, fast food and beverage chains)

Farm Machinery, Agri-logistics, Energy (Biofuels), and Seed Industry are the potential sectors that increasingly will offer interesting options.

Education Requirements: Basically there are three ways to get there:

1. Immediately after graduation in Agriculture and Allied fields, major streams of candidates pursue jobs with Banks and Input Companies.
2. A stream of graduates pursues post-graduation (and some continue for doctoral degree) to make career in Research (Government and Private Companies); Academics and various sub-sectors mentioned earlier. Many of them attempt at Civil Service exams.
3. Another stream of graduates pursues management courses and typically make career with Indian and Multinational companies across mentioned sectors; these candidates are favored by MNC's and are accorded a senior designation compared to their peers who do not hold a management degree.

The major institutes are:

Post-Graduation in Agriculture / Allied Sciences:

• Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI),
• Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI),
• G B Pant Agriculture University,
• Punjab Agriculture University,
• Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI),
• National Dairy Research Institute (NDRI),
• University of Agricultural Sciences

Management in Agriculture:

• IIM (Ahmadabad),
• Institute of Rural Management (IRM),
• National Institute of Agricultural Extension Management (MANAGE, Hyderabad),
• National Institute of Agricultural Marketing (NIAM, Jaipur),
• IIFM (Bhopal),
• Indian Institute of Plantation Management (Bangalore),
• Xavier Institute of Management (XIM, Bhubaneswar)
• National Academy of Agricultural Research Management (NAARM, Hyderabad)
• Food and Agri Business School (FABS, Hyderabad)

There is a large scope for strengthening education and research ties with Israel, Netherlands and US institutes.

The career options after study and the career demand in the next 10 years: Career options include a vast array of choices in corporate space.

Some of the industries that hire agri-graduates are:

• Agri-Finance Industry (e.g. SBI, Andhra Bank, Syndicate Bank etc.)
• Agri-Inputs Industry (e.g. Coromandel Fertilizers, Pioneer Seeds, Sinochem, Syngenta etc.)
• Warehousing Industry (e.g. NCMSL, NBHC etc.)
• Trading Industry (e.g. ITC, Cargill etc.)
• Processing Industry (e.g. Reliance, Heritage etc.)

Farm Machinery, Agri-logistics, Energy (Biofuels), and Seed Industry are the potential sectors that increasingly will offer interesting options.