MBA in Agri-Business and Rural Development: Course, Fees, Syllabus, Eligibility

MBA in Agri-business and Rural Development is a 2-year Post Graduate course in the domain of business administration with a specialization in the application of administrative principles and techniques in the context of agro-based business and rural economic development. Candidate with a minimum score of 50% (Relaxable for reserved category students) marks at the UG level in any stream can make an application for admission to the course. Candidate must have obtained an Under Graduate (UG) degree from a recognized central or state/private/deemed university.

The backbone of the Indian Economy – Agriculture and Agribusiness provide 54% of employment to the Indian Population. Despite this fact, its contribution to India’s GDP has gone down to 16% in recent years. As such, much top management institutes like IIM Ahmedabad, and IIM Lucknow has launched MBA Agri Business as one of the separate management programs on the lines of their flagship MBA program. Now the MBA in Agri-Business Management is as important as the other MBA courses.

Many other top MBA colleges have included an MBA Agri Business subject as one of the important MBA specializations. A lot is available and needed further to improve and explore the potential of the agribusiness market with a proper management strategy to make it a high-growth sector with high returns.

The recent spurt in full-time MBA in Agri-Business Management programs offered by a number of universities and Agriculture Business Management colleges including top MBA colleges has added more importance to the MBA Agribusiness management courses.

Highlights of the course are as under:

Particulars	Particulars
Degree Name	Master of Business Administration in Agribusiness & Rural Development
Degree Level	Post Graduate
Degree Duration	2 Years
Eligibility Criteria	Bachelor’s degree with 50% marks and valid scores in any MBA exams of the national level.
Age	No age limit
Examination Type	Semester-wise
Subjects Required	Science, Agriculture subjects, Economics, English, etc
Admission Process	Merit-based as well as Entrance-based
Average Fees	INR 85,000 to 6 LPA
Average Salary	INR 3,00,000-7,00,000 LPA
Top Entrance Exams	DUJAT, CAT, MAT, CMAT
Top Colleges	IIM Ahmedabad - Indian Institute of Management, FMS BHU - Institute of Management Studies Banaras Hindu University, IIM Lucknow - Indian Institute of Management, Doon Business School, Dehradun, SIIB Pune - Symbiosis Institute of International Business, Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi
Top Recruiting areas	Food processing industry, retail agriculture sector, Agriculture financing, rural banking, Nonbanking financial institutions, Regional Rural banks

Why MBA in Agribusiness and Rural Development?

(i). This is an exceedingly paying field.

(ii). This field has an incredible scope for experimentation.

(iii). The past few years’ trends show an ever-increasing growth potential.

(iv). The industrial demand for agri-managers is very high in the global market.

(v). This is a challenging profession because the colossal task of advancing this sector vests upon the employees and entrepreneurs working in this field.

(vi). Many businesses in the market cease to exist or become obsolete over time forcing entrepreneurs to change. The food business is always in demand and will be a necessity. An MBA in agriculture assures that your expertise never goes out of trend.

(vii). Active participation of managers can only address the issues of financial conditions of the farmers, growing population, food shortage, etc. Hence, now is the perfect time to establish a successful career here.

Admission Process

For admission to the MBA in Agribusiness Management, candidates must apply to one of the popular entrance exams held for executive admissions such as CAT, XAT, CMAT, ATMA, or some institution-specific exams. Selection is not made solely on the basis of passing the entrance exam as after passing the entrance, candidates must also appear for the group discussion and personal interviews.

Eligibility Criteria

Candidates interested in pursuing MBA in Agribusiness management can take a look at the eligibility criteria given below:

(i). He/She shall not be having any backlog or compartment in any of the subject/subjects at the UG level that is yet to be cleared at the time of taking admissions.

(ii). In addition to the above eligibility criteria, various colleges and institutes may have their own additional criteria that the students would have to satisfy in order to take admitted (like work experience in the domain).

(iii). In the case of reserved category students, they would have to present their reservation certificates issued by the competent authorities in order to avail the benefits applicable to them.

(iv). Most of the institutes give admissions through Common Entrance Test (CET) (like CAT, MAT, etc). To get admission to these institutes candidates would have to qualify for the respective entrance exam by securing minimum qualifying marks.

Parameters	Description
Minimum Marks	50% (General and NC/OBC)
Relaxation for Reserved Categories	45%
Minimum Educational Qualification	Graduation
Age Limit	No Age Limit

Types of MBA Agribusiness & Rural Development

Applicants can pursue the course full-time or part-time. Below are the types of MBA Agribusiness courses in detail:

(1). Full-Time

A two-year, full-time MBA program in Agribusiness is available. Practical knowledge is more important than theoretical understanding in this line of work. A full-time course offers the advantage of allowing students to connect closely with teachers and other students, broadening their exposure, experience, and knowledge.

(2). Part-Time

There is a part-time MBA program in Agribusiness. In this area, practical competence replaces theoretical understanding. The advantage of a part-time MBA is, it allows candidate flexibility to work while studying.

(3). Distance

The two to three-year online MBA program is now complete. Distance learning is the best choice for pursuing an MBA in Agribusiness after receiving a bachelor's degree but lacking the time to attend conventional classes.

Admission Process

The MBA in Agri-Business admission process is divided into four steps:

(i). Apply for MBA Entrance Exams

(ii). Attend the Entrance Exam

(iii). Shortlisting Process

(iv). Written Proficiency Test (WPT), Group Discussion (GD), and Personal Interview (PI)

Accepted Entrance Exams

Students have to pass entrance exams held by different institutes and colleges organized across the country which test the basic knowledge of applicants. Candidates for MBA in Agribusiness in India are selected based on their performance in these assessments. Some of them are:

SNAP	CHAT	ATMA
ATMA	MAHCET	XAT
MAT	CAT

Required Skills:

Students pursuing a bachelor's degree in agricultural business management should have a passion for agriculture and entrepreneurial skills. Job seekers in the industry must possess a specific set of skills. Here are the skills required for a farm business management program.

Problem-Solving Skills	Marketing Skills	Situational Awareness
Quality Control	Emotional Stability	Mental Agility
Supervision Skills	Decision-Making Skills

Fee Structure:

MBA Agribusiness is a two-year postgraduate management course consisting of four semesters. The average fee for the course MBA in Agribusiness ranges from INR 3 LPA to 13 LPA. Some of the colleges are listed below based on their fee structure:

Name of College	Fee Structure
Symbiosis Center for Human Resource Management and Development, Pune	INR 6,00,000
Indian Institute of Management Lucknow	INR 11,76,000
Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology, Bhubaneswar	INR 13,40,000
Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad	INR 11,14,000
School of Commerce, University of Petroleum and Energy Studies, Dehradun	INR 12.01.000

Selection Criteria

All shortlisted applicants selected based on the entrance exam score or through merit will have to appear for group discussion, followed by a personal interview. On getting selected, the aspirant can pay the fee and get their admit card.

Course Comparison

The MBA Agribusiness program covers a variety of subjects, including operations, business administration, analytical work, and agribusiness. The table that follows compares other courses to the MBA Agribusiness program. MBA Agribusiness & Rural Development v/s MBA Agriculture

Below is a comparison between the MBA Agribusiness and MBA Agriculture:

Course	MBA Agribusiness & RD	MBA Agriculture
Full-Form	Master of Business Administration Agribusiness & Rural Development	Master of Business Administration Agriculture
Stream	Management	Management
Duration	2 years	2 Years
Eligibility	BBA or Bachelor’s in relevant field with 50% total aggregate.	BBA or Bachelor’s in relevant field with 50% total aggregate.
Entrance Exams	CAT, XAT, MAT, GMAT	CAT, XAT, MAT, GMAT
Fees	INR 3 - 10 LPA	INR 8 -15 LPA
Top Colleges	IIM, UPES, LPU	Indian School of Agriculture, Symbiosis Institute

Top Colleges:

The following are the colleges in India that are offered MBA in Agri-Business & Rural development:

Name of College	Fee Structure
Symbiosis Center for Human Resource Management and Development, Pune	INR 6,00,000
National Institute of Agricultural Extension Management – (MANAGE), Hyderabad	INR 8,00,000
Indian Institute of Management Lucknow	INR 11,76,000
IRMA Anand: Institute of Rural Management	INR 12,10,000
Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology, Bhubaneswar	INR 13,40,000
KIIT School of Rural Management – (KSRM), Bhubaneswar	INR 7,00,000
Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad	INR 11,14,000
School of Commerce, University of Petroleum and Energy Studies, Dehradun	INR 12.01.000

Top Government & Private Agriculture Business Management Colleges in India

Agriculture Business Management courses are available at several governments & private academic institutions across the country. Admission is granted based on previous academic performance and entrance examination results. The table below lists some of India's best government & private Agriculture Business Management colleges.

Type of College	Name of College
Government	IIM Ahmedabad - Indian Institute of Management
	Sambalpur University, Sambalpur
	IIM Lucknow - Indian Institute of Management
	Mysore University
	Utkal University, Bhubaneswar
	College of Co-Operation Banking and Management, Vellanikkara
	College of Agribusiness Management, Pantnagar
	CCSHAU Hisar
	Indian Institute of Plantation Management, Bangalore
	BHU Varanasi
Private	Doon Business School, Dehradun
	SIIB Pune - Symbiosis Institute of International Business
	Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi
	Integral University, Lucknow
	Global Business School and Research Centre, Pune
	GD Goenka School of Management, Gurgaon
	MITCON Institute of Management, Pune
	CT University, Ludhiana
	ITM School of Management, Gwalior
	SAGE University, Indore

Job & Placements

A steady rise in placement packages has been observed as the need for Agri-Business managers is rising year after year. The demand for managerial skills continues to be on the rise in the Agriculture sector. As a result, more and more students are taking up MBA agri-business management courses as a preferred career option. A consistent increase in salaries in Placement offers from reputed recruiters to graduates with MBA in Agri-Business adds to this charm.

There are several Agri start-ups that are exploring huge opportunities for agri-business graduates. With the increasing level of farmers’ awareness and professionalism in farming, the Agri and the rural sector has compelled agri-input companies providing seed, fertilizer, pesticides, and credit as well as insurance firms, to engage trained professionals to serve the market creatively and remain competitive.

Top Recruiters

People who have completed an Agriculture Business Management program are employed by a number of organizations in India. The credentials and skills of farm managers determine their employment and classification. Companies hire them for the jobs and positions mentioned above. Some of the well-known recruitment companies are:

Nestle	Bombay Burmah Trading Corporation Ltd	JK Agri Genetics Ltd
HPC Biosciences Ltd	ITC	Hindustan Unilever Limited
Dhunseri Tea & Industries Ltd	Nath Bio-Genes (India) Ltd	Raghuvansh Agrofarms Ltd
Goodricke Group Ltd

Fresher Jobs

MBA in Agri-Business fresher can apply fob in the field of Agri-Business. Some of the Job profiles are as follows:

Quality Controller	Market Analyst	Trader
Bio-Compost Sales Head	Farm Appraiser	Agriculture Policy Analyst
Marketing Head	Agribusiness Manager

Salary in India after MBA in Agribusiness & Rural Development

The MBA with Stream in Agribusiness can secure their future and get hired on the job Farm Appraiser, Market Analyst, Financier, Relationship Manager, and Operations Manager profiles. Some of the famous agribusiness MBA graduate salaries vary approximately between INR 3-7 LPA.

The average Salary of Some Job profiles in the Agri-Business field are as follows:

Job profile	Average Salary(in INR)
Agriculture Officer	6 Lakhs
Agricultural Manager	6.6 Lakhs
Farm Manager	5 Lakhs
Market Analyst	6 Lakhs
Farm Appraiser	4 Lakhs
Agribusiness Manager	7 Lakhs
Operation Manager	4 Lakhs
Financer	6 Lakhs
Quality Controller	5 Lakhs
Bio-Compost Sales Head	5 Lakhs
Marketing Head	7 Lakhs
Agriculture Policy Analyst	3 Lakhs
Relationship Manager	4 Lakhs

Career/Scope

Agriculture in India has a lot of encounters and hence throws myriad opportunities to introduce reforms and bring it to par with global standards. Agriculture is always a booming industry for reason that food never goes out of demand creating the immense potential for growth of this sector in India. Aspiring to be an agripreneur or a farming professional, definitely has a promising career prospect.

MBA in Business Management provides ample opportunities to students. It is a rewarding career with a pay scale negotiating between 3 lacks per annum to 15 lacs per annum, depending on the individual's experience and capabilities. Top recruiters in this field are Syngenta, Coromandel, UPL, Amul, VITA, RALLIES, and many more. These organizations have rewarding career opportunities for students looking out to stand out in this profession. The career can be rewarding, with many options for individuals looking out to stand out in this profession.

Career Options after MBA in Agribusiness & Rural Development

Agriculture is the backbone of the country. There is always a constant demand in this domain. MBA in Agribusiness jobs salary on an average package ranges from INR 3 to 7 LPA. Agribusiness has the potential to be the largest contributor to our Indian economy, and an MBA graduate can realize the potential. Job opportunities after MBA in Agribusiness under the following job titles are listed below:

Farm Appraiser	Agriculture Policy Analyst	Relationship Manager	Supply Chain Manager
Agribusiness Manager	Financer	Farm Business Manager	Bio-Compost Sales Head
Agribusiness Office Assistant	Crop Producer	Rural Manager	Marketing Head
Agribusiness Marketing Coordinator	Quality Controller	Farm Appraiser	Operation Manager
Market Analyst	Trader	Commodity Merchandiser

Scope for Higher Education in MBA Agribusiness

MBA in Agribusiness scope to pursue their higher education is high. Specialization in management strategy, managerial economics, agri-environmental economics, etc., can be taken.

Also, aspirants can do similar certification courses in the following:

(i). Ph.D. in Agribusiness

(ii). Diploma in Agronomy

(iii). Diploma in Agricultural and Resource Economics

Careers in Agriculture Business Management

Agriculture Business Management graduates can work in both the commercial and public sectors in a range of industries. They work in a variety of environments, such as offices and outdoors, as well as other businesses. They can work as Agricultural Managers, Farm Managers, or Agriculture Officers, to name a few jobs.

(1). Agricultural Manager

Agricultural managers are in charge of the growth of crops, livestock, and other products that can be sold to corporations or individuals. They may oversee the everyday operations of commercial agricultural operations such as nurseries and large farms, or they may search for inactive landowners or farmers who require management support.

(2). Farm Manager

Farm managers are in charge of selecting crops, livestock management, and production, planning farming activities, supervising other employees, planting, spraying crop protection chemicals, harvesting crops, marketing, and sales of crops, and documentary evidence of all details, including financial issues of the farm, and strategic planning in order to increase production and profitability.

(3). Agriculture Officer

Agriculture officers are in charge of making sure that all agricultural methods and products comply with state and local rules. Their primary goal is to inspect, research, sample, and test everything to see if it complies with state and municipal laws.

FAQ’s

(1). What is agribusiness?

Ans. Agribusiness is a type of activity that deals with the processing, preservation, distribution, promotion, and marketing of agricultural products. Agribusiness seeks to optimize agricultural processes to maintain price stability.

(2). What is the duration of the MBA in Agriculture Business Management?

Ans. The complete duration of the course is two years

(3). What is training in food management and what does it consist of?

Ans. Agribusiness is a branch of business, management, and organizational studies concerned with earning from agriculture and commercial farming. It entails the administration of agronomic equipment and technology, as well as raw materials, suppliers, labor, and other agricultural resources.

(4). In agricultural terms, what is ABM?

Ans. Agriculture business management is a two-year MBA program that concentrates on the business areas of agricultural production and global trade. The course covers managerial economics in the agricultural sector and is offered in top business schools in India and around the world.

(5). In agriculture, what is the most profitable activity?

Ans. Poultry farming is the best option for people looking for a successful agribusiness career in India.

(6). What are the career options in the Farm Business Management course?

Ans. The career options after the Marketing Management course are Agricultural Manager, Farm Manager, Agriculture Officer, Agricultural Inspector, Agricultural Technician, and Quality Assurance Manager.

(7). What Are the Top Recruitment Firms Hiring Farm Business Management Students?

Ans. Some of the major recruitment companies that hire Farm Business Management students are ITC, Hindustan Unilever Limited, Nestle, JK Agri Genetics Ltd, HPC Biosciences Ltd, Nath Bio Genes (India) Ltd, Dhunseri Tea andamp; Industries Ltd, Raghuvansh Agrofarms Ltd, Goodricke Group Ltd, Bombay Burmah Trading Corporation Ltd.

(8). What is the definition of food management and agribusiness?

Ans. The postgraduate program in Food and Agribusiness Management provides students with the knowledge, skills, and mindset they need to make management decisions. It also aims to increase participants' understanding of the various agricultural applications and related technologies.

(9). Is a career in farm management a good choice?

Ans. Agribusiness has become a critical area in a developing country like India. A career in agribusiness can lead to opportunities in a variety of fields, including agriculture, real estate, retail marketing, food production, and agricultural production.

(10). What are the best B-schools providing MBA in Agriculture Business Management?

Ans. (I). IIM Ahmedabad

(ii). IIM Lucknow

(iii). KIIT School of Rural Management Bhubaneswar

(iv). MANAGE Hyderabad

(v). IIFM Bhopal, etc.