The agricultural sector is one of the most critical industries in the world. It provides food to the world's population, supplies raw materials to several manufacturing industries, and creates employment for over 1 billion people globally. The agriculture industry has seen tremendous change in India and abroad in the last couple of decades. It is partly due to globalisation and technological advances that have helped improve efficiencies, increase crop yield and reduce costs. Mechanised agriculture has also paved the way for new and promising career opportunities. Do you want to know how to build career in agriculture? Read on.
Why Choose Agriculture as a Career?
Many of us might have a notion that agriculture is all about tilling lands and growing paddy, wheat and breakfast cereals. It is not so. Modern agriculture is a broad term that includes farming, fishing, plantation, and animal husbandry. In the last few decades, agricultural production has increased due to an increase in the total cultivated area of land and yield per unit of land. It is predicted that by 2050 there will be a severe food shortage because of the increasing population. So, policymakers, agricultural scientists and technologists worldwide are trying to find ways to grow and maintain agricultural production sustainably; this trend has introduced new job roles and opportunities for skilled professionals in the field.
Tips for Building Careers in Agriculture
There are many career options in the modern agriculture sector, and if you want to make your mark, then it might be the perfect industry for you. The agriculture industry is constantly growing and evolving, and you can be a part of it!
However, you need to remember the following 5 things:
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The future of agriculture relies heavily on tech innovations. The conventional agricultural practices and input-intensive green revolution strategies are no longer enough to push the Agri industry forward in the coming time. Cross-discipline innovations in biotechnology, genetics, hydroponics and autonomous farming are the future in agriculture. So, you need to be prepared to adapt to the changing situation.
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There are many opportunities in different sectors of agriculture. As an industry, it is becoming an amalgamation of many other disciplines and industries like information technology, robotics, AI, data science, bionics, oceanology, engineering and business management. So, you can be from so-called non-agricultural fields and still dream of building careers in agriculture.
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Careers in agriculture have global scope. Every significant economy, big or small, is investing heavily in their food production and food processing infrastructure. As an Agri-professional, you have job opportunities in India and abroad.
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There is huge demand for skilled professionals. Modern agricultural industries require educated and skilled professionals. So, you need to have a quality college education to perform and succeed in top-paying careers in agriculture.
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Agriculture jobs entail hard work and dedication. Every job demands hard work and dedication. However, being a dynamic field, agricultural jobs can sometimes be demanding, especially if you are in agri-business management, farm management or marketing.
Top Paying Careers in Agriculture
The modern agriculture industry offers diverse job roles. However, we have checked the latest industry trends and prepared a list of the highest-paid careers in agriculture.
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Agricultural Economist: Usually, large enterprises and industry bodies employ agricultural economists; in this profile, you need to track Agri-markets, follow industry trends, forecast business growth and guide management in taking strategic business decisions. You need to have an academic background in agriculture, with research experience related to Agri-economics.
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Agricultural Engineering: This is a career that deals with applying engineering science and designing principles for solving problems and challenges specific to agriculture. It can involve designing machines, processes and systems used in farming. You will need a bachelor's degree in engineering or related discipline along with several years of experience in agricultural applications.
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Agri-Marketing: In this type of job, you will work with companies in the agricultural industry and help them market their products to potential buyers. You might need a bachelor's degree in marketing or agricultural business management along with some hands-on marketing experience.
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Agri-Business Management: It is a specialised field of management. You might need to work directly in companies associated with Agri-business or at an organisation that provides services to agricultural industry businesses. A management degree specialising in Agri-business should be suitable for a similar career.
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Farm Management: In this position, you will need to manage regular operations in agricultural farms. It is a lucrative career. Small, medium and large companies engaged in Agri-business require the service of trained and experienced professional managers. The job responsibilities include handling farm operations, applying controls and management reporting.
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Agricultural Biochemist: The responsibilities include soil testing, researching how to eradicate new weeds and bugs, and developing effective chemical pesticides and fertilisers. The application of biochemistry has become mainstream in agriculture since the mid-twentieth century and this has made this job role crucial.
Which Courses will be Helpful for Careers in Agriculture?
Often, top paying professionals in agriculture come from different academic fields as not many undergraduate and postgraduate courses were available earlier with agricultural specialisations. However, things have changed in recent years. Many institutes today offer Agri-industry courses. Some of the standard qualifications suitable for getting started with a career in agriculture in India are:
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B.Sc. (Hons) Agriculture
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M. Sc Agronomy
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M. Sc Genetics & Plant breeding
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MBA (Agribusiness Management)
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Ph. D programmes (Full time/part time)
RNB Global University offers agricultural career-specific graduation programmes; these courses are UGC-approved, follow the highest academic standard and are well-recognised in the industry.
Finally
Are you interested in the top careers in agriculture? If you want to earn a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture or Agriculture Business Management course, RNB Global University can be one of the best choices. Connect with a friendly admissions advisor for more information on unique agriculture career opportunities.