MBA in Agri-Business: A Detailed Guide

India is well known as a strong agriculture-based country and with more than 58{349ed8d8a57edfeb5ac72e95180cc3fb6904e7d9231c91bfd8d77d3c7d2f15ac} of the population involved in agriculture and allied activities and with the second-largest agricultural land in the world, India undoubtedly boasts of a strong agricultural economy. Additionally, it is quickly acclimatising to the latest technologies that cater to the food and agriculture industries. 

MBA in Agriculture Business or MBA in Agri-Business is a full-time management programme which focuses on marketing and management of agriculture, resource management and allied activities like crop conservation, farming, etc. The characteristics of agribusiness management differ from other regular MBA programmes pertaining to Agri Marketing, Agri Production, and Agri financing. 

What is Agri-Business?

Agri-Business deals with the study of agriculture production, businesses catering to agrichemicals, production of crops, breeding and distribution, processing, farm machinery, seed supply and supply chain management, trading, taxation, import-export, marketing and sales. It also includes long investment cycles, production cycles, issues of food safety, production volatility, food security and environmental impact and implications. There are varied rules that cater to Agri-Business Management. 

MBA in Agri-Business Management

The curriculum of MBA in Agri-Business aims to train Agri-Business leaders and entrepreneurs with a strong vision, expertise and proficiency to expand Agri-based enterprises and ventures. 

MBA in Agri-Business Management is a full time 2-year management program, similar to a regular MBA Programme, but the eligibility criteria differs slightly from a General MBA programme. 

The course is primarily divided into six semesters for 2 years. One of the integral parts of an MBA in agribusiness management is the summer internship or rural immersion programme after the completion of the first- and second-year courses. 

IIM Ahmedabad, IIFM Bhopal, IIM Lucknow, and MANAGE Hyderabad are considered among the top MBA colleges that offer MBA in Agri-Business Management with 100{349ed8d8a57edfeb5ac72e95180cc3fb6904e7d9231c91bfd8d77d3c7d2f15ac} placement for the students. 

Scope of MBA in Agri-Business Management

There is a steep rise in the requirement for Agri-Business managers and demand for management skills in the Agriculture sector. The icing on the cake is the consistent rise in the salaries and placement offers from top-notch recruiters for graduates with MBA in Agri-Business Management. 

The top recruiters that offer high placements to graduates in Agri-Business management include Reliance, Tata, Adani, Godrej, Tolaram, EY, Ninjacart, KPMG and Cloudtail. 

Many Agri-Business start-ups are exploring the massive opportunities for graduates in Agri-Business management. 

Job Profiles for MBA in Agri-Business Management graduates

1. Agriculture Policy Analyst –

Someone responsible for the analysis and development of important policies pertaining to agriculture business. This job profile offers an average annual salary of ₹3-4 lakhs. 

2. Farm Appraiser –  

Someone who assesses the value of a farm, its employees and facilities that help sell the farm. This job profile offers an average annual salary of ₹4 lakhs. 

3. Financer –

This person provides essential financial assistance to various agri-businesses. The average annual salary is approximately ₹6 lakhs. 

4. Quality Controller –

The job of a quality controller is to assess and work towards improving the overall quality and output of farm production. The average annual salary is around ₹5 lakhs. 

5. Bio Compost Sales Head –

Someone who focuses on building awareness among the customers and aids in the facilitation of promotional and sales activities. 

Relationship Manager, Marketing Head and Operation Manager, and Market Analyst are a few other job profiles that are worth exploring for MBA in Agri-Business Management Graduates. 

Eligibility Criteria for MBA in Agri-Business management

Candidates who wish to secure their admission for MBA in Agri-Business management need to appear for one of the popular management entrance exams such as XAT, CAT, ATMA, CMAT or institute-specific exams. The selection is also based on Group Discussion and Personal Interview round clearance. 

1. Candidates need to have at least a minimal score of 50{349ed8d8a57edfeb5ac72e95180cc3fb6904e7d9231c91bfd8d77d3c7d2f15ac} in a Bachelor’s degree.

2. 45{349ed8d8a57edfeb5ac72e95180cc3fb6904e7d9231c91bfd8d77d3c7d2f15ac} marks for candidates from reserved categories in graduation.

3. 50-60{349ed8d8a57edfeb5ac72e95180cc3fb6904e7d9231c91bfd8d77d3c7d2f15ac} average aggregate score from a recognised board in class 12.

4. A valid score in the MBA entrance examination.

List of MBA in Agri-Business management colleges

The search for an MBA in Agri-Business colleges in India has increased drastically in the past few years. There are over 100 MBA in Agri-Business Management colleges in India. 

Here are the top MBA in Agri-Business management colleges in India.

Frequently asked questions

Can we do MBA in Agri-Business?

Yes, you can do MBA in Agri-Business. It’s a popular option because of the steady rise in the requirement for Agri-Business managers and executives. MBA in Agri-Business deals with the production, processing and effective distribution of agricultural produce. This also includes commercial activities related to the supply and production of agricultural goods. Agriculture is the backbone of a nation like India, wherein 18{349ed8d8a57edfeb5ac72e95180cc3fb6904e7d9231c91bfd8d77d3c7d2f15ac} of the GDP comes from the agriculture sector. MBA in Agri-Business focuses on effective management of the agricultural sector, and is designed to hone the skills of upcoming mid and upper-level executives from the agriculture and food industries. The program is tailor-made for individuals who aspire to kickstart a career in the agriculture industry. 

Is an MBA in Agriculture Good?

Yes, an MBA in agriculture is good. There are more than 30 types of industries regulated by more than hundreds of top corporations that provide career and placement opportunities to Agri-Business entrepreneurs and managers. 

Some of the major industries that offer career opportunities for MBA graduates in Agri-Business Management are listed below:

• Agri Input Industry
• Fertiliser and Seeds
• Agrochemicals
• Equipment and Farm Machinery
• Poultry feed, Cattle and Aqua Feed
• Dairy processing and Food Processing Industry
• Chicken and Meat Processing and Vegetable Processing
• Financial Services
• Retail Industry, Teaching and Research
• Agri Warehousing Sector, Agri Commodity Trading Sector
• Microfinance
• Rural sector
• Small Finance Banks and Private Sector Banks

What is the salary for MBA in agribusiness management?

A lot of companies offer competitive salaries for MBA in Agri-Business Management graduates. Top colleges offer 100{349ed8d8a57edfeb5ac72e95180cc3fb6904e7d9231c91bfd8d77d3c7d2f15ac} placement and lucrative career opportunities for graduates in MBA in Agri-Business Management. 

The salaries range anywhere between ₹4 lakh to ₹15 lakhs annually, depending on the type of organisation and colleges. 

The Agri-Business field is a pivotal sector in a developing country like India where agriculture is the backbone of the economy. 

About Sunstone

Sunstone is a leading higher education services provider that partners with academic institutions in upskilling students for employment. Sunstone provides career-focused training interventions for undergraduate and postgraduate students at leading 50+ institutions around 35+ cities. 

Sunstone’s excellent training programs are sanctioned to amplify employability. These important programs are tailored for hybrid delivery with an unprecedented emphasis on soft skills and personality development. The focus of Sunstone is to bestow students with a composite educational experience.