Agricultural Human Resource Development

Case of Maharashtra:
Agricultural education is aimed at creation of scientific and technical manpower for obtaining
the highest production and productivity in each farm system to achieve goal of self-sufficiency
and export of agricultural produce. Educational activities can be broadly classified into two
main categories i) Higher Education and ii) Lower Education.
The Maharashtra Council of Agricultural Education and Research (MCAER), Pune is a body
which has been constituted under section 12 of Maharashtra Agricultural Universities (Krishi
Vidyapeeth) act 1983. In exercise of the powers conferred upon MCAER vide provision in the
proviso (g) of sub-section 3 of Section 12 of the Act, common regulations for admission to
various degree programmes have been formulated.
Higher Education in Maharashtra
Higher education includes graduate and post-graduate instructional programmes. There are
three agricultural colleges located at Dhule, Pune and Kolhapur offering B.Sc.(Agri) and
M.Sc.(Agri) (only at Pune) degree programmes in agriculture. Agricultural Engineering College
located at Rahuri offers B.Tech. (Agril.Engg.) and M.Tech.(Agril.Engg.) and P.G. Institute at
Rahuri is imparting training leading to M.Sc.(Agri.) and Ph.D. degrees in various branches of
agriculture. Total admisstion capacity in colleges of Agriculture is 508, Agricultural Engineering
50 and Horticulture 20 per annum.
MBA (Agri-Business Management) affiliated to the Krishi Vidyapeeths
Course -PG MPKV Pune MPKV
Talegaon
DPDKV Akola VNMKV
Latur
Total
Agricultural
Business
Management
Intake 30 Intake 30 Intake 30 Intake 35 125
2yrs course Eligibility: B.Sc.(Agri.) / B.B.A. (Agriculture) / B.Sc.(ABM) / B.Sc.(BBM) /
B.Sc.(Agri. Bio-Tech.) / B.Tech. (Agril.Engg.) / B.Sc.(Horti.) / B.Sc.(Forestry)
/ B.F.Sc. / B.Tech. (Food Tech.) / B.Sc.(Hons.) Home Science or equivalent
degree with four years duration of agriculture related Universities and
having the Common Entrance Test in Agriculture Business faculty
conducted by MAUEB, Pune





POST GRADUATE DIPLOMA IN MANAGEMENT (AGRI BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT)
(AICTE approved)

Course -PGDM MITCON
Pune
Vaikunth Metha
Pune
Adiyta college
Beed
Total
Agri-Business
Management
Intake 30 Intake 120 Intake 60 210
2yrs course Eligibility: -Candidates with minimum 50% marks in graduation from the
following Disciplines (45% for reserved categories) from a recognized
university : Bachelor's degree in Agriculture, Agricultural Engineering,
Agrochemicals, Dairy Science / Technology, Fisheries, Food Science /
Technology, Forestry, Home Science, Horticulture or Veterinary Science.

Lower education:
It comprises of two year's diploma course in agriculture. The GTCs are imparting training to the
village level workers and KVKs offer skill oriented training to the self employed rural youths and
cultivators. There are eight agriculture schools, two GTCs and one KVK in the jurisdiction of the
university. Besides, the university has been encouraging NGOs to start short term skill oriented
need based training programmes.

Importance:
Agriculture in India accounts for over 14% of the GDP and 12% of countrys exports, providing
employment to over 50% of the work force and striving towards food security as well as
inclusive growth and development. This has been possible through pertinent agricultural
research, education and extension enabling development and infusion of appropriate
technologies by ICAR Institutes and Agricultural Universities, and taking them across to farmers
through Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs).

Transformation of agriculture into a business activity has created a demand for professional
management and use of modern technologies in areas such as specialised production, post-
harvest management, promotion of value added agri products, supply chain management,
marketing etc. so as to position these competitively both in the domestic as well as in
international markets.



Agribusiness Management Education is now a priority area in the country as several State
Agricultural Universities and Agricultural Institutes have added MBA (Agri Business) and
equivalent programmes to their educational systems over the past one decade in order to meet
the demand of skilled agribusiness managers.
The Institute of Agri Business Management visualizes solution oriented and agro industry need
based management education, training, research and policy related activities to give an
impetus to the development of agro based industry, in particular, and rural development, in
general.

MBA Agribusiness Management
The Master of Business Administration (Agri Business) is a two-year full time residential post-
graduate degree programme which grooms young men and women into professional managers
for core areas of agribusiness and allied sectors. The programme aims at providing a
comprehensive coverage incorporating the foundation, functional and elective courses relevant
to management discipline, in general, and agribusiness management, in particular.

Top Careers in Agribusiness:
A non-corporate sector like agriculture now is in urgent need of young & dynamic managers and
entrepreneurs for improving its performance. If you have a passion for this sector and are armed with an
MBA in Agribusiness Management, then the time is right for you to make it big in this industry. The
agriculture scene in India is rapidly evolving and fresh agricultural graduates who have been trained in
various management strategies are in great demand. There a lot of agro-based companies which have
come up in the last decade which have shifted their focus from a traditional production-oriented
approach to a market-oriented one. Such companies also need qualified graduates for efficient
management. There has been substantial value-addition in agri-products, standardisation of the value
chain, a growing interest of the private sector in the primary sector, integration of agriculture with the
input supply industry as well as with processing, distribution and marketing. In fact this area is booming
and offering good opportunities for the management professionals who dont shy away from dealing
with farmers or visiting rural areas.In fact there are many more agribusiness careers than there are
qualified people to fill them. All this provides ample opportunities for experts in the field. There is also
an increasing demand for export and processing of agricultural products. If you have entrepreneurial
inclinations, this sector provides you with ample opportunities to start with your own venture.




Career opportunities in
1. Seeds / Fertilizers / Pesticides Industry
2. Milk & milk products / Poultry & Fisheries / Edible oil Industry
3. Agro Processing Industry
4. Agro Finance Companies & Banks
5. Agro Co-operatives
6. Agro Equipment Manufacturers
7. Agro Export Houses
8. Supply Chain management